took a wild, unexpected turn as my surgery scheduled for 27.02 in Tirol Universitätskliniken Innsbruck was suddenly stopped just moments before starting. Breaking news: my main surgeon had to take over a critical emergency. I felt lucky to be healthy and grabbed the chance of enjoying a warm sunny day in this lovely city surrounded by lofty mountains (Galgenfrist!) I am back, now recovering in a clinic near Innsbruck. The mitralvalve reconstruction, a complex 6 hour operation performed by a team of 4 of the best surgeons in the world on 01.03 was successful. I bow in gratitude and respect so deep, you cannot imagine. I had the gift of…

Winter is fighting to survive – the nights here in Northern Austria are unfriendly and freezing cold. But the sun is stronger, setting now around 5:00 pm already and the growing light cannot be held back. Birds are singing so loud and joyfully at sunset, while they were silent a few icy weeks ago. Life force is a miracle we can trust … and it gives me courage and strength for the challenges awaiting me. I am getting ready for my heart surgery February 27th (International Day of the Polar Bear, by the way?!?) in Innsbruck. Trying to calm my fears and turn them into curiosity about the unknown, the…