Saturday, April 9, 2011

Getting Started!

Hi All,

Well, it's 2 short weeks before we leave for New York. Surgery is on Tuesday, April 26, at the Mitral Valve Repair Center at the Mt. Sinai Hospital. My doctors there, Dr. David Adams, who is originally from North Carolina, and Dr. Anelechi Anyanwu (they call him Ani), originally from Nigeria, are both very nice guys, and more importantly, surgeons with EXCELLENT track records in mitral valve repair! 

I shared the news with my 4th grade classes this week. The kids were amazing and wonderful - they asked the best questions, including:
  • What kind of heart surgery will you have? (Mitral valve prolapse repair)
  • How long will it take to get better? (About 3 to 4 months)
  • Are you nervous? (Yes! But it helps to talk about it!)
  • Will you be back at Frost Lake next year? (Yes, I'm planning on it!)
Yesterday, Friday, April 8, I had to go in for a heart catheterization. It's a procedure where they shoot dye into your blood stream, which lights up your veins and arteries in your heart, so they can see how everything is working in there. My heart is in great shape, except for my mitral valve. This is GOOD news, because if everything else is working well, the surgery will be easier, and my recuperation (that means the time it takes for me to get better) will be speedy.

Please feel free to leave comments and ask questions. Thanks for stopping by!

Always - Ms. Lucas (Sandy :-)





Posted by at

82 comments:

  1. Brenda NatalaApril 9, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    I love the books on your blog. It reminds me of the bookshelf I was perusing today with you. Thanks for the Scrabble game. The internet claims Buddha said, "The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart." Or is it, "The heart is in the way?"

    Your heart is strong, your head is strong, your body is strong, you are ready!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 11, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    Hi Sandy,
    Just thinking about you!
    Love, Denise

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 11, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Dear Ms. Lucas,
    We will miss you. We hope your surgery goes FANTASTICALLY!!!!!
    Ms. Kluxdal's class

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 11, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Dear Ms. Lucas,

    We will miss you! You are the best ELL teacher!
    Good luck!

    Sincerely,
    Ms. Gierok's Class

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 11, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    we love you

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousApril 11, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    We will miss U alot but well see U next year.

    Hope you get your heart fixed and come visit us when you can.
    Demetrius


    i hope your heart will get better very fast so you can come back. Torshia

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousApril 12, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    dear mrs.lucas get well very very very SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    FROM GAOSHOUKAKA XIONG IN MRS.KLUXDUL CLASS

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousApril 12, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    Dear Sandy Lucas,

    hope you have a good surgery!
    i hope you feel more happy/good after the surgery!
    (i went to this web even before the class went to the lab!):)
    love,

    Paud Yang

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousApril 13, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    dear Snady Lucas,
    hope you feel happier than EVER next year!
    :*)

    L<3VE,
    paud

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousApril 14, 2011 at 5:36 AM

    dear ms lucas,hope you feel good and stong to come back next year!!! >_< keng yang

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    have a good heart surgery,
    have a good trip to new york



    :)keng vue

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousApril 17, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    why do have to go to new york,,well if u do then,have a good trip,,hope your surgery
    goes FAST!!!!!!!!

    paud yang

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    i hope you have good heart surgery
    think for teaching frost lakes

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    see u next year ;) hope u get better ms.lucas
    hope u feel better





    richard yang

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    we love u!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    U get to go to New York?!?!?!?!
    Hope u have FUN there!!!
    And also I HOPE ur surgery goes pretty GOOD, so u can come back next year!!!
    Have a GREAT trip!!

    Love,
    Pang Mee Xiong<3

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    come back soon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(
    just kidding :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    Fell better plzzz I'm worry adout you get lots of rest tell me does it hurt.Ps where's new york and Can i tell that ur okey Seee u next year!!!!

    By kong
    Fell Better

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    hope u get in the zipper club

    richard and the one that say just kidding

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    have a beautiful heart
    surgery in new york
    we will miss you




    keng vue

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Kuv Hulb koj
    Homng person

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    -_- yepp see u next year we write alot

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    We will nco koj!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    I won't be Here but HIIIIIIII!!!!!!
    Kong

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    are you happy to go to
    new york and get
    a heart surgery
    and come back
    next year


    love,keng vue

    ReplyDelete
  26. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    bye bye ms.lucas

    richard yang

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    dear,MrsLucas I hopr you feel much better when you come to shcool aigan.


    yourfreind,chue Her

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    I hope you come back next year, Ms. Lucas you are the best ELL teaher ever! :)




    your friend, Kashie Kong

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    Kuv koj zoo zoo
    homng man

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    dear. ms lucas i dont know why im writting again but please come back well!!!!!!!!!!!!! >_< kengyang

    ReplyDelete
  31. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    IIIII puppy

    ReplyDelete
  32. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    why are you going to new york to fix your heart.

    love vaj mean vang

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Will MISS you!!

    Sincerely,
    Pang Mee<3

    ReplyDelete
  34. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    Everything going fine plzzz be fine Go to st. john it's fineeeeeeeeee!!!!
    Form,kong meng xiong

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    see you next year

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    see u after 3-6 mouths or a year =) =( ;) ;(

    richard yang

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    I willmiss you os much


    love vaj

    ReplyDelete
  38. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    Hi Sandy! We are all thinking of you and wishing you a quick Big Apple recovery! Carla, Lesley and Leyla in Bloomington

    ReplyDelete
  39. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    i just want to say come back next year



    chaiyang from mrs.Nabil

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousApril 21, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Dear ms.Lucas
    I hope you get better!!!!
    We will miss you!!!!!!
    hope your heart gets better!!!!

    FROM:JET LAO:)

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousApril 22, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    dear ms. lucas
    we will miss u
    i wish ur sugery
    go well!!!!!!!!!!!


    LOVE:MAILIA VANG

    ReplyDelete
  42. ADApril 26, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    Sam,

    I loved the picture of your mom and dad.

    AD

    ReplyDelete
  43. AnonymousApril 26, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    i like your picture!
    get well
    stay calm and
    hav a nice day!

    sinserely,

    anna vang or mai lia! anna is my new name!

    ReplyDelete
  44. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    Hi Ms. Lucas!
    We hope you feel better. We have lots of questions about the surgery. Why did the surgery take 6 hours? How did you feel when you woke up? Are you in a lot of heart pain? We hope not. Can you only eat ice chips? We miss you!
    Love,
    Mrs. Gierok's class

    ReplyDelete
  45. AnonymousApril 28, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    hi how are you i am
    nini and ehrenoh

    ReplyDelete
  46. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    hello! we all miss you very much and i know that you are doing very good right now! i hope your surgery went just RIGHT!!!!! :) i hope i see you next year. GUESS WHO?

    Kaozer Yang :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    :*( (cryy!!)
    i miss you!,i want to know if you fell better!

    loviee,mee.paudyanggie!

    ReplyDelete
  48. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    Hi! How are u doing???
    We are doing fine...But we ALL MISS u!!


    Love,
    Pangg Mee Xiongg

    ReplyDelete
  49. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    Hiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!I still remember the time when your here plzzzzzzz be back soon and i think that she know everyone name even us plzzzz be back
    KONG MENG XIONG
    Thinking of ice cream and chips and chickhen

    ReplyDelete
  50. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    we nco koj it mean miss you come back soon nco koj ms.lucas have a good trip back.
    nco koj ib leeg it mean miss you noly



    hlub mean love
    vang

    ReplyDelete
  51. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Homng person i hulb koj

    ReplyDelete
  52. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    hi mrs.lucas how are u doing we all miss u and i hope ur sugery goes fine too.WE ALL NISS YOU :(

    YOUR FRIEND DAVID VUE

    ReplyDelete
  53. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    Miss you so much ms.lucas and guess what i know how to write your name look m-s-.-l-u-c-a-s it write ms.lucas i'm miss you nco koj

    hlub vaj

    ReplyDelete
  54. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    Hi Ms. Lucas,
    how are you feeling today? I miss you so much :'( . The guest teacher Ms. Wester is nice. I hope you are here next year!! :)


    Kashie Kong :) :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    Dear Ms.Lucas,

    WE MISS U!!!!
    HOPE U COME BACK!!!
    Are you feeling good?
    how are u??

    Sincerely JET LAO, :)

    ReplyDelete
  56. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    are you feel well and
    we really miss and
    i hop you back




    keng vue

    ReplyDelete
  57. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    HI WHAT ARE YOU DOING WE MISS YOU WAEN ARE YOU COMEING BACK LOVE JMARI MS.SANDY LUCAS

    ReplyDelete
  58. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    hi Ms.Lucas i can't wait to meet you next year. I hope you feel a lot better. Can you come visit us sometimes because we all miss you. Well bye I can't think anything else to say so if i think of something good I'll tell you By Torshia Lee

    ReplyDelete
  59. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    hi i hop you come back soon and have a fun vaction and come next year and thanks for you and ms gierok to teach us a lesson. and we miss u from jacob v

    ReplyDelete
  60. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    dear miss sandy lucas i miss you already/we miss you already.i hope your sugery goes fine and well i love you as a teacher

    ReplyDelete
  61. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    hi we love you JMARI BAY LOVE YOU

    ReplyDelete
  62. AnonymousApril 30, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    Hope you are starting to feel good and your recovering is going well. I miss you at work and look forward to visiting you at home! Sheila

    ReplyDelete
  63. AnonymousApril 30, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Dear,mrs.lucas
    We miss you.
    Hope you get better soon.
    Please eat your chocolate.
    We miss you in reading.
    What did you do with our silver heart?
    The promethia don't work without you.

    sincerely ms.xiong,mrs.kluxdal class

    ReplyDelete
  64. AnonymousApril 30, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    ms.lucas i miss you so much i.... just can not do anything without you i just want to do anything to made you feel good and i just can not do anytihng good if you are not there i just wish i colud made you feel good i wish with all my heart to made you feel good you made me don't want to do anything and keep in your head of all your 4 grand class i miss you every day and it like you are with me all the time.

    love vang the one miss you

    ReplyDelete
  65. AnonymousApril 30, 2011 at 8:50 PM

    dear ms.lucas
    I want you back just right now because you beng gone for a few week and i miss you you are like a thing that i do with alot and if it gone my heart will be broken like a bird that will not come alive again miss you so much ms.lucas keep me in your head don't let it go like a dead bird.
    love the one miss you

    ReplyDelete
  66. AnonymousMay 1, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    DEAR MS.LUCAS
    HOW ARE YOU?I MISS U SO MUCH:)
    I HOPE YOU HAVE A GRET TIME THERE
    DID YOU EAT LOTS OF CHOCOLATE?I HOPE YOU DO:)
    I MISS YOU AT READING....
    MS.WESTER GOT OUR NAMES MIX UPJUST LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.BUT IT WAS FUN I HOPE I SEE U SOON.
    YOUR STUDENT,
    EH RE NOH SAY
    I MISS YOU SSSOOO MUCH I HOPE I SEE YOU SOON
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  67. AnonymousMay 6, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Dear Mrs.Lucas,
    WE MISS U A LOT!!!
    I HOPE YOUR LUNG IS WORKING!!
    we hope u come back!!

    FROM Jet,

    ReplyDelete
  68. AnonymousMay 6, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    We Miss You Hope you come and Visit us.


    Demetrius Hawj :)

    ReplyDelete
  69. AnonymousMay 6, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    The Promethean Board wont work without you.


    Demetrius Her

    ReplyDelete
  70. AnonymousMay 6, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    I love you and be back next year and i miss you!








    By Nicholas :)

    ReplyDelete
  71. AnonymousMay 6, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    dear,MrsLucas I hope you feel much better when you come here next year and you might see my little sister Pang Her let's see if you do see her O.K if you do tell me in fifth grade see you


    your,classmate,Chue

    ReplyDelete
  72. AnonymousMay 6, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Hi Ms.Lucas I'm just wondering how you are doing New York and did you give your mom a card for Mothers Day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  73. AnonymousMay 6, 2011 at 12:16 PM

    dear,MrsLucas are you eating alot of choclate I hope you are you like them alot when are you coming like a day.


    your friend,Chue

    ReplyDelete
  74. AnonymousMay 10, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    dear mrs lucas we hope you come back soon because we miss you alot from jayvon

    ReplyDelete
  75. AnonymousMay 26, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    i miss u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    hope u have a better day!

    ReplyDelete
  76. AnonymousJune 10, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    Dear Ms.Lucas
    hi
    how r u?we miss u a lot!!!!!
    Ms.west is doing awesome!!
    how is your lungs working?
    I hope to see next year!!!

    your student Jet,

    ReplyDelete
  77. AnonymousJune 10, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    Hi! WE MISS YOU SOO MUCH!! How are you feeling?? I hope to see you next year.Ms.Wester is as nice as you are, Ms.Lucas!! Well gotta go! Byee!!

    Pang Mee Xiong

    ReplyDelete
  78. AnonymousJune 10, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    I miss you a lot ms.lucas I just want you to
    come right now i miss you so much
    ms.lucas.
    from vang

    ReplyDelete
  79. AnonymousJune 10, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Thanks for th present!!! Its was beautiful!! I will think of you when ever U wear it!!

    Pang Mee Xiong

    ReplyDelete
  80. AnonymousJune 10, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    I mean when ever I wear it! Lol!
    Pang Mee XIong

    ReplyDelete
  81. AnonymousJune 11, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    Dear Ms.lucas
    hi
    thank you for the present.
    i like it!!wat r u doing this summer?
    i am gonna play football amd go to july 4 soccer tournament.i love NY!!
    sincerely jet lao,
    :D

    ReplyDelete
  82. AnonymousJuly 12, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    dear ms.lucas
    I miss you ms.lucas and i when to july 4 and it was so hot.

    sincerely vang
    xiong,

    ReplyDelete

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