It's Survivor Series Saturday Featuring Valerie Mandala!

🫵We want YOU to be the shining star in someone else's life by sharing your story as a patient, survivor or caregiver.

❤️Whether it's Aortic Valve Disease, Aortic Aneurysms or an Aortic Dissection, your ability to validate another person's experience is not only therapeutic but inspiring.

❤️Help us show others how to Thrive and not just Survive.

𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Click HERE

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄: Click HERE

It is our privilege to share the inspiring story of Valerie Mandala.

While vacationing overseas, Valerie survived a Type A Aortic Dissection. Her story is one of resilience, and we are grateful she is here to share it—bringing hope, awareness, and connection to our community.

My aorta, type A dissection, occurred while on a small vacation boat off the Croatian coast on October 3, 2024.. The rip inside me was unimaginable. Being at sea, we could not get to shore for several hours. The doctor on board called ahead and administered fluids via an IV. I bled for 8 hours through the night. After docking, I was  rushed to a hospital in Zadir where scans confirmed my condition.

I was flown to KGB Split Hospital where the doctors performed a 9 hour surgery, saving my life.

I survived a 3% chance of living. After the initial surgery, I suffered 2 myocardial infarctions and remained in ICU for 5 weeks, then to a step-down room for an additional week. The Croatian doctors were amazing, explaining everything along the way. I remained in Croatia for 3 months until I could get medical clearance, and was allowed to travel back to the States ONLY if I hired a doctor and RN as escorts.

This past year has been a road to recovery. Being an RN made it harder to admit that I needed help with the anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Once I realized that this was bigger than me, I received the needed help by professionals where I was given proper medication and cardiac rehab. I went from being in a wheelchair 1 year ago to being more independent, even driving to my appointments. 

My goal is to become a liaison for people going through the same experience and offer support which would fill the gap between hospital discharge and the return to a comfortable existence.