April 26, 2023
Day 116 - Wow, what an awesome last couple of days. First of. All, WOW, what an awesome last couple of days. A friend that I made here at Mayo Clinic Hospital who got her heart on February 12, 2023 had her last rehab and evaluation visit yesterday and now she is free to go back home to Pensacola, Florida. Then the gentleman I spoke about in a previous post only 10 days after receiving his new heart got released from the hospital and started his cardiac rehab and is staying nearby. I know I am one day closer to getting my new heart and look forward to my hospital discharge. Although this is not a bad place to be for 116 days and I’ve met some great nurses and technicians. God is good, all the time.
April 10, 2023
Day 100 - It’s a beautiful rainy morning here in Jacksonville Florida but a friend of mine who has been here in the hospital with me for the last 85 days got that magical call over the weekend. Today he is resting with his new heart in the ICU. I am over the moon happy for him but still patiently waiting for my time. I know that I am one day closer to getting my new heart. God is good, all the time.
March 29, 2023
Day 88 - I met a 72 year old gentleman & his wife and today he is getting a LVAD (the heart pump that I currently have). It was nice to be able to answer their questions and let them know what lies ahead. Even though I am here waiting for my new heart it is great to know that I can encourage others with my own experiences with the LVAD & stuff. God is good! Patiently waiting I am.
March 16, 2023
Day 75 - Today is a good day to have a good day. As the doctors work to get me higher on the list I stay positive and keep on spreading sunshine here on the cardiac floor. I am encouraged by my nurses, friend's calls, text, cards, scripture and even the motivational jar on this floor. A gigantic THANK YOU to everyone that has given in any way shape or form.
March 7, 2023
Day 65 waiting here in the hospital for my new heart. I was blessed this weekend with some visitors. I am grateful for all of my visitors and contributors. Blessings on blessings. Thank you.
February 23, 2023
Thank you to everyone that has donated, supported, and come out to see up here in Jacksonville. I appreciate you all so very much. And yes I liked the Super Bowl halftime show.
February 12, 2023
Super Bowl Sunday and my neighbor here in the hospital was just wheeled to get her new heart!! WOW! What a roller coaster ride of emotions I have right now. I can hardly wait to see her after recovery.
January 20, 2023
Someone asked me how did everything start and what is the medical condition or term. Well, it started with a heart murmur, a very common condition, that was detected when I was in single digit years. So I have always seen one doctor or another to keep a watchful eye on my heart. One Christmas around 1995 I caught the flu and it attacked my heart and my mitral valve and for a while I took medication and dealt with an enlarged heart. In late 2007 I had a mitral valve repair but problems persisted now with some atrial fibrillation. A defibrillator was implanted to steady my heartbeats however my heart was not pumping efficiently and had a low ejection fraction. That lead to more and different medication and eventually my LVAD operation in 2018. Fast forward five years and COVID and a couple of infections later and here we are with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction less than 10%. Through everything I have remained positive, friendly and involved in church. I have three college age children and a widely spread out extended family that I love.
January 20, 2023
Hello, some of you may know or may not know that I was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, January 1, 2023 for what I thought was a pulled muscle but ended up being a infection in the driveline for my LVAD leading to my heart. The hospital has since decided to keep me and remove the infection. I am optimistic for the blessing of a new heart in this new year and very grateful for all of your prayers and support. Thank you all.
May 7, 2022
Thank you all for your prayers and gifts. I am still waiting for the phone call saying that they have a new heart for me and continuing to enjoy this gift of life that I have been given.
December 1, 2021
I am thankful for all of my family and friends that have visited this page and I am grateful for your love and support. Thank you and may God bless you in ways that I can not. We are hopeful as we look towards this holiday season and reflect on the many joy filled memories of past years.
June 26, 2021
For those that may not know my story here is a summary. I lived with a heart murmur for most of my life but I have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. January 2018 I had a LVAD implanted in my chest and I have been living with the aid of the left ventricular assist device pump implant, or LVAD since then. My heart is too weak to function fully on its own; the LVAD is a means of survival until a suitable heart donor is available, and I receive a heart transplant.
June 26, 2021
COVID and the events of this last year has been tough. Tough enough for me to partner with this organization to help raise funds for future medical expenses related to my need for a heart transplant as well as acquired medical bills.
