Welcome to the Zipper Club: Surviving Heart Surgery and Beyond

Are you or a loved one facing cardiac surgery?

There’s nothing more frightening than when your heart isn’t functioning the way it’s supposed to, except possibly when the heart of someone you love is in trouble.

Of course, it’s a natural reaction to want more information about what to expect and how to heal quickly.

And while there’s a lot of great information on the internet, much of it is on medical websites that provide bulleted lists of information mixed with incomprehensible jargon.

In this first-person account, author Bruce Ballister shares his own experience with coronary artery bypass grafting so that you will know:

• What to expect as you prepare for your surgery.
• How it feels to have had your chest cracked open.
• Why a support team is so important for your recovery.
• How to transition back home as smoothly as possible.
• And most importantly, what you need to do to avoid a repeat performance.

Whether you’re preparing for heart surgery yourself or you’ll be supporting someone through the process, this book will explain what to expect and how to survive beyond the surgery.

5-star review rating from Readers' Favorite

Vernita Naylor from Readers' Favorite shares that "This book is highly recommended and a must-have for any library."

This book is highly recommended and a must-have for any library.

5-star review from Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

Bruce Ballister has written an outstanding book. It chronicles the journey of one man from finding out that he had a significant heart problem through the process of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. He does not withhold any details, but instead provides a very accurate and personal account of the entire cardiac surgery process, in an informative and entertaining way.

This book will be of great benefit to anyone who is facing heart surgery. Their family will also benefit from reading it and have a much greater understanding of what their loved one can expect to experience.

I highly recommend this book to a potential heart surgery patient and anyone else who wants a legitimate first-hand account of the cardiac surgery process.

Jeffery S. Snyder, M.D., FACS, thoracic surgeon

I heartily endorse Bruce Ballister's book, Welcome to the Zipper Club. It is a breezy, succinct read of an increasingly common modern terror (heart disease) and what it's like to experience its devastation. His book also covers what it takes to address the disease medically. While the story may be uncomfortable, it is an accurate portrayal, and everyone should read it and then reflect upon how they live, work, eat, rest and play.

Stephen Michael Hodges, heart surgery survivor

This book brought back a lot of memories. My situation was very similar to the author's in many ways. After my surgery, I was happy to wake up and went through the same things that he did. I enjoyed reading Welcome to the Zipper Club and wish it had been available before my operation. This story makes a clinical procedure very real.

Don Lanham, heart surgery survivor

Welcome to the Zipper Club does a good job of capturing the range of emotions a patient goes through from initial diagnosis of coronary artery disease through the post-surgical rehab required after coronary bypass surgery. Honestly, I thought it was a humorous and thorough explanation of the process.

Jeremy Fritzsche, FNP-BC, family nurse practitioner

This is a wonderful story and a beautifully written book that brings a sense of joy and hope. This book will be of great support to anyone preparing for heart surgery or new members of the "Zipper Club." You don't have to face any scary procedures alone, Bruce is with you, and his book provides a heartfelt sense of optimism. I wish I'd been able to read this book before my own surgery.

Ian Day, co-author of Challenging Coaching, cardiac arrest survivor, and member of the Zipper Club since 2017