The Heart of the Matter

April  12, 2016

Today Eric and I visited my precious cardiologist for my bi-annual heart check up. This was only my second ever bi-annual check up. I usually have one a year. However, with things changing as seen 6 months ago, it was necessary to be seen twice a year.

So there we sat at Carolina Cardiology waiting to see my awesome Dr. It is so important to have a close relationship with your Dr. and praise God, I do! She came in, she checked me out, and here is what she had to say in short:

*I sound amazing and my heart is doing very well. She stated that the weakness she saw 6 months ago can now be considered a back thought. It is no longer pressing information. She sees that my heart is strong and able to handle a lot of physical stress and activity.

* She said my heart case was unique. (This is great!) This means that she expects and anticipates my heart to be weaker and weaker every time she sees me, she expects to see signs of decline in my ability, breathing, performance, feelings, however; I keep beating those odds. I remain active, always adding to my activity. I am able by the will of God to do strength training and dancing, yoga and running 4-5 times a week for 1-2 hours without fatiguing. A lot of normal people can't do this. And I mean, neither could I if God didn't live in me! Live in my heart! She is amazed at the lack of decline and the constant vivacious strong ability. She encouraged me to do all the activity I want and to not slow down!

* I asked her about having a baby again. Eric and I have our own personal plans for a baby (God willing) in the near-ish future. From the beginning she has been telling me that it is best for me to have a baby before the repair; this is still true. I am still high risk, meaning I have a higher risk of miscarriage. However, she stated I can be as physically active as I want to while I am pregnant. I can run and do my yoga and my strength training cardio all I want with little baby Gladden bouncing around in my belly...(God willing). I will not need to be on bedrest most likely. She stated of course we will still have to pay attention to what my body is telling me...but that I should have a very near normal pregnancy one day with just a few more extra Dr. visits. We will work more with that as that time gets closer. All of that I really want to leave in God's hands. I am convinced entering parenthood is the biggest thing Eric and I will ever do, so that ball is definitely in God's court! (Duh!)

*She then was able to tell me that I will most definitely have a biological valve. In previous posts you will see where I wrote about the differences in biological and mechanical valves. I will have a biological valve, which makes me happier because I WON'T HAVE TO TAKE A BLOOD THINNER!!!! I so didn't want to have to take one. I know that taking a blood thinner is no big deal, but I can't explain it....maybe you have to know me on a deeply personal level to help me understand it myself...but I really do not want to take a blood thinner. I don't like medicine. Plus I'm kinda terrible at taking medicine. I never remember it.And I don't look to medicine before I look to natural alternatives. Even though I work in medicine. Medicine has its place but...yeah. I prefer to use what God gave us first, then the things that man compounded of the ingredients God gave us to fix things. ;) Again, I agree medicine does have it's place. I'm just weird.

*She does not need to see me bi-annually anymore!! I am back to the one year visits again. I have an echocardiogram and extensive check-up next April. And this AMy 12, 2016, I will do an extensive stress test. I last did a stress test at 13. I am nervous. This one is more than running on a treadmill. They told me to be prepared to sweat. I guess since I so physically active they want to push those boundaries and see how my heart reacts. I have test anxiety! No matter what the test! I just want to rock it and blow them away and give them nothing to worry about! I want to do more than they expect me to be able to do! I'm an over achiever! :)

Today, I just want to praise God! The only reason my heart is "unique" and is taking "so long" to weaken is because God lives in it. He is there physically and spiritually. His joy and salvation definitely give me a better outlook on life. It gives me a positive perspective. And that alone is wnough to improve a man's will to live stronger. But God also literally healed my heart and He is the one Who is keeping it so strong now as we anticipate the future surgery ahead. Which at this point...I have no time guage on anymore. 3 years ago I was told I would need it in 3-5 years. Now today it is at least still that far off.

My selfish prayer is that God would give me a pulmonary valve and fix my tricuspid valve so that I never need another surgery. To me, it would be most glorious to God to suddenly have a pulmonary valve that was never a part of my body in the first place. Only God could create me a pulmonary valve out of thin air. And I know and belive He can. And maybe He will. But, what I need to remember when praying is to pray for God's will,to pray that God will be most glorified in my situation. That glory for God may come from me being admitted to a hospital and needing surgery. I may speak to another patient or Dr, or nurse and show them the faith in the Lord and how God heals or show them they can place their fears or live in God's hands. This may be where God needs me. God may make me have many more surgeries all my life just to continue receiving glory. And this I will do willingly and happily as my life is not meaningless or for myself. I live to serve and glorify the LORD. The Healer. And Him using my life for His glory is the most amazing way I could ever live my life!!

Anyway, that is the update for now. Thank y'all for the prayers! Keep God in charge of it all!