I started this site to inspire people and show people it can be done. Sometimes life gives you curve balls, but you can still hit that home run.
A few years ago I was given a curve ball in life. For about a year I under went many test, saw many specialist to figure out why I was choking. Once they figured it out I thought great the test’s are over. But then it took another six months to get to the right doctor. I was diagnosed with a rare birth defect at 48. I was sent to three different doctors and test before I was sent to a Thoracic Surgeon. I was diagnosed with an Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery.
The Thoracic Surgeon recommended reconstructive open heart surgery, I was sent for CT scans from head to toe so they could decide the best route for surgery. I had several discussions with my Surgeon as she was discussing with other colleagues the best options as they found out in the CT scan my arteries on my right side were normal but the arteries on my left side were smaller then normal. So if they did one route they could not supply enough blood to my brain, not a good thing.
During this time we were rushing to get house ready for me after surgery and recovery. We were also trying to make sure we had my affairs in order in case we did not have a good outcome. I was making instructions on how to do the things I take care of, then looking at my to do list of things still not done. I thought this can’t be real I need more time I am no where finished, my work is not done here on this earth.
Then we had some divine intervention. A friend of ours stop by the office (Mindy) and she had on scrubs, so I asked what field she worked in and she worked in the heart field of medicine. I explained to her what was going on she advised me to get a second opinion before surgery. This most likely saved my life.
I contacted Cleveland Clinic sent all my test and it was a book full. After they reviewed everything I flew to Cleveland Clinic for a week for more test. Saw three great doctors and was advised not to have the surgery right now and hopefully I will never need it. I was advised to have CT scans done every six months to watch things.
I flew back to Texas found a great doctor, Doctor in San Antonio, he did a heart cath on both sides to verify everything and he consults with a Surgeon in Houston if I ever did need the surgery. I would not need to fly to Cleveland. He watches me very close and keeps my blood pressure under 140 because I have a enlarged aortic root not a aneurysm, but if I don’t keep the pressure down it could enlarge.
Because of all this when my blood pressure gets to high (most of time due to stress) I am told to go straight to emergency room tell them my condition. All of this as you can imagine has put a huge pile of bills on us and during all this time you are not thinking like you would normally when you are trying to make sure you have all your affairs in order incase you don’t make it through surgery, so we did not pay close attention to things as we should have.
We are slowly being able to breath from the weight of the mounting debt this situation has caused us. Of course I feel guilty as it was my problem that caused this. So I told my husband I was going to get us debt free by the end of the year (excluding our mortgage) by selling on Ebay.
I hope to show people on my journey with a little determination you can achieve your goals. And inspire people to be able to breath again.
