"I HAVE A GOOD REPORT"

I received a "good report" from the Cardiologist after the heart cath Monday. (I put "good report" in quotation marks because that's the exact terminology used by the Doctor AND specific request made by Carlene Crum when she prayed with me Sunday morning.) NO SURGERY! The amount of blood being backwashed into the lungs is not nearly as substantial as the Doctor's first diagnosis. I have four vessels partially blocked: 1 = 30%, 1 = 35%, & 1 = 40% blocked. The one leading directly to the mirtal valve (which is the stinker that has been causing all the trouble in the first place) is 95% blocked. It's such a tiny vessel, they couldn't insert a stint but the Dr believes all can be treated / remedied with medication. PTL!!!!

I told Dr. Pitts at my check-up appointment last Monday (he was still pretty certain then that we were looking at surgery) that Tim & I are both recipients of "miracles" so, yes, we definitely believe that, if God wants my heart healed, all He has to do is speak the word and it'll be done...and THAT is our preference. But we also firmly believe that it is God who gives the Drs & scientists their knowledge, wisdom, and skills to create the medicines, machinery, and techniques and the ability to perform the procedures. The bottom line is that my healing comes from GOD, whether through what we call a "miracle" or through the "miracle" of medicine. I also told him (Dr. Pitts) that there are a LOT of people praying for me AND for him! He just smiled but I honestly believe he agreed with everything I said.

My family doctor has tested my heart a couple of times over the past 15 years (that's how long I've dealt with these symptoms) and I always got a clean bill of health. I was told I had the heart of a 20-year-old. (Never did find out whose heart I had or where mine went.) That's the difference between a GP & a specialist. The GP was looking for normal, regular, run-of-the-mill issues and this doesn't fall into that category. The specialist knows all the intricacies of the heart and he knew exactly what it was even before he put his stethoscope to my chest.

Can't wait to hear another "good report" at my next check-up. GOD IS GOOD!!! THANK YOU for your prayers! And keep 'em comin'!

"God is good! All the time!! And then some!!!"

I must admit, I was quite shaken when my Cardiologist, Dr. Doug Pitts, told me last Monday that I had mitral regurgitation. It's hard when your heart is "broken" (by a friend, lover, family member, etc.), but it's scary to think your heart is truly (physically) broken. But THANK GOD for the miracles of modern medicine, the wisdom He has given to scientists & medical people, and for His Divine Healing Touch. YES, I admit it! I BELIEVE IN - & HAVE EXPERIENCED - DIVINE HEALING!!!!!

Yes, I'll follow the Dr's orders. I will continue to take the BP medicine as prescribed...unless and until God tells me specifically to stop. Because, while I do believe in "Divine Healing," I also know that healing many times comes through medicine. After all, the Doctor does the cutting (surgery) and prescribes the medicine, but GOD does the healing! Besides, Who gave the doctors and scientists the knowledge, wisdom, and discernment in the first place??

Thank you all for your continued prayers. God is definitely doing something in this body. I've felt better this week than I have in a llloooonngg time!

For the past several months, I couldn't even walk from one room to another in my own one-story house without experiencing extreme breathlessness (Is that a word??) and excruciating pain in the under-side of my chin/jaw area. I hurt so badly and it felt as if my chest would explode!

We had a special time of prayer at church Sunday morning, specifically for those who needed a healing. Yes, of course, I was prayed for. Well......

I EXERCISED FOR 30 MINUTES MONDAY MORNING WITH MY Wii Fit SYSTEM!!! I haven't been able to do ANY form of exercise for a couple of YEARS without thinking my last breath would, indeed, be my last breath!! I guess this helps explain the unexplainable weight gain over the past 2-3 years!

Today is Thursday and I still feel great. I've had more energy & I've been sleeping better - more restfully - than I have in a long time.

As the inmates at Plainfield Correctional say, "God is good! All the time!! And then some!!!" Thank you again for all your prayers. And... Keep 'em coming my way!!

OK! Here's the timeline so far... AUGUST 2009 ~ Mitral Regurgitation

TUE 08/18 12 - 15 year-old sypmtoms have gotten MUCH worse in last few weeks so scheduled appointment with Cardiologist, Dr. Doug Pitts.

MON 08/24 Went in for what I thought would be a consultation; had EKG, Echocardiogram, blood work, & chest x-ray. Blood work & x-ray came back OK. (PTL!) Echocardiogram confirmed "Mitral Regurgitation." Laymen's Terms: Blood flows out of heart on right side; flows through body; back into heart from lungs on left side of heart; broken/leaky mitral valve allows blood to backwash (regurgitate) back into lungs. Dr. Pitts said it's a substantial amount of blood being backwashed so valve needs to be corrected.

WED 08/26 Had a CT scan looking for possible blood clots. All is OK there, too. (PTL!)

THU 08/27 Dr. Pitts' advised me to take BP medicine he prescribed Mon for about 1 month. If no improvement, will go ahead with Heart Cath & will discuss surgery then.

THANK YOU ALL for your prayers & words of encouragement! Please keep them coming!

WELCOME!!

I've just taken another big step into the 21st Century! Yea, Me!! Not enough time to include much info right now but wanted to at least get started.

TIM ~ Handsome husband of 43 years, strong, loves me deeply, hard worker, good provider, handsome, Chaplain for USAC Racing, best son in the world (his mom thinks so, too), loves God!!!, works with BD Dads (Ben Davis High School's Dads' Club). Oh! And did I say... handsome?

GINNY ~ Wife of the handsome Tim, mother of the sexy Kent and beautiful Kari and Baby, our 8-year-old Blond American Cocker Spaniel (we acquired Baby from the Humane Society May of 2008), Mother-In-Law to the sweet Mendi and entertaining Michael, grandmother of Alyssa ("Gerfren"), Justin ("Buddy"), Grace ("Princess"), Alison ("Drama Queen" and "Mini-Me"), and Katy ("Punky-Pooh" and "Mini-Me 2"). Independent Mary Kay Senior Beauty Consultant, retired ATA Flight Attendant, lead singer for MESSENGERS Band (classic Rock & Roll with Christian lyrics), sing with By Grace Trio (Southern Gospel), speaker, actress, having a BALL making guest appearances as "Patsy Cline," and available for singing/speaking engagements.

Thanx for visiting. Please stop by often. I'll have more info ~ and MAYBE some pictures ~ IF I can figure out how to do that ~ later.