Bless his heart

      We headed for Garden City Friday morning, August 29th. Mike woke up at 4:30 which was the time he had been waking up for work anyway so I hadn't thought much about it. The chest pain was back. It had actually started a week earlier but he was hoping it was nothing so he didn't say much. Ok, actually it had started a month earlier when he started his rotation at Hospital Hill. Mike hates that place so much that it stresses him out. Brushing it off as stress he didn't say anything to me until a week ago. I told him he had to see his Cardiologist but because he was booked for a long time Mike brushed it off. (I won't mention that he has his cardiologists cell phone # and could call anytime and get right in, cause that would mean having to admit something is actually happening) So, we left for Garden City. We took the "long" way hoping to stay close to "big" cities/hospitals. I should have clued in. Mike gets nervous when we get far away from home, our Dr, our Hospital and he's not feeling well. Rightfully so.
     We arrived safely. Enjoyed the afternoon together and then dinner after Jake and Chanel arrived. I really love getting together with family. It makes for such a happy day!
     Mike and I had been up a while so we headed for bed. Mike couldn't sleep. That never happens. After lots of ups and downs and a priesthood blessing, by 3am, Mike had had enough and we went into the ER. They admitted him and that was that. Saturday we were supposed to be enjoying a day at the Lake with everyone but plans changed a little. The cardiologist wanted to take him back and do an angiogram right away but we said we wanted to go home to get it done. OK, great, they didn't have a problem with that. They said, "we'll transfer you."  And by transfer they meant ambulance or airplane. Not happening. Anywhere from $30,000-$50,000 didn't sound so happy. We fought it. After lots of chats with our Cardiologist and cardiologist to cardiologist we convinced them we could do it. They kept Mike in the hospital another night to monitor him. The plan was to discharged him first thing in the morning and then we drive straight to our hospital and be admitted. Sure it was risky. Yes I would have hated myself forever had something happened on the drive. I'd be happy paying 100 million dollars to have my husband around for a little longer. It's just kinda hard to think 100% that way when you've got no money. Life is funny, isn't it?  We felt good about driving.

 


     Sunday morning we all (minus Mike) went to church. Ryan is leaving to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Sunday was his "farewell." This was the entire reason we came into town. Mike text me about 15 minutes into the meeting and told me he could go. I rushed so fast out of there and picked up my honey! After I loaded up the precious cargo we headed for church. To our surprise, we made it back in time. It was fun to walk in mid meeting, Ryan was sitting on the stand and saw Mike walk in. Tears just streamed down his face. I don't think anyone expected Mike to be there. Jake, Lane, Ryan, Tayler and Mike all stood to sing "Called to Serve." It brought tears to my eyes. I love my brothers, I love Mike, I love how they all fit so nicely together and bring so much strength and love to a room. Melt my little heart.
     Ryan gave the most beautiful talk about trusting in the Lord. It was what exactly what we needed to hear at the right time. He's putting his life on hold for two years to serve the Lord. He's trusting that even though serving a mission can/will be hard it will be worth it. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price and was willing to give it all up for us. Two years is nothing to give back. Everyone in our family is going through our own trials but we all have to put our trust in the Lord in our own way and it was just the most tender mercy to have my little brother say those words so eloquently. Mom was kind of a mess if you can imagine. Ryan is getting ready to leave, Dad had an accident the week before and broke a big bone in his face, Mike spent the weekend in the hospital, I've been having my own health issues and all of it coming together at the same time had her laughing and crying at once.
     After the meeting was over, we were saying our goodbye's and I decided getting a blessing was a good idea. I was given a blessing of healing. Having my Dad, four brothers and Mike who faithfully hold the Priesthood all join in giving me a blessing was powerful. I feel so confident that everything is going to be just fine. I feel like I have enough trust in the Lord to know that everything will turn out exactly how it needs to. It always does. I've never been let down before. I feel so much peace about everything going on. With that, Mom & Dad kept the kids, we loaded up and we were off.

     The drive was great. Mike felt great. We made great time (of course we did, I was driving.) We arrived in KC and checked into Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill.... Safe....Mike felt so much better just knowing we were back home with the care we love and trust.

He's chained down & we can't stop laughing about it

My bed=3 chairs they scrounged up

What I need to survive

                     

his face when I'm winning!

 

His man purse & dress are my favorite. He's looking at the "healing art." Lets hope it works

 

SO bored. He's breathing funny to change his oxygen pattern & spell his name on the screen.  

     So here I am now, Tuesday morning, Mike just got taken back for surgery and I feel great. I can't even begin to express how many miracles and tender mercies I've seen in my life and specifically when it comes to Mike and his sweet heart. There is no doubt in my mind that my Heavenly Father knows me. He knows exactly what I need, what I can handle, what will teach me. Mike's cardiologist, Dr. Paramdeep Baweja is such an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I love him so much! I really feel like this is the exact reason we ended up here in Kansas City. We have found the most amazing group of specialists. If Dr. Baweja can't do it, he knows someone who can, he makes the arrangements and bends over backwards. When he gave Mike his personal number he said, you're not my patient, you're my friend. You are young, you have a young family and you need to be around for them. That's my goal. Did I mention how much I love him? Lots.  
     I don't really get nervous when he's back in surgery. My stomach however does drop each time the door opens and I think the Doctor is coming to tell me how it went. That is the hardest part to hear. Sometimes it doesn't turn out like we think it should which is scary and hard to hear but looking back on each outcome, it was better than what we thought should happen. It turned out to be the very best. Did we know that, No. Did the Lord know that, yes. Last year after surgery as the Doctor & his fellow came out to get me, he said we needed to talk and then proceeded to take me back to a small room. He sat me down in a chair and was quiet for a long moment. Can you imagine what was going through my mind and how far my heart fell? That isn't what they normally do, I'll tell you that much.       I trust the Lord. I trust Dr. Baweja. I learn SO much every time we go through another round of surgeries. I wouldn't trade it for anything. When people ask how I'm surviving the trials, mostly I have to stop and ask myself, what trials are they talking about? It honestly doesn't feel like a trial. That scripture that talks about your burdens being light, and He will take them from your backs so you can't feel them. That's exactly how I feel. When I'm going through it it doesn't feel like a trial. Sure, I can look back and say wow, that was a hard time, but at the time the Lord blesses me with so much strength and peace it feels like nothing. As I studied the scriptures this morning I read a scripture in Psalms 147:3. I take that literally. "He healeth the broken heart, and bindeth up their wounds." He absolutely without a doubt does heal broken hearts. He has bound many many of Mike's wounds. There is nothing He can't do. Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart. I just can't even express the joy I feel when I read the scriptures and think about the power of the Lord. There are and has been so so many things science and Doctors couldn't explain about Mike's heart but it has always worked out. Miracles absolutely happen. Ahhh....can I shout it any louder!? God is so so good. Life is good.
     I just got a call from Kade's teacher saying he came to school a little sad and then told her a story about his Dad. I had to laugh a little.  Brooke is home babysitting the kids and last night they were having the best time! They didn't want to go to bed. Kade started crying when I put him to bed and I thought he might say something about missing Dad. Not a chance. He was like, why Does Bree get to stay up and play? She always gets to have all the fun. Back up to the end of their drive (Monday late afternoon), he called me and told me he was sick. He had thrown up that morning. Funny that I hadn't heard about it until now. I started catching on that he knew cousins were coming and he wanted to stay home from school and play. He also said to me when going to bed, do you know we have a counselor at school. You can go talk to her when you're not feeling like yourself. I'm like, OH, are you not feeling like yourself? Haha, you little smarty. You are pulling out all the stops. Sorry buddy, you're going to school. Now I guess we'll see if he stays in school for the entire day. Funny Kade.
   
     He's finished! Dr. Baweja just came out and sat by me in the waiting room. (See, that's what I'm used to). He was happy and things went great! They placed 1 stent in the RCA. A little branch going up has a stent and a branch leading to the right is what was totally occluded and stented last year. The LAD looked fantastic. Well, sort of fantastic. It's still about 70% occluded but it hasn't changed since last time. All is well! Happy Day, God is good!  Bless Mike's little heart. (:
     Recovery is hilarious. He's currently talking about what he's going to invent. He's wondering what kills more, Aids or Diabetes. He admitted that sometimes when he's really hungry he sneaks down to the cafeteria & eats some of those little cracker packages that go with the soup. He had me explain everything to him about the procedure. I know I'll be explaining it all again tonight when he's actually with it. Love him!