Yippeeee!!!

Just got a phone call from Melissa at Northwestern University. Dr. Rigolin (Cardiologist) and Dr. McCarthy (Surgeon) have fully reviewed Joel's records.

He needs open heart surgery-- mitral valve repair-- as his posterior valve is fully ruptured and while the anterior valve is a little loose – it’s nothing too bad. They are very confident they can REPAIR the valve and insert a ring to tighten the area up rather than having to a replacement. WHOO HOOO!

They, too, are amazed that Joel has no symptoms as the rupture is significant. His ejection fraction rate (how heart pumps blood) is around 35 percent and they’d like it to be around 55-65 percent. They want to move fast and get this corrected before more damage occurs. The repair should help improve his overall heart function.

We will be headed to Northwestern next Thursday, April 30th, to meet the doctor and surgeon. Joel will undergo another ECHO (to make sure no more damage has occurred since the last set of tests). Surgery will occur, most likely, within the first or second week of May.

While open heart surgery is a big deal, we are SO thankful to God that this has been caught before too much irreparable damage has occurred and that we have surgery as an option. Dr. McCarthy’s area of expertise is mitral valve surgery.

Joel will be in the hospital for 5-7 days after the surgery and then come home for 8-12 weeks of recovery of which he will not be allowed to work. He also won’t be able to drive for 4 weeks after his surgery and will be on Coumadin and low blood pressure medication during his recovery – with the end goal – to win him off over time.

Thank you for all of your prayers, support and love. Keep those prayers coming because they are working!

We are looking forward to getting this behind us so that we can enjoy the summer with our girls and hit all the fun chicken fry’s on Lake Springfield with Miller Lites in hand :).

With Love,
Michelle

PS – Melissa you are a GODSEND! Thank you for everything!!!