Clinic Update & Concert Story

My bi-monthly clinic concluded that my health is stable. Isn’t it nice to be told your clinically stable? I have more color in my face. I’m producing more red blood cells. (This could explain my leaning toward college blue BYU all of these years.) On Tuesday, I will undergo a heart cath or cardiac catheterization.



My fellow cardiac pal Grant
We continue to get feedback from the concert and are hearing wonderful stories about people who attended the show. My wife and I are still humbled by the outpouring of love and support!

This came from Kyle & Alli, the parents of my fellow cardiac pal Grant, who is recovering from some challenging surgery.

“Last night, we had another huge blessing. We have wanted to attend a benefit concert for Paul Cardall (an musician who has a similar heart defect to Grant and who is waiting for his heart transplant), but we were unsure of where life would take us and so we did not buy tickets.

Yesterday, after we decided we trusted our nurses for the day and we knew our night nurse, we decided we could attempt our first real outing away from the hospital! To our dismay, tickets were sold out. We started trying to find some tickets and just after posting and emailing a few people, someone came on the intercom here and announced that they had tickets for the concert that they were not using that they wanted to donate to a family here on the floor. What a fast answer to a simple hopeful prayer! We claimed the tickets and were able to go with a few friends last night.

What a wonderful concert it was. I had major anxiety leaving Grant for so long, but it was good to be there. We met many heart families who we had previously known only through the world of blogs and thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment. Paul was able to stand with his family and thank those in attendance for their support and it was wonderful to see him, though weak, still full of hope.

There was a beautiful tribute to Gracie Gledhill and recognition of the many other families with "cardiac kids" and the whole heart community was there to embrace another. We spoke with Tom and Michele Gledhill right before the concert and I was so glad for their family to continue to see little Gracie living on and touching lives just as each of these sweet angel babies do to all who know them and their lives.

I loved being there, but I was glad to be back with my sweet baby.” - grantmeaheart.blogspot.com

There are a lot of cardiac kids who are in need of help and there are mother's with empty arms who need our prayers. And when you retire this evening remember them and don't forget to say one for Grant and his family.

Back In The Hospital. . .

I've been in the hospital all week and this is the first time I've had a chance to write. I became so weak that they admitted me. Much of my care has been transferred to a children's hospital because most of the experts that have worked with me once a week through a clinic in another hospital could manage my care more closely because they're always here.

I am anxious to get home. On Monday I'm scheduled for a couple of minor procedures; a heart cath, possibly a stint to help get more blood to my lungs, and maybe a new pace-maker. Lucky me!

I'll try to write later and keep you posted! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.