A New Journey...of the heart

Wow, that is a rough path you are following, glad to read you are feeling okay!

Just take it step by step and you will get there where you have to go.

Sorry about your friend!
Life is unfair sometimes.....

was there ever any doubt Pat? not from me! well done now its time to rock the house southie style!

So glad to hear you are feeling better Pat. Your message had me in tears. You have been through so much yourself, and to lose a friend so suddenly...my heart and prayers go out to you and his family. I hope your road ahead is smooth and without any unwanted surprises but full of happy surprises and joy.
Peace and Love

Pat, so sorry you have gone thru all of this and lost a friend on top of it!
I'm glad you have a loving family there to help you and help you with your move on top of everything else!

start each morning with a bright and beautiful thought, and the rest of the day can not help but be brighter.

Michael Magick wrote:start each morning with a bright and beautiful thought, and the rest of the day can not help but be brighter.

That is great advise for everyone. I also find no matter how bad I feel when I wake up if I put a smile on and leave it there that within 15 minutes or so I feel so much better. I also do this in sticky or not so great situations and I start to feel better in no time. It sure is better then a frown. Not to mention those frown lines they create on your face in the long run.

Wish I could respond gratefully to each one of you, individually, for your words...but I don't want to leave anyone out. Thought I'd write all the names down on paper BUT...they haven't unpacked that box (paper) yet. Today, my computer finally got set up.
  Sunday was a little scary. I developed pain in my left back & finally, around suppertime, in my chest. It increased when I took a deep breath. This time my family drove me to the hospital where my local cardiologist goes. My daughter Robin was on duty that night. (emergency room nurse) A CT-Scan ruled out pulmonary embolus (clots)....they're ALL GONE! You stay overnight w/any chest pain anyhow & they told me I had some pleural effusion (translation: fluid in the membranes around the lungs...not uncommon after open heart surgery). The next morning, my cardiologist examined me & asked if it felt better if I sat up. I muttered, under my breath..."OH s**t!" My daughter, Dawn was staying overnight w/me & I explained it to her. That's a classic sign for "pericardial effusion" which I had diagnosed often over the years in my dialysis patients. It's also a post-op complication of open heart surgery. Neither I, nor the ER physician had caught it, but my cardiologist had heard what we call "a friction rub" when he listened w/his stethoscope. OK, now that I've thoroughly confused all of you, I'm back home, on special meds to correct the problem, surrounded by my husband, daughters, grandchildren, friends...even my nieces from Maine (like sisters to me) are here. They're unpacking, laughing, cooking, walking w/me & making sure I take all my meds. How do you know you're getting old? They start you on a WHOLE lot of pills, including Lasix & you don't stray too far from a bathroom! ...& yes, Michael...I start EVERY day w/a smile, 'cause I'm still here & loving every minute! Hugs & Kisses to all my Face Paint Forum friends

Pat, glad you are home again! surrounded by family!

I was thinking for a minute it might be nice to be a nurse and know what 'to expect' and know what the doctor is talking about...I've changed my mind after reading your experience   I think I would just rather be in my ignorant state   

And I don't think anyone here expects a 'personal answer' to wishing you well...you JUST REST and RELAX and GET BETTER, ok!!
 

The world is a better place with you in it!

Why, thank you Michael. It's been 8 weeks today since my surgery & most of the muscle pain is gone. Building up strength now & REALLY looking forward to face painting again. It's a great motivator.

Yay Pat!!!
So good to hear you're recovering so well!
Sending lots of love and hugs!
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Hey L!zzie...keeping you & Kammy in my prayers. Thanks for the love. Our Face Paint Forum friends are awesome!!!

 

...and so it continues. Last week on Wed. I got cleared by my cardiologist to drive. Since surgery, I've been riding in the back seat to protect my sternum (breastbone). During surgery, they discovered mine was "one of the thinnest". This is the ONLY part of me that's thin!!! At 9 weeks post-op, I was FREE! I quickly booked 3 events. One was my dream job…more about that on another thread.
This Tuesday, my poor husband fell & broke his ankle in 2 places & worse than tearing his ligament, ripped it entirely off the ankle. He's 6ft2" & always on the go. Right now, he's non-wgt bearing for 6-8 weeks. He's so tall, I don't have the strength to help him out of a recliner, so when no one else is around, he's stuck in bed. He can get up from there w/me…a walker, just to stand, & one of those scooters you kneel on. No crutches or walker for getting around, because he ALSO sprained his wrist when he fell. Mobility is going to be a little dicey for the 1st week or two. Thank God we moved into a bigger home with our daughter & family. When one of them is home, they can help him in/out of a recliner, which he loves. We were planning our annual open house for St Paddy's Day, but Walter won't be shopping & cooking his usual 10 corned beef & cabbage…or his 7 shepard's pies!!! Since he feels so bad, we decided to downsize to appetizers & ask for help from our many friends. The bar will be open & our bagpiper will still be here!  

Holy Smokes!
I'm sorry!

Thanks, Diane. I feel so bad for him. On the other hand, we just read on FB that a couple we knew back in Boston who are younger than we are, are dealing w/the husband's escalating Alzheimer's. I grabbed Walter's hand & said Honey, @ least we can recover from broken bones & broken hearts!!! Prayers for our friends, Anne & Jeff.

Oh Pat, that's such bad luck!
But you're right... It'll take some time, but it can be fixed!
Sending all love your way!
Xxxxxxx

Thought I'd comment, once again, on this thread. It was a year ago (Nov. 12th) that the Dr found a problem w/my aortic valve. My husband is back from his injury 100% & our lives are busy & full, thank God. Last Sunday in church, as my grandkids hugged me, as the music brought tears to my eyes & I thought of all that had happened, I thought: It's been a very good year.
 Thanks for the outpouring of love & support, my Face Paint Forum friends!

Hugs!!!!!

Glad for you both!

Amazing blessings! Love you, Pat!!

I love how your journey to fix a broken heart, led you to connect with other hearts who were praying for you, pulling for you, cheering for you.... and, some of us were eating cookies for you.

xoxxo

Well, you all succeeded spectacularly! Now, I have a strange craving for a chocolate chip cookie. Think it's a happy side-effect of the above post by Fessie?

And...
I have been blaming all of you for my insatiable craving for cookies.
Maybe I should man up, and take some responsibility for my cookie addiction.

Um...
maybe tomorrow..
after I have another cookie.

And,
another one.

xoxox