Well, I've been home from the hospital for just under two weeks which means surgery was almost three weeks ago. I haven't given you an update since arriving home and I know many of you have been asking about how things are going. I was waiting to give an update until I had some solid information to give out after I see my cardiologist. I don't see the cardiologist (actually she is a surgeon) until Wednesday, but I figured I give you an update until then.
I feel good. Almost every day I've been out walking somewhere. Most days, inside someplace warm but each day for about an hour or two. On the warm day that we had this past week, Ana and I took a nice mile long walk outside. It has been nice to have that time with Ana. I know this time has been as tough on her as it has on me so to get a little time together is nice. I don't get winded or tired when we've been out walking. On occasion, I do take a short nap when we get home. I try not to because then I don't sleep well at night. All in all, I'd have to say that I feel pretty good considering it's been less than three weeks since surgery.
There are some things that I'm not sure about or used to at this point. I suspect I'll have some better answers about them after seeing the doctor on Wednesday. I suspect that most or all of the things I wonder about are normal after something as major as open heart surgery. I'll update you on those things after I see the doctor on Wednesday.
I've had some people ask me exactly what was done in the surgery and they've indicated some confusion regarding what was repaired and what was (or was not) replaced. What was repaired was the aortic valve. It's still a bicuspid valve but the surgeon was able to repair it so that it does not leak like it did before. What was replaced was a portion of the aorta at the root where it meets up with the heart. That was what had the aneurysm and needed to be fixed before it ruptured or dissected. It was major. Thank God for good surgeons who have the ability to do things like this.
I have been reminded by my wife, and through some other sources as well, that God is still in control. I have fallen into the trap of wanting things to be better faster or to be perfect already. Everybody wants the fastest recovery possible. Everybody wants everything to go back to normal. Being that I wasn't limited at all prior to surgery and I didn't have any symptoms, it's been especially hard because I want things to go back to the way they were as far as my activity. But, that's not where I'm at.... and I need to accept that. I guess it's more than "accepting" it actually. It's more than just accepting it, it's trusting it. God is in control now as much as He was before the surgery and during the surgery. It feel like I have more control now, but that's just an illusion. So, if He is in control, then these circumstances are divinely ordained by Him. If they are divinely ordained then trusting God in the midst of them is the true response of faith in Him... and that's where honoring Him becomes a reality and not just a nice platitude shared among "Christians". Maybe it's the difference between being a Christian in name and a Christ follower in living.
There are a ton of things calling out for my trust through this. At times, I've given it. At the end of the day though, He controls my destiny. Through the ups and downs of recovery, I want to be found following Him.
Thank you for your continued prayer and support. I'll update you again after my appointment.
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