Singer-songwriter Amy Grant expressed her gratitude to loved ones for their prayers after undergoing open-heart surgery in early June. The 59-year-old Christian pop artist took to Instagram to thank her fans, friends and family for the outpouring of support, while also sharing photos of her post-surgery scars.
The operation was required to correct a partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR), a congenital heart condition in which one or two of the pulmonary veins returns blood to the right atrium instead of the left atrium.
Grant first announced her diagnosis in February, in honor of Heart Health Awareness Month, via Twitter, where she thanked her doctor for encouraging her to have a heart check-up due to a family history of heart disease. Tests revealed the rare but “fixable” condition.
“Instead of concerts and camping trips this summer, I am going to take care of my heart,” she wrote, before encouraging her followers to do the same.
The six-time Grammy winner, who has been married to country singer Vince Gill since 2000, compared her experience to being “a non-runner who was signed up for a marathon,” but added that the well wishes she’s received were “just pushing me through.”
“Thankfully the doctor said it could not have gone better,” Grant’s rep told PEOPLE. “We’re praying for a full and easy recovery over the next days, weeks and months to come.”
“My recovery has honestly felt miraculous,” the music star assured her followers. “I want to say thank you to each person who said a prayer for me. Prayer changes everything.”
While crediting the power of prayer for her smooth recovery, the singer also urged her fans to continue praying for the country during this “crazy, broken, yet beautiful time.”
“Let’s turn all the brokenness into love and seeing each other,” she added. “I love you.”
