On Wednesday, June 11, Upaya Zen Center in New Mexico announced that its founder and head teacher Roshi Joan Halifax had successfully undergone major heart surgery to repair what Halifax said was “one leaf of my mitral valve [which] has become unmoored, and which was creating “excessive fatigue and shortness of breath.”
While Upaya originally shared the news that Halifax was recovering well (“her heart is doing great”), on Sunday the community posted an update: “Roshi’s mitral valve is still not working properly. ….they need to re-operate on her valve before any more scarring happens.” And in fact there had been other complications including the postponement of another procedure which, though rescheduled, was unsuccessful.
Monday night, a follow-up update was posted: “The surgeon just called to say the procedure went well and they were able to fix the problem and they had no issues. They will be finishing up in the next hour or so and she will be in the ICU. I will update when she is settled in the ICU.”
Please join us in sending continued best wishes to Roshi Joan for every moment in her healing and beyond. You can do so by leaving a message on this page. Please note that Upaya “gently requests that you not send flowers, chocolates, or cards. Just good thoughts, and if you want to do something, consider a donation to the Upaya Tree Fund or Scholarship Funds.”
Roshi Joan has been a frequent contributor to Lion’s Roar. Here are just some of our pieces by or about her:
Video: Practices for When You Are Sick
Life on the Edge — Joan Halifax describes five “edge states” where courage meets fear and freedom meets suffering.
Practice for a World at Risk — It’s the concept of “other” that drives the evils the world suffers from, says Roshi Joan Halifax. The contemplation we need now is that in reality there is no separation.
Help When Your Heart Breaks — Caring for people who are suffering is a loving, even heroic calling, but it takes a toll. Roshi Joan Halifax teaches this five-step program to care for yourself while caring for others.
