Hi all. It’s Sunday afternoon as I write this, and I am home, resting and recovering. Surgery went well, albeit there were a few complications. They found 80-90% blockage and put in a stent. I was sedated but not fully asleep at first. They started in my wrist, but were unable to get the stent through my arteries there, and then had to go in, through my groin.
The doctor came over to my side and said, “Aimee, (he had been calling me, “Mrs. Jackson” up until his point) this is very severe. You could easily have died from a heart attack or even a stroke. But I want you to rest easy and know we will take excellent care of you. I am so glad you are here.”
In that moment, I felt such a precious, overwhelming sense of the Holy Spirit through my surgeon. I was glad to be there, too. I rested in Jesus as they did their cardiac work on me.
The hardest part was I had to be flat on my back for nine hours Friday. I like to think I can be patient when I need to be, but this day proved me wrong. They had trouble stopping some bleeding, and because of this, I was told the “start time” for the lying flat part was bumped two hours.
Two more hours of this? And it had already been four hours, and they added another two!
This did not go over well in my mind.
As I was flat on my back feeling the discomfort and angst, wanting nothing more than to stretch, stand up and go home; I closed my eyes and prayed, “Please give me the strength to endure this. This is nothing compared to what so many others are going through. Please give me the grace to be a good patient and trust Your process.”
Terry was right next to me in the room, and is now waiting on me hand and foot. I will be back to myself before we know it.
I am so fortunate this was caught when it was. So much of my heart problems are finally understood and we could not be more pleased with the medical care we have received. Knowing I could have died before they found it has left me rather emotional.
We have miracles all around us. I eat clean and exercise and this still happened. I hate to think what could have happened had I not been a healthy person! (My brother’s advice to Terry for me, however, was, “Tell Aimee the healthy eating didn’t work! Time for greasy cheeseburgers and junk!”)
“Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” - Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
For several years I have called out to God, wanting answers about and healing for my heart. Within two months of finding our new cardiologist, he ran a multitude of tests, diagnosed me and put me in the hands of a surgeon to get the ball rolling.
Patience is not my virtue. I am easily flustered and frustrated. Yet every single time I am faced with any type of waiting or adversity, I see more of Papa than ever before. I know this time of being more still than normal, He will reveal Himself to me even more. Plus, it allows me to love my Terry in such a different way. The way he loves and cares for me is so humbling. I haven’t had an appetite since surgery and just don’t want to eat anything. Terry brought some ice cream to me and said, “There’s always room for ice cream. I want you to eat this.”
He loves me so well.
Thank you all for your prayers and know I will continue to sit with you. My arm has experienced some painful swelling from the first attempt through my wrist, so it takes twice as long to type. I just need a couple of days to heal further, and I’ll be back.
Resting in Jesus and praising Him for His restoration and redemption.