9 Lives

There is an old saying that says that cats have nine lives. Well this kat only has seven, yet I don't think I am any worse off for it. Many of you may be wondering why seven? Well, let me explain.

I have a heart condition known as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Although not likely to kill me, it is still quite a problem and nuisance in my life. Each time I have an episode of SVT, my heart rate can get up to 200 beats per minute (normal is 60-100). Because of this, my blood is not circulating properly, making it difficult to breathe and sometimes causing my chest to hurt. It basically makes my life more complicated.

Back in May 2006, I had exploratory surgery in the form of an ablation. At the time, the only way to correct the problem was using radionuclear energy (esssentially a laser), and this was very risky. There was a chance that I might have to have a pace maker if they missed the spot that they were aiming for. Considering that I was only 19, I opted out and decided to take meds to control the issue.

Over the past two years, my SVT has progressively gotten worse. Episodes are becoming more frequent now and lasting longer despite the use of medication. I went to see my cardiologist who put me on a second med in addition to the first and suggested surgery again. This surgery would be called a cryoablation. Instead of lasers, the cardiologist intended to cool the spot causing the problem down so that it would no longer be function. There was some risk involved, but the doctor said that for the most part "cryos" were reversible so if they missed their intended destination, they could just heat the area back up again and start over. After praying about it and talking it over with my parents, I chose to have the surgery.

I was excited the day of the surgery (strange I know.) I just wanted to be done with this whole heart problem thing and in my mind, July 23, 2008 was the day I would never have to think about it again. However, God had different plans. I arrived at the hospital and was given two vallium before going down to surgery (this is suppose to make you a little loopy). Then after getting to the operating room, the nurse pumped 2 mg of Versed down my IV. This I will explain. Versed is a medication that consciously sedates you. Basically, you are awake for the whole surgery, but you don't remember a thing when you are done. It sort of gives you amnesia. This should have "knocked" me out cold, but I remained awake for most of the procedure and I remember everything.

For those of you who are a little squimish, you should skip this paragraph. My cardiologist, first, inserted five catheters into my heart via the large veins in both my legs. I could feel this, but it was not painful due to the narcotic I was given through my IV. The nurse that I had, let me watch the monitor, and I could see all the wires weaving throught the chambers of my heart. The doctor did some periodic tests, purposely putting me into SVT so he could determine exactly the spot that he needed to work on. Then they stopped my heart twice which I have to say is the wierdest and most interesting feeling in the world. To feel your heart stop and still be totally conscious about it is indescribable to say the least. Then they again kept throwing me into SVT. After getting bored watching the monitor and feeling my heart beat a million miles a minute, I asked the nurse if I could get 2 more mg of Versed to see if that would put me to sleep. She kindly complied, and seconds later I was snoozing. The surgery was completed and the lights were turned on. I woke up immediately as light flood the operating room.

I looked at my nurse who had been at my side during the whole procedure and asked, "Did he fix me?" She very quietly replied, "No, he didn't, hon." My eyes immediately swelled up with tears. I was heartbroken. Here I had had a second surgery with no change from before. I felt the tears rolling down my cheeks as the doctor explained the reason why I hadn't been "cured." The spot they needed to correct was too close to a vital spot required to make my heart run, and although it is reversible, he would only have a minimal time to reverse it. It was still too risky, and in his words, he "chickened out." Needless to say, I was disappointed. I was so excited for this whole thing to be over and for me to go on with a life free from heart problems just to be shot down all over again. I was sad and angry and asking God why.

I was taken back to my room where I was on two hours of bed rest. My cardiologist came upstairs and said that if I could tell him what he had said to me downstairs that I could go home tonight. I rattle off everything that had transpired and followed with "You chickened out." He smiled and said that after a few walks down the hall that I would be released to go home. He increase my daily meds and sent a letter of recommendation to a specialist in Milwaukee. I was supposed to see this specialist sometime while I was in school. According to my cardiologist, this specialist is the best electrophysiologist in the country so there is the chance that something could still be done for me.

Even though at the time, I couldn't see why God had let me go through this, I can definitely see His hand in the whole thing. The most important thing that God has taught me through this experience was to just keep trusting Him. There is a reason for everything He does and this was just another trial that He had put in my life to bring me closer to Him. God even worked it out that the best electrophysiologist in the country was located only 45 minutes from my college. On top of all this, hopefully a seed was planted in the heart of one of my nurses. The nurse who sat by my bed and talked to me the through the surgery, the same nurse who had given me the news about the unsuccessfulness of the surgery, this nurse had opened the door to the gospel. She questioned me during surgery about my school, to which I responded that I went to Maranatha Baptist Bible College for nursing. She then asked me why I would want to go to a Christian college. And here was where I was able to share the gospel with her. I don't know if she has gotten saved or not, but I know that God gave me that opportunity for a reason, and that He may still be working in her heart. That in itself is good enough reason for everything that happened. So after two surgeries, I may be two lives less than nine, but there could have possibly been another life added to my family in heaven, and that is good enough for me.