Many of you have called to see how I am doing; thanks so much for your kindness. I also owe Tina Palmer a huge "thanks" for delivering lunch & dessert! We appreciate you so much Tina!
On Wednesday, I was to have an SVT Ablation for a heart problem that developed when I was in the eighth grade. I have been on medication to control it since my mid-twenties, but it was getting worse, so my doctor sent me to a specialist (who then sent me to a different specialist). I ended up at the Cardio & Vascular Unit in Spokane. On Wednesday the procedure went ahead as planned. The purpose of the surgery was to stimulate my heart, in a controlled environment, until it reacted by having the "episodes" I have experienced for years. I was a little worried that it would be much like being at an auto repair shop; my engine would work just fine and the mechanic would look at me and say, "Sorry, everything checks out just fine lady". To my delight, my heart did what it was supposed to do and the team recorded everything! The doctor was able to pinpoint two areas (called focal sites) that cause the problems. It is located in the "Mid Crista Terminalis region" of my heart. There are at least two focal sites that are close together. Unfortunately, that particular area of my heart it located next to the "Phrenic Nerve", which supplies the diaphragm muscle for breathing. They were unable to "fix" the problem because the doctor said there was too much potential for "phrenic nerve injury". They stopped the procedure and brought me out. I was crushed. I had been so excited to be free of the constant ailment. There is good news to this story however. There is now a map of where my problem originates, and it can be fixed by someone in a specialized field. There are three doctors that can perform what is called an "Epicardial Access". The surgery consists of filling up a "balloon" with fluid and "moving" the phrenic nerve away from the sites so that energy ablation can be applied. Here is the bad news: those doctors are located in Austin, Texas, UCLA & Mt. Sinai New York.
So I can look at the glass as half empty or half full. I am choosing to look at it as half full! This is NOT life threatening and it can be fixed. I am so thankful for all of the love & prayers that have been sent my way. We are blessed by all this modern technology. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for his love and guidance.
Alex, Ryan, Gen, Cousin Nick & I will all be in Provo, Utah next week for football camps. I will return to the specialist when we get back. The kid are all super excited to go to Brigham Young University. We are planning on going to Seven Peaks Water Park & Lagoon. Nick & Gen have asked twenty-seven times today when we are leaving. Life is good.
If we're lucky, we'll find & stop at the largest ball of yarn (or some kind of weird tourist attraction) this week. Happy Trails!
On Wednesday, I was to have an SVT Ablation for a heart problem that developed when I was in the eighth grade. I have been on medication to control it since my mid-twenties, but it was getting worse, so my doctor sent me to a specialist (who then sent me to a different specialist). I ended up at the Cardio & Vascular Unit in Spokane. On Wednesday the procedure went ahead as planned. The purpose of the surgery was to stimulate my heart, in a controlled environment, until it reacted by having the "episodes" I have experienced for years. I was a little worried that it would be much like being at an auto repair shop; my engine would work just fine and the mechanic would look at me and say, "Sorry, everything checks out just fine lady". To my delight, my heart did what it was supposed to do and the team recorded everything! The doctor was able to pinpoint two areas (called focal sites) that cause the problems. It is located in the "Mid Crista Terminalis region" of my heart. There are at least two focal sites that are close together. Unfortunately, that particular area of my heart it located next to the "Phrenic Nerve", which supplies the diaphragm muscle for breathing. They were unable to "fix" the problem because the doctor said there was too much potential for "phrenic nerve injury". They stopped the procedure and brought me out. I was crushed. I had been so excited to be free of the constant ailment. There is good news to this story however. There is now a map of where my problem originates, and it can be fixed by someone in a specialized field. There are three doctors that can perform what is called an "Epicardial Access". The surgery consists of filling up a "balloon" with fluid and "moving" the phrenic nerve away from the sites so that energy ablation can be applied. Here is the bad news: those doctors are located in Austin, Texas, UCLA & Mt. Sinai New York.
So I can look at the glass as half empty or half full. I am choosing to look at it as half full! This is NOT life threatening and it can be fixed. I am so thankful for all of the love & prayers that have been sent my way. We are blessed by all this modern technology. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for his love and guidance.
Alex, Ryan, Gen, Cousin Nick & I will all be in Provo, Utah next week for football camps. I will return to the specialist when we get back. The kid are all super excited to go to Brigham Young University. We are planning on going to Seven Peaks Water Park & Lagoon. Nick & Gen have asked twenty-seven times today when we are leaving. Life is good.
If we're lucky, we'll find & stop at the largest ball of yarn (or some kind of weird tourist attraction) this week. Happy Trails!
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