Search

Sample Page
Create a Page
Cover photo
Follow pageFollow page

Supporting the Dowling's

Story

My name is Aimee, and I’ve spent my life as an outgoing young female who always helped others. My life changed dramatically when I had my Cardiac arrest from an infection called endocarditis. Endocarditis is generally considered rare, affecting about 3 to 10 out of every 100,000 people annually. I got the infection from a bad tooth. Bacteria from oral infections can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart, causing inflammation and potential valve damage. This is particularly concerning for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. I was born with 2 bad heart values. I had my first open heart surgery June of 2023 where I had my congenital heart valve disease (over inflamed Valve) repair with an artificial valve. Then I had the cardiac arrest January 2024 from the endocarditis infection. During the endocarditis attack I was coded for 20 mins. After getting a pulse back, I was having micro seizures. After a short issues with the local hospital and my cardiologist hospital, I was life flighted and admitted to ICU. After I was off life support and coming back around they scheduled my open heart surgery for the infection. They decided to fix the aortic valve stenosis. (Aortic valve stenosis is a type of heart valve disease, also called valvular heart disease. The aortic valve is between the lower left heart chamber and the body's main artery, called the aorta. In aortic valve stenosis, the valve is narrowed and doesn't open fully. This reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart to the aorta and to the rest of the body.) I had a cow value put in place to replace the bad value. Not long after I had a implantable cardioverter-defibrillator put in. (An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a battery-powered device that monitors and treats abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, with electrical impulses. It's about the size of a stopwatch and is implanted under the skin, usually below the collarbone. The ICD is made up of a pulse generator with a battery and computer, and thin wires with electrodes called leads. The leads connect the pulse generator to the heart.) I am since home and recovering. I do suffer from other medical issues and have PTSD from the cardiac arrest. I don't drive. I have my disabled husband (half a leg missing) and my two boys at home. We all help each other and just try to get by day by day. I am out of work and just trying to manage life.


Special Notes

Please be aware we have 3 outdoor cats and 1 indoor dog. My husband is on Dialysis 3xs a week so pls no sick visitors. Pls reach out to us before you show up for a visit. In case we have an appointment in Gainesville and we won't be home.

Care Calendar

Jun
July 2025
Aug

This calendar has no requests yet

Follow the page to get notified when new requests are added

Follow pageFollow page

MESSAGES

Aimee Dowling
This is the material they used in June 2023 to fix my over inflamed valve.
0 comments