Nancy's Posts

Wow, where does the time go? It has already been one year since my aortic heart valve surgery. What a year I have had — Blessed beyond comprehension!! If I would have known I was going to feel this good, I would have begged for the surgery many, many years ago. Just glad it is behind me and happy to know I won't have to repeat it because we chose the St. Jude's valve which they say lasts forever. Wonder how long that is!! Phil has had a great year making fun of me and cheering me on. He now calls me his "Good Hearted Woman". A big "THANK YOU" to all of you!! I have been reading all of the journal entries from last year — wish I would have felt better at the time to respond to each and every one. They are amazing and I appreciate you all so much! I guess my first big surprise was when I started riding horseback again. Milne, Tegan, Kailee, Kara, Marina and Dima and I had a four hour ride gathering cattle from the Hunt Place. I was by myself with my two dogs going down a draw with cattle in front of me and became panicked when I realized there was something terribly wrong with me, but I couldn't figure it out. Finally after I decided I had better relax a little, it came to me. NO CHEST PAIN!! I have always had chest pain especially riding horseback — I was so excited I could hardly wait to catch up with the girls and let them know. Funny how the little things in life bring you such joy and blessings. Having chest pain my entire life, I just thought it was normal and everyone had it — I guess that is not the case. Due to being on Coumadin for the rest of my life, I have to wear a helmet when I am riding, working cattle, etc. A real pain, but I bought a really nice leather covered one. If I have to wear it, I decided I would have an awesome one!! The last time I saw my cardiologist was in October. I was very disturbed because he didn't do an echocardiogram or an esophageal cardiogram. For many years I have had at least two per year and sometimes more often. He started laughing and reminded me that I have a perfect heart now and I don't need to worry about all my old problems — they replaced them. After all these years that is kind of hard to get around. So I won't see Dr. Young again until October 2012. Cardio-Rehab in Bend was a wonderful experience — not only for the folks I met but it is a "must" after heart surgery. Lots of encouragement and hard work. My second session I met two friends of my Dad and Mom's, what a wonderful surprise! I also met George — he and his wife came and stayed with us at the B&B last fall. We had such a great time with them. Her family came to this area in 1848 (which we didn't know about until they arrived). We own the land where they lived. Kara, Marina and I had quite a tour with them up through the hills so they could see the property. The best thing about Cardio-Rehab was that I got to stay the night with Milne and her family once a week for months! We had a great time!! Lots of cuddles with our little girls!! Kara's family watched over me like a hawk. They spent overtime helping out on the ranch and at the Bed & Breakfast. Lots of laughter and great memories! I feel better than I have for years. I am surprising Phil today — I ordered myself flowers and balloons to be delivered for my First Birthday! Thank you and love to you all!! Nancy

Wow, I can hardly believe it has been eight weeks today since my surgery. I am feeling amazing — better than I have for years and years. I can hardly wait to see what the next eight weeks will bring. Last Saturday we branded calves again and I put the LE iron on another 123. I am so proud of myself and no pain while branding. May have just been because I was so excited to be a part of the ranch and actually working!! Phil is keeping with the "no horse" policy though. He seems to think I won't be riding until June 1st. Ol' Sparky and I just might surprise him one of these days though. Monday I drove to Culver — my first big drive since the surgery. My chest was hurting by the time I arrived. It took me an hour and a half to drive it. Driving seems to bring on a little pain now and then. I had my dog "Hazel" pet pal over my chest with the seat belt over it just in case I had to slam on my brakes. I didn't want that seatbelt to nail me. I drove home this afternoon. After I arrived in Culver, Milne and Kailee took me to Redmond for my blood test — still messed up but we are gaining! Then on to Bend for an echocardiogram. It was amazing — I could see my new shiny aortic valve and hear that awesome heart beat rhythm!! It was pretty exciting — especially remembering what the old one looked and sounded like. I am just so thankful for all that has happened to me and for all the love and support I have received. It is so hard to put into words……………. Then next on the list was cardio rehab with the awesome friends that I had met on April 1st. We had a few new folks so I was in the middle of the pack this time instead of at the bottom!! I will do my work outs in Fossil this week and then go back to Bend on Monday for another blood test and rehab. I am off morphine!!!!!!! No more pain meds and I can't take Advil, Aleve, Tylenol, etc. Thank you for all your love and support!! Lots of Love, Nancy

Friday, April 1st, Milne took me to Bend and I went to cardio rehab at 12:30. I was the only one under 90 at the class. All of them had been going to rehab for several months so they were way ahead of me. It was quite an adventure and two of the men knew of my parents. A day I will never forget — a wonderful experience! I will be going to Bend once a week for several months for rehab. At 3:00 pm we went to see my cardiologist, Dr. Young. After what I learned there about my "old" aortic heart valve and my "new" mechanical St. Jude's valve, I am so thankful the Lord has been in charge of my program and the way He lined everyone up to be in my path at the perfect time for my life changing experience on February 16th (I think this gives me the right to celebrate another birthday each year on that date). His timing is always perfect! Thank you so much for all your prayers — they have been and are being answered daily. I have a new lease on life and I am so thankful for each one of those "tick, tick, ticks" no matter how loud they are. Tegan was lying on my chest Thursday evening and she said, "Nana can they turn that down so your heart doesn't beat so loud?" When I told her the alternative, she decided it was okay and it could be as loud as it needed to be. Out of the mouths of babes! I go back to Bend on April 11th for an echocardiogram and then a full blood screen in a month. In the meantime they are just trying to adjust the Coumadin twice a week. One of these days we'll get it right. I am so excited to have my own little machine in May so I can check it myself. Saturday and Sunday was the first Spring branding at the Wilson's. I was lying in my chair at 10:30 am on Saturday sharing with Kara my disappointment of not being able to help. Of course you all know Kara, she thought being depressed was probably not a good alternative. Marina and Dima loaded lunch and all the fixins' in the Avalanche for me. Then I headed down the road a mile to the corral. David, Joseph and John Greiner were roping calves and Phil had just branded the first calf. (It has always been my job to do the branding.) I knew Phil needed to help with the roping so I went in the corral and ask him if I could try it if it didn't hurt me. So he stood back and watched me brand one calf. It didn't hurt — I was so shocked and so was he! So I took a chair (not my recliner just a lawn chair) inside the corral and set it by the branding iron bucket (electric iron). Sure enough it worked — I branded 128 calves on Saturday and 72 on Sunday. Believe me the chair was used between each calf!! What a miracle - only six and a half weeks after surgery. Phil and everyone else in the corral kept checking to make sure I was okay and sure enough I was as shocked as they were. It didn't put any pressure on my chest at all — driving hurts worse. They all took good care of me and made sure I didn't get run over by a horse or calf. I sure slept amazingly well last night! Interesting information: One year ago at all of our brandings I was out of breath, major chest pains, stumbling with my legs feeling like they had heavy chains on them, and it took all I had to put that branding iron on each calf. When I was branding, Brian must have caught me as I was falling over a hundred times last year. This year as he stood with his foot on each calf's neck, he had both hands out ready to catch me for each calf I branded — I surprised us both! He only had to grab me ONCE and it was just a stupid mistake on my part. I can't even begin to tell you what it is like to have oxygen in my blood and not gasping for breath all the time. My legs aren't dragging and there is no constant chest pain. It is so awesome to be surprised continually at the difference in my body. I wasn't even all that tired when we finished Saturday and Sunday. (And NO Ismike I promise I didn't hurt myself. I will take lots of naps to catch up though!) Thank you all!! Love, Nancy