Barbara Walters’ words on her heart surgery – and a warning for women
It was quite a surprise when Barbara Walters announced on The View that she would be having heart surgery this week to replace her aortic valve. At 80, she is still one of the busiest, most visible news personalities on the air.
"You know how I always say to you how healthy I am. ... I've never missed a day's work," Walters said. "Later this week, I'm going to have surgery to replace one faulty heart valve. Lots of people have done this, and I have known about this condition for a while now."
Walters was calm and optimistic about the procedure. But it is major, open-heart surgery and requires a long recovery time. Part of the reason her surgery is scheduled now is to allow her to recover over the summer and return to work in the fall.
From ABC News:
“Walters told ABC Senior Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser that the problem was detected during an echocardiogram of her heart -- a scan that revealed that her valves were "getting tighter and smaller." Since this test, her doctors have been following the progression of the problem, anticipating that her aortic valve would eventually need to be replaced. Recently, Walters said, she has experienced some pressure in her upper chest.
“The aortic valve is, in effect, the exit door of the heart. It is through this gateway that the blood is pumped to the rest of the body. With time, the valve can harden and become less effective at keeping blood from flowing in reverse. This hardening is known as stenosis. It can worsen to the point that it can severely affect health -- and, if untreated, it can lead to early death.
“For this reason, surgery is often necessary to correct the problem before it progresses.
“According to the American Heart Association, surgeons in the United States performed 17,592 aortic valve procedures in 2007. On average, these patients spent only eight days in the hospital after their surgeries. The risk of complications associated with this procedure, including death, is less than 5 percent, doctors say.”
Although Walters has known about her condition for some time, she told her co-hosts on The View that she hadn’t noticed a difference in how she felt.
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Bishop Walter Dixon’s
Prayer Exclusively For Our Sister in Christ
Barbara Walters
[link edited by EmpowHer moderator]
May 13, 2010 5:30 A.M.
My Dear Sister in Christ Barbara Walters,
I have been lead by the “Holy Spirit” to write this prayer on your behalf and I trust this prayer will bring you one step closer to “Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. (John 3:16, 17).
Therefore having been justified by faith, I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also I have obtained my introduction by faith into this grace in which I stand; and I exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but I also exult in my tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within my heart through the Holy Spirit who was given to me (Romans 5:1-5).
I’m afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise me also with Jesus and will present my mind, body and most important, my soul with him.
Therefore I do not lose heart, but through my inner flesh is decaying yet my inner soul is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for me an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while I look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporally, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2.Corinthians 4:8,9,14 16-18).
As I lay this fragile body down for this surgery, may my Lord Jesus Christ be near me to defend me, within me to refresh me, around me to preserve me, before me to guide me, behind me to justify me, above me to bless me. I will lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost for all the remaining days of my life.
Our Father, be gracious to your child sister Barbara Walters, O God, according to Thy loving kindness and According to the greatness of Thy compassion. She asked for your help, Father she maybe perplexed and maybe afraid. God if it is your will give this child extended years while she is on earth through your “Grace”.
May 13, 2010 - 9:03amAmen
Bishop Walter Dixon
[link edited by EmpowHer moderator]
404.849.2033
P.O. Box 832161
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Ps. I have posted a live video copy of this prayer in your honor on Google, Face Book, MySpace and Youtube.com.
Cc: ABC New and President Barack Obama
This Comment
Good thing she didn't go to Johns Hopkins Cardiology: http://adventuresincardiology.com
May 13, 2010 - 10:46amThis is my prayer for you Barbara Walters, as given in The Holy Bible. ‘III Epistle of John vs. 2: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.’ Amen.
Suzanne McMillen-Fallon, Published Author
May 16, 2010 - 3:51pmwww.strategicbookpublishing.com/Mommy, would you like a sandwich?