Hi folks,
My wife and I received some unsettling news yesterday. Our son, Drew, will have to undergo open-heart surgery sometime in the next few months to replace his aortic heart valve. We knew this would have to be done at some time, but we had hoped it would be later rather than sooner.

I feel quite helpless in this situation, so I'm asking all of you out there for some kind thoughts and prayers for Drew. I'd like him to have all the help he can get to see him through this operation. We won't know for a couple weeks how soon this will have to be done, and the waiting is difficult.

Thanks in advance, I'll pass your words on to Drew.

Dan

Dan&Family-My wife and I are praying for you and your family. All will go well.Have faith in God!!!!!!our Prayers are with you!!

Dan,

My wife and I will also be praying for you and your family

Philipians 4:6-7

Good luck and God bless you

Doubletake

Dan & family, I had my aorta valve destroyed in a motorcycle accident and had it rebuilt in 1978 and I'm still going strong. Modern medicine is wonderful thing.
Our prayers are with you.
fp

Dan,
I will pray for you.
god bless you.
Chris

Dan S,
I will most certainly put you and your son on my prayer list.Pass on to your son that I have seen remarkable prayers answered All the time.There is nothing our God can't do.Your son is in good hands and with the added prayer's of good fishermen his surgery and recovery will go without a hitch!!!Bless you and your family for asking for prayer, it is refreshing.lester

Dan, grumpyr & I will certainly be thinking of you & praying for Drew at this time. Let us know how things are going & when the time arrives, know you have our support.

Dan-
One of the best thing you can do is keep a positive, upbeat attitude, your son and family will feed off that. I have two daughters myself, they are my most prized posessions ever.
Prayers are the least we all could do for you...God Bless.

Kev

Dan, as a parent of a child with needs,I too feel your conserns.One of my twin daughters was born with a heart defect.She has undergone two surgerys and we are expecting one more surgery.the faith you put in the doctors is tremendous,but in the end it`s well worth the fight.As I look at my daughter tonite I will think of your son and remember what precious miracles of life we have. God bless

DanS and Family, I want you to know that I wish the very best for your son. As mentioned earlier modern medicine is amazing along with Gods blessing. Things like this makes us all realize how important our families are and everything else is irrelevant.Keep your spirits up for your son and the rest of your family.Best Wishes, Todd

Dan, twelve years ago, because of congestive heart failure, my father could not get off the couch to answer the door. The surgeon who replaced a heart valve and did three bypasses marveled that Dad had been able to walk into the hospital. The real miracle was what occurred in that operating room. Now, at age 82, he plays eighteen holes of golf weekly, drives himself all over town, and never misses a family get-together. Heart surgery is medical science at its best. Still, I don't think I ever prayed harder than when my father's life was in that surgeon's hands. I know you'll be doing the same for your son. My prayers for your family will be added to those of the other forum members.

I wish and pray your son Drew has successful surgery. I hope you and your family keep the faith.

Dan,
My family will pray for your son drew as well as for you and your wife. I`ll also ask the congregation in our church to mention Drew in thier prayers. I know there probably isn`t much that can be said to make you and your wife feel more at ease but they have made tremendous strides in that medical field. Just ask God to be with him while in surgery. Tony


[This message has been edited by rainycity (edited 11-09-2000).]

Dan, My wife and I will keep your son in our daily prayers. If you and your family will require any assist and/or another shoulder to help keep you boosted during this trying period, let us know. We are just down the road from ya in Rainier...Tom

Good fortunes to your family Dan. And many fish to you and Drew.

Dan,

Our thoughts and payers are with you and your family. keep the faith

Sambo

Dan My friend,our prayers are with you and you're family,I'm just down the road
having raised 3 of my own I feel you're greif and confusion call me if you need an ear...Mike

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Row Quietly and fish a Cataraft }<<(('>----<'))>>{
Release all Wild Fish

Dan, the Lord hears our petition and prayers. My prayers will include your son and your family. God bless.

Dan, when you get to the hospital, you should be able to access someone who has either gone through this surgery or has had someone in the family who has. Talk to them. They can help you understand what you are going through and prepare you to expect a few things. It's really helpful. Blessing to you and your family.

We're pulling for you and thinking positive thoughts.

Kevin
FH http://www.fishermansheaven.com

Dan asyou are a fisherman, i know you have the faith required to see you through. Also you can't help but believe in miracles every time you catch a fish[especially steelhead].

Dan,
Our prayers go out to you and your family for your sons health. As stated earlier modern medicine has come a long way. As a parent I know at times you'll feel like there's nothing you can do, but God will be with you always. Last week I felt that, as my daughter went to the emergency room for cramps and 8 hours later into surgery for appendicitis. She's recovering just fine. If you have medical questions that haven't been answered or don't understand my father-in-law is a doctor and I can ask. Shon

dan many splendid things have happened through prayer my families prayers arfe with drew and your family

Dan, in addtion to my vow of prayers earlier to you, I will add that you are one of the most upbeat guys I've met. I figure Drew will be that way too. Your positive attitudes, the power of so many prayers to the Lord, and quality surgeons who do this regularly nowdays will pull Drew threw this just fine. Take care. - Steve

Dan, I turned to god a few years ago when my life was falling apart and I thought there was no way out, with the power of prayer and faith anything can be acompilshed. Our God is a wonderful and loving God, he smiles on those that turn to him. My prayers and thoughts go to you and your family. Fiveweight

DanS,
The best of luck to your son and your family. My prayers and thoughts are with you.

- BW

Dan, Hang in there, Our prayers are with your son. Let me tell you a little about what I had to go through with my only son. # days after he was born, he went into respitory failure, at this time I was living on whidbey island, and of course I was not home, It was my brother and a volunteer firefighter that kept Zack alive until they got him to an ambulance waiting at the ferry dock, then he spent 10 long days in childrens hospital infant ICU, they did not know what was wrong or if he was even going to live. to make a long story short, he had a blood sugar disorder that he out grew with time and the right medications and now he is perfectly fine. Then when he was 3 years old he got hit by a car and I was the first there to pick his limp little body out from under the car, I thought he was dead, then all of a suuden he came to and just started screaming, but he was absolutley coverd with dirt, blood and gravel and I could not tell what was wrong with him, you want to talk about adreneline rush and fear all wrapped in one, luckily someone had called 911 and within minutes the paramedics were there on scene and taking care of him. He spent one night in the hospital and was released with just all soft tissue injuries. I believe we are truly blessed to be able to still have Zack with us, so you gotta believe and pray, I did, and now I think I have probably one of the toughest and most resiliant 51/2 year olds there is, the only problem is he still has no fear. So in closing I made it through it and so will you. Good luck Peace Superfly

We have the Midwest covered for you. I'll be up on my bow stand all weekend, and will have your family in my prayers. Take care, and God Bless you. I'm only an e-mail or phone call away.

Hawk

Dan S. when the boat stops tomorrow a.m., and I drop my first herring down, I will pray for your family. My first blackmouth of the day will be released in prayer for you and your son. Good Luck and Health to you all.

Dan, thanks for letting us know about your struggle. The "Great Physician" is eager to show His power and might! You are right...prayer catches His ear and He delights is showing His strength in our weakness. God is very understanding when it comes to children, you see, He lost a son on our behalf. Will pray for Drew and your family, as well as his medical team. In the mean time, if you-all can.....go wet a line and enjoy the fall colors. Blessing to you.

I'd like to take this time to thank each one of you for your kind thoughts and prayers. My wife and I were both touched by how much support has come from people, most of whom we've never met. It warms our hearts to know that so much love and prayer will be behind us when Drew has this procedure done.
The hard part for me is knowing that he will have a hard time understanding the pain he will feel in order to accomplish this surgery. He's just 4 years old, and I hope he'll know that we would never cause him any pain unless it was unavoidable. The procedure he's having done is the Ross Procedure, where his pulmonary heart valve will be removed and used to replace the defective aortic valve. A tissue (most likely pig) valve will be installed in place of the pulmonary valve. The main benefit being that anticoagulants and immunosuppressants are not needed. He's having this done at Children's Hospital in Seattle by a surgeon who has performed 125 of these procedures. So far the tally is 1 death, 1 pacemaker needed, and 123 successful procedures. So the odds look pretty good for Drew and us. And with your thoughts and prayers with us, we feel confident that everything will go fine.

Again, thank you for your kindness. My whole family appreciates the support we have received from this "community". You're all special people.

Dan, Sue, Cole and Drew Sandberg

Dan I have just now read this post. As a father I can understand how you feel. My wife and I send all our best wishes and prayers.

Sorry I couldn't reply faster as I was on a fishing trip to the Elk river. Dan & Family
from my family to yours, god bless and good luck.We will be thinking of Drew.

Dan, my prayers are with you and your family. Kids are a wonderful thing and I do believe that the good lord looks after them. "Do things in moderation, except that of loveing God."---St.Francis

Joe and Family

The Really Big One and Fishgal are pulling for all of you. May you have many spendid days of fishing in the years to come with Drew

Hi Dan Fish here my thoughts are with you and your family and for a successful surgery and speedy recovery for Drew, best wishes, Fish.

Dan S., we hope you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers, we wish you and your son the best, a speedy recovery, and tight lines in the very near future.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Have faith, and may God bless your family.
-Jack

Dan, My prayers and happiness to Drew. I wish him the best of luck to get through it all. Just tell him to think of a big steelhead when he goes into the operating room. When all is said and done, we'll all have to get drew out to the river. God will take care of him!!!
Keith

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Think positive Dan, I know a number of people who have gone through open heart sergery and they have all came out better than when they went in. Have faith in the lord. We are preying for Drew and your family. Dan Oliver

Dan,

I may only be 19, but I can only imagine what you must be going through... I certainly may not be the most religious of people, but I do believe, and I'll be sending a special prayer up for the sake of Drew, and your entire family!

- Tom

Dan,

I may only be 19, but I can only imagine what you must be going through... I certainly may not be the most religious of people, but I do believe, and I'll be sending a special prayer up for the sake of Drew, and your entire family!

- Tom