Good Report From Cardiologist

I thought I would post an update since it's been about 3 weeks since my last one.

I saw my cardiologist on Friday and he gave me a good report as far as my heart function is concerned. There seems to be no problems with my heart function as a result of the cardiac arrest; of course, I still have the original cautions which are a part of the problems that accompany the heart disease, transposition of the great arteries (TGA), with which I was born and which did cause the heart attack.

I began walking on my treadmill last week. I gave up trying to walk outside because of the heat! It takes me 20 minutes to walk a mile (I did have a 13-14 minute mile), but hey, I CAN walk. I am thankful that I am able to start exercising again. And, I have cut my nap time down to one a day. Yahoo!!

I still do not have clear vision when I look down, try to read, etc. I will see my eye doctor in a couple of weeks and maybe then will get the prescription which will correct that problem. I have not been released to return to work, of course.

I have 2-3 more doctor appointments over the next few days, so I will post an update in a week or so if there are any changes to report.

For those of you who have been praying for me, I say thank you and please continue to pray for my full recovery. I know God is at work in my life and you have been a part of it. Thank you so much.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him e glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

To See Or Not To See

I was able to see my regular eye doctor today; the opthomoligist I have been seeing is the one who saw me in the hospital and scheduled follow up visits in his office. While he was very good, the most I got from his was that I am to see him again in 5-6 months to see what we need to do about the double vision if it is still a problem.

My regular eye doctor was great! He did vision tests to determine the extent of the double vision and if glasses with a correction for the double vision would help. I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that the double vision is still there and has not changed much from when I was in the hospital. The good news is that the double vision is mostly contained to one direction and can be corrected with a perscription which contains prisims in the lense. We determined that for now I will continue as I have been and will return for a follow up visit in 6 weeks, then again 6 weeks after that.

In the mean time, if you see me and I look at you funny - or act like I don't recognize you at all - please don't take offense! For the time being I am wearing my regular glasses (which are for distance vision); I take them off to see things up close or to read, and when I do that my eyes have to refocus and adjust for the double vision. I am not always able to focus right away. Then when I put them back on, the same thing happens. Hence, my husband (wonderful man!) has to drive me everywhere and sometimes I drop things because i just think they are in my hand!

Seriously, I feel wonderful and if this vision thing is the least of my worries, I am just fine! I do thank God every day for providing me with more time on earth. Thank you so much for your prayers for me. If you are a prayer warrior, please continue to pray!

"Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth He has made mention of my name." Isaiah 49:1b

PS - please excuse spelling errors; did I mention I don't see very well?

Resting at Home!

Hello! To date all of the updates have been posted by my daughters and now they have passed the torch to me! I am very thankful for all of the support everyone has shown my family and all of you who ask continually how I am doing. I can only say that because of God's grace I am still here today!

I came home from the hospital in Indy one week and 4 days ago; it has been good to be in my own home and it has been good to see everyone who has stopped by. To date I have had my first round of check-ups with all of the doctors - family physician, cardiologinst, opthomoligist - and all have given me good reports. Each has scheduled a follow up visit for anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months to 6 months from now. They all seem amazed that I have recovered so well and I can only give all the credit and glory to my faithful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. From what I have been told about my accident this has been a truly miraclous journey that only God could be given credit for. Thank you to all of you who have prayed so much for my recovery. Please continue to do so.

One thing that is still a problem for me is my vision: I have double vision at certain angles, and when I am very tired. I also need to get my strength back. It seems I wake up and am ready to go for the day then after a couple of hours for no reason at all I need to go to sleep! I am told that is normal, so I try to take each day one step at a time.

My cardiologist has said I may start taking walks each day to begin to get strenght back and improve my stamina. So, I will be recruiting Scott to start walking in the park with me in the mornings before it gets hot. I won't be running the marathon this year, but I will give it my best shot!

I will continue to post updates once a week or so for as long as people are interested in reading them or knowing now I am doing. Thank you for your concern and most of all, thank you for your prayers.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Miriam had her appointment with the opthamologist today. He said her vision problems are normal considering what she's been through. She has an appointment set up in six months to evaluate her vision at that time. Please pray that Miriam's vision improves. Thank you so much for all the support. Other than her vision, Miriam is feeling pretty good...still tired but that's to be expected.

Home At Last!

Miriam finally got home last night and got to sleep in her own bed. She was up before Scott this morning fixing coffee. She's still tired and is having trouble with her vision. She will be setting up appointments with an opthamologist, her primary care physician, and her cardiologist in the next several days. Please thank God for all He has done for Miriam and pray that she continues to recouperate.

Miriam hasn't had any spells where her heart gets out of rhythm since her defribrillator was put in. Her doctor came in today and said she should be able to leave tomorrow. Miriam is excited to go home and sleep in her own bed. Please thank God for all he has done for Miriam in the last few weeks and pray that she has a safe trip home. She's looking forward to meeting the woman who found her and called 911 when she returns to Evansville.

Defribullator

Miriam's surgery to implant her defribullator went well. She is resting now and will remain in the hospital long enough for her doctor to monitor her on her new medication. When the doctor was looking at her heart today, he noted that there was no blockage in the heart or arteries, all the baffles looked good and the original surgery sites from 1964 were still good. The problem with her heart then is a timing issue between the chambers.

Miriam wanted to share the following passage that has been on her mind in the days that she came out of her coma:

For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
My feet from stumbling,
That I may walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.

I believed; therefore I said,
"I am greatly afflicted."...

How can I repay the Lord
for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill all my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

Psalm 116: 8 - 14