As a recent heart patient, the author decided this needed to change. Through dozens of interviews, and weaving in her own personal story, The Open Heart Companion reinforces the wisdom that knowledge is power, and knowing what to expect during open-heart surgery recovery -- and planning for it -- makes the process so much easier. While books on heart disease prevention and surgical intervention abound, most have no day-by-day advice once the open-heart patient has left the hospital. The Open Heart Companion fills this gap. It is the first book written with the focus on the long recuperation period with the goal of reducing fear and stress by simply planning ahead -- written by a heart surgery patient, for patients and caregivers. The Books Biggest Benefit: Not only do Part One and Part Two prepare and empower you for your open-heart surgery operation, Part Three supports you during the difficult recovery gap between hospital discharge and when you are finally healed enough to enroll in a cardiac rehab program a stretch of four to eight challenging weeks.