Sunday

Michelle was able to get two more of her tubes out today. She is still struggling with the fluid (perhaps a bit of pneumonia). Continue to pray to that effect. It doesn't seem to be affecting her recovery a lot right now, but still a concern to bring before the Lord. She is very thankful for your prayers I'm sure.

Saturday Update

I talked to Michelle this evening. She sounded better than yesterday. She was able to get one of her chest tubes out this afternoon. She has also been walking around a bit. She says she naps, walks, eats, naps and walks. She's still very tired, but she doesn't have as much fluid around her lungs.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

I'm posting this for Michelle...

Friday Update

Michelle is still doing well. They moved her from ICU this morning. She has some fluid on her lungs. This is not abnormal, but it is still something for prayer. She went for a couple of short walks (10 and 60 yds.) today which seemed to have helped, since she showed about 220 ml less fluid. She really does not want to go back on respirator.

She is dealing with some pretty intense pain as well. That may have to do with the fluid. Another thing was that her neck was sore, probably from sleeping on it wrong.

She wanted to thank you all for your prayers, and your continued help in prayer.

Faith is Having Fun!

Flubber making!

She wasn't too sure about the stuff at first.

For some reason my internet is very slow, so I will try to upload more later. I've been sitting here for 30 minutes and I can't get the next picture up.

Thursday Report

I talked to Mom on the phone yesterday, and Bob also sent texts. It sounds like Michelle is doing well. She is keeping down clear liquids. She also was up in the chair yesterday and they had her walk a little. The Doctors are very pleased so far.

Surgery Updates

This is Rachel, Michelle's sister...she asked me to update you for a few days until she's up to snuff. Bob has been texting today, but I haven't had a chance to sit down until now. I'll just post word for word what he sent:

7:38 AM We have commended Michelle to the care of the Doctors. She wanted me to thank you all for your prayers. More as I know.

11:56 AM The Doctors are working on Michelle's heart. She is tolerating the surgery well. More as I know.

1:41 PM Vitals are still stable. Ablation (May's procedure) is done. Working on second part of Fontan conversion. Decreased size of right atria. More to come.

3:00 PM She is off the bypass machine. Pacemaker is installed. Doctors making sure bleeding has stopped. Surgery is virtually over. More to come.

5:11 PM Sugery is over and was a sucess! She's recovering in the ICU. Thank you all for your prayers. Please pray for a fast complication free recovery.


9:38 PM Michelle is awake, alert and talking. The doctors are pleased with her recovery. The Lord's name be praised.

EAT EAT EAT

So, I was told to have a good supper and nothing after midnight. Well, guess what! I didn't have a clue what to eat or where to go, but I wanted ICE CREAM!!! We drove around and low and behold, the Lord sent us down the right road to my favorite restraunt located right next door to my favorite ice cream joint!!! YEAH!! Supper was at HuHots and dessert was at ColdStone Creamery. What a way to fill up my tummy right before my 1-3 day fast. Yumm Yumm Yummm

What & Why

Hi! Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog page. I hope this will give you a better idea of how to pray for our family right now.
Why will I be having surgery tomorrow? I was born with a heart condition called Tricuspid Atresia. In a nut shell, my tricuspid valve (from R.Atrium toL.Ventrical) did not form properly which caused my Left Ventrical to underdevelop in utero. I had surgery at 11 mo and again at 4yrs. The surgery at 4yrs was to make my heart function to the best of it's ability in that medical era. That surgery lasts approx. 17yrs at best. Mine has lasted 27yrs!! Praise God! I have been doing remarkably well the last 27yrs. However, in 2006 I developed a problem with arrythmias. My heart would take off racing and a trip to the ER was the necessary. In March 2007 I underwent an ablation to hopefully rid the arrythmia occurances. It worked for over a year. In May 2008 it returned. I was bann from ALL forms of caffine (bye-bye Bunny tracks ice cream!) thinking that could have triggered it. In December '08 I had 2 more spells one of them getting me a ride via lifeflight to the ER (although alittle over dramatic). It was then decided to send me to IA City for a 2nd ablation with a Dr. more versed in my type of condition. That was this past March. However, it was discovered that I had to many "sites" causing the possible arrythmias for the doctors to comfortably do anything. That is when they began discussing surgery. Because of my previous surgery, my R. atria has expanded over time. Scar tissue from that same surgery has become sensative causing the irregular beats. I would not choose to have surgery, but for some reason God has led me to this point. While I could have stayed on medication, that would have become ineffective over time needing more meds. Surgery was highly recommended by doctors because of my great physical shape (not that I couldn't stand to loose a pound or two!), and the amazingly wonderful function of my heart. By waiting, we would run the risk of my health declining, damage to the heart from any arrythmias, and my heart function may not be as good as it is now.

So, tomorrow WHAT will they do....they will be doing several things and I am not even going to try to explain them all! (I couldn't). It will be an involved surgery for sure. They plan to shore up the R atria due to it's size. They will also do a "maze" which is basically making planned scar tissue that will interupt any irregular beats that try to take off. There are several other things they talked about, but it's "we'll have to see what things are like when we get in there" type of thing.

Please pray for a successful surgery - no complications - NONE! Pray for the doctor (Dr. Davis) who will be preforming the surgery. There was concern as to problems arising from scar tissue making "entry" into the chest difficult. Please pray that will not be the case. My other requests would be it would solve my arrythmia problems (for good!) and I would be able to get off my medications after all is said and done.

While I need prayers, please also pray for my family. I know this has been hard for Bob to have to watch me go through this. I praise the Lord for such a wonderful husband!! Faith is taking this very well, and I hope she gets along well being away from "mommy" so long. (Truth be told, I'll have a harder time with this seperation than she will!!! Just betcha!)

The Lord has allowed me to go down this path for a reason. My prayer is I will accomplish what he wants me to do through this.....

"Call unto ME and I will answer then and show thee great & mighty things which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3

Hello! This begins my blogging. Enjoy!