Walt's Journey

Sarah had the day off work today because of the weather, and both Gabe and Hope had the day off school as well. It has been nice to have my whole family home for a couple of days. I have a new perspective on family as well as on life ever since God allowed me to survive my aortic dissection.

Since everyone was home, we all traveled to the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor together. The original plan had me going by myself and I was not looking forward to it.

Every time I go to the University of Michigan hospital, heaps of memories come crashing in on me. The time that I was at U of M for the dissection, I was flown in by helicopter, so I never saw the route that was taken to the hospital and I never saw much of the outside as well. The things that stick out in my memory were the smells, the paint on the walls, the uniforms of the doctors and nurses and the sounds around me. Each time I go to the U of M hospital for appointments, all of these things are so vivid to me, and have a rather large impact on me. Today was no exception. Whenever I am there, it is never an easy in and out. It is a painful reminder of everything that had taken place.

We arrived at 12:55pm. I had a 1:15pm appointment for an Echo Cardio Gram, and a 2:30pm appointment to be fitted for a Holter heart monitor. I was called back at 1:30pm for the Echo Cardio Gram. Beforehand, I had asked Gabe if he would like me to check to see if he could come back and watch the test. I thought it would be interesting for him, as many kids his age are not able to see medical procedures such as this. Gabe seemed to give it some thought, but if I had to guess, he was probably a little nervous about it. After a few minutes of thinking, he said that he would rather not. Sarah took the kids to the cafeteria for some snacks while I went back for my test.

I had an Echo Cardio Gram a few weeks earlier and it was not a pleasant experience. I am a bit farther into my recovery since the last test, and this time it was not as uncomfortable. I am still not thrilled about taking off my shirt while a computer type contraption rubs cold gel all around my sore sternum. The test lasted for thirty minutes. Once I was finished, I checked in at the front desk for my heart monitor fitting.

The next appointment was scheduled for 2:30pm. I was finished with my Echo Cardio Gram by 2:00pm, and was called back for the heart monitor fitting at 2:05pm. I was not excited to hear that the nurse was going to have to do a little bit of shaving in order for the probes to stick correctly. The nurse shaved a couple of spots on my chest, one of which was too close to my open heart surgery scar for my comfort. Four probes were placed on my chest and the heart monitor was officially turned on at 2:15pm. I was informed that I will have to wear the heart monitor until 2:15pm on Saturday, February 5^th. I was also given a chart to record each time that I feel the Premature Ventricular Contractions acting up along with the activity that I was engaged in at the time. I also have to record each time that I wake up in the morning, and each time that I go to bed in the evening. After my forty-eight hours has passed, I have a pre-stamped pouch that I will place the heart monitor in, and mail back to the hospital.

I was finished with the heart monitor fitting at 2:20pm. Everything had gone smoothly, and the entire time I was in the hospital lasted less than two hours.

We decided to go out to a nice dinner on the way back home. As I sat in the restaurant, along with my family, I realized that underneath my shirt were several wires registering each of my heart beats. I reflected on how thankful I was that God allowed me this extra time to spend with my family. Each day is tough in its own unique way, and I know that I have a long road ahead of me, but I am thankful for such a wonderful family that is on this journey along with me.

February 10^th, 2011 is my next appointment in Ann Arbor. I will be meeting with both my cardiologist as well as my surgeon. The purpose of these appointments will be to go over the Echo Cardio Gram as well as the CAT scan that I had done on New Years Day. On March 3rd, 2011, I go back again to U of M to see my Electrophysiologist concerning the results of my heart monitor. I am greatly anticipating these appointments, as it will determine exactly how well I am recovering, and give me some form of direction. I will go to the February 10^th appointments loaded with many questions. My goal is to find out what restrictions I will continue to be under and receive a better understanding on what I can look forward to in the upcoming months. There is a lot of anxiety involved as I look forward to getting a better understanding as to what is going on with both my aorta and my heart.