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My name is Mischel Satunas, and I am a three-time open-heart surgery survivor. 

I was born with a functional heart murmur, and have been symptomatic my entire life. After visiting a cardiologist at the age of 21, I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, but had no idea what this diagnosis actually meant for me, so I went about living my life. 

Over time my symptoms worsened. I had dizziness, shortness of breath and palpitations. When I mentioned my symptoms to my doctor, I was told I had anxiety and given anxiety meds. I lived a very active lifestyle, and enjoyed riding my bike and going to the gym with my husband. Suddenly, I was struggling to walk a flight of stairs.  At age 38, during a routine annual exam with my Gynecologist, my life would change! He placed the stethoscope to my chest and became alarmed. He immediately sent me to a cardiologist to have an Echocardiogram. The cardiologist read the results and informed me that I needed open heart surgery! He immediately sent me to see a Heart Surgeon. 

About Mischel

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I was shocked, but scheduled my surgery . Afterwards, I didn’t feel well, and still had difficulty with breathing and activity. When I visited my doctor and told him my symptoms, he prescribed me anti-anxiety medication, but I knew in my gut something wasn't right. My symptoms continued to worsen. Six months later, my husband and I relocated to Nashville, and I was still struggling with cardiac issues.  After several months of seeing many doctors, I saw a cardiologist who took me seriously!  He did some tests and told me, 

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"Mischel, the ring used in your mitral valve repair has come out of place and is now an obstruction. You need to have another surgery immediately to correct it." I was insistent on having the surgery in New York, so I could be near my family. My husband and I moved back, and my second surgery was scheduled just a few days later. During the second surgery, my surgeon replaced my mitral valve ring used in the first surgery with a bioprosthetic valve. I saw improvement immediately after the surgery, but sadly... after a few months, all of my previous symptoms returned, and grew even worse. I visited doctors, knowing that something was still wrong. Doctors were unable to diagnose me, and instead, I was prescribed dose after dose of anti-anxiety medication. This continued for the next ten years. The more cardiac symptoms i reported , the more anxiety medication I was given. I was told to see a therapist and that my heart was FINE! 

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This was the same in every state I lived in. Tennessee, New York, and Pennsylvania. In the fall of 2011, I found myself remarkably sicker than I had ever been. The day after visiting the emergency room, I tried getting out of bed. I was so sick and so weak that I fell to the floor. My husband rushed to check on me, and discovered that my entire abdomen was purple from the blood pooling in my abdomen. I was shaking and could barely breathe. My heart rate and blood pressure were very low. My husband called 911 and I headed back to the ER. This would be my 4th visit in 4 weeks.  They did the normal cardiac work up, chest X-rays, blood work. Then a doctor walked in with a script for anxiety meds and my discharge papers.  

 

I said a prayer to GOD and I GOT ANGRY! I told the doctor I wasn't leaving! I asked him to find someone to take another look as I was sure I was DYING! I I explained to him what happened to me in Nashville and how my first heart surgery had FAILED! Upon being re-evaluated, I was admitted immediately for surgery and we discovered that I was in end stage - heart failure!!!  

My surgeon replaced my faulty mitral valve with an On-X Mitral valve, repaired my tricusid valve and performed a Maze procedure to fix my abnormal heartbeat.

Since having my new On-X valve, I am back to riding my bike , dancing and leading a more active life style. I happily lunge up the stairs, after spending so many years barely unable to walk them. I am heavily involved in my community and volunteer with the American Heart Association,

Autism Awareness groups and a local cancer foundation. I have been a volunteer at the very same hospital that saved my life, which has been a true blessing. 

 I am so grateful for the gift of my life, and to be here with the people I love! This valve saved my life and it gave me a better quality of life than I had.

 October 7th 2022,  I will celebrate the eleventh anniversary of this incredible miracle. The Gift of my life! 

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