Pam's Achy Breaky Heart: An angiogram and amazing news!

On Tuesday Dave took me to the hospital for an angiogram. My surgeon said I needed an angiogram before my heart valve replacement surgery to make sure none of my arteries were blocked, and if they were they would do bypass surgery at the same time as the valve replacement. Can I even tell you how much I didn't want to have both?

I was so relieved when during the angiogram the cardiologist put his hand on my shoulder and told me my arteries were all in great shape! Phew! Now all I needed to do was get through the chest cracking procedure and I'd be home free.

But wait! (Here's the amazing part!)

a·maz·ing

əˈmāziNG/

adjective

causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing.

"an amazing number of people registered"

synonyms: astonishing, astounding, surprising, stunning, staggering, shocking

They took me into the recovery room and a few minutes later Dave walked in. He said, "You're not going to believe this." And then he proceeded to tell me that my heart doesn't appear to be as damaged as they originally thought. The medicines I've been taking have worked in a miraculous way and they aren't sure I need a chest crack after all.

I couldn't believe it. I just could not believe it. Never once did it enter my mind that I would get that kind of news on that day. I was so grateful to hear about my arteries. I had prayed that my arteries would be clear and that I wouldn't need bypass surgery, but never had I prayed that I wouldn't need the valve replacement. I cried. Big crocodile tears of gratitude ran down my face. I just couldn't believe it.

I'm not completely in the clear yet, but here is my favorite part of this story. I get to go to Utah the end of November and be there when our second little grandpunk is born. My heart was broken because the scheduled surgery on November 6th was going to prevent me from being there. I still can't believe it. I know I keep repeating myself but I still feel so amazed, and so very very grateful.

The cardiologist said there is still about a 60% chance that I will need the chest crack, but that means there is a 40% chance I won't. And even if I do, it won't need to happen until after the first of the year because my heart valves aren't as damaged as they thought, and my condition isn't as critical as they thought.

The cardiologist's hope is that they can monitor me every six months and that the surgery won't be needed. I'm having a procedure called a T.E.E. on Tuesday that will give them an even better peek at my heart and then we will know more. During the T.E.E. an anesthesiologist will knock me out and they will go down my throat with a scope and see what's up with my valves. I'll take that over a chest crack any day.

I probably shouldn't tell you this part, but on Wednesday morning as Dave and I talked about all of this, he cried, too. He's a macho man so he might not want y'all to know, but I tell you that so you can see how much gratitude we feel.

Gratitude for great medical insurance and fabulous doctors.

Gratitude for all of the kindness that has been shown to us.

Gratitude for all of the faith and prayers in our behalf.

Gratitude for this enormous tender mercy.

This might seem kind of strange, but I also felt some guilt with all of this good news. Why me? I don't feel deserving of such a great blessing. There are others who are much more deserving of what feels to me like a miracle. But this I do know, everything, and I mean everything, is according to God's will. All we need to do is trust Him and everything, and I mean everything, will be alright.

If I do end up needing a chest crack, then that's what I'll do. And I'll trust God. And no matter what, He will carry me through, as He always has.

From my heart to yours,