It's Been a While

Gosh it has been a really long time since I have posted any messages or pictures. Sorry! Unfortunately our lives have been extremely hectic and chaotic the last few months.

We had a lot on our plate with Ryan's planned upcoming heart surgery, and as most of you know we actually cancelled the surgery 3 days before he was scheduled to proceed. I am sure no one ever feels at peace about an open heart surgery, but we REALLY did not feel at peace with everything. At the last minute we had very detailed discussions with both Ryan's cardiologist and his surgeon and we all came to the conclusion that we were rushing into an open heart surgery that possibly could be avoided at this time.

I called the cardiologist a few days before the planned surgery and told him about all of our hesitations and he said, "I have actually been thinking about Ryan a lot, and I think he may still be a candidate for that experimental procedure in Boston". This is a procedure we had considered earlier in the year but after finding a blocked artery on Ryan's heart catheterization (blocked from scar tissue from prior surgeries) we thought open heart surgery was the only option.

Turns out it seems that Ryan's blocked artery is really a chronic thing that he has lived with for probably close to 10 years (since his last surgery). It was difficult to tease out which was causing his symptoms the valve, or the artery. We all figured we needed to try to isolate one (the valve) and if he was still having symptoms then could consider doing something about the artery (with a bypass procedure via open heart).

So long story short as I am now rambling.....we started on the road to try to see if Ryan could have this procedure in Boston. This is a procedure where they replace his valve by a catheterization (meaning going through his femoral vein in the groin and feeding a catheter up to the heart). There was also some talk that they may be able to stent the blocked artery at that time as well.

So at long last, we just heard word that Ryan is accepted into the study. We are on the schedule for August 4th. We will be going out one day ahead of time to do a bunch of testing (echocardiogram, treadmill, CAT scans etc.) They are hoping he will just be in the hospital overnight after the procedure and could potentially head home the following day. We will probably stay one extra day in Boston just in case to keep an eye on him, then fly home.

Now the catch....we have to get our insurance to pay for this. Since this is an experimental procedure insurance does not usually pay. However our cardiologist has had a few patients that were initially denied by their insurance, but then finally approved. So we are in that process right now.

Prayers! We need prayer that our insurance company will approve the procedure. Then if we can get over that hurdle prayers that the procedure will go very well, hopefully buying Ryan a lot of time before he needs to undergo another open heart surgery.

Already our hearts feel much more at ease with all of this. Everything could still not pan out and Ryan may eventually need the open heart surgery, but at least we feel at peace knowing we tried all other options before that.

So there is the update! Sorry for the delay, we have been so incredibly overwhelmed. I am finishing the last few weeks of my residency, Ryan is finishing his current job, finished school and is looking for a new job, we are moving to Colorado Springs on June 28th, I have my final board exam in internal medicine at the end of August, going to Boston the beginining of August for Ryan's procedure, and starting my new job in September as a physician for Colorado Springs Health Partners...pheww!! All that with a little guy in tow, that is now almost 17 months old! He is the one that gives us the most motivation to keep going and means everything to us. We are truly truly blessed.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. I will try to stay in touch!

Love, Ryan, Kendra and Sawyer