Hallelujah!

Today was my final cardiologist/doctor's appointment before returning to Chicago to finish my senior year! Hallelujah!

In the last week many things have improved and there are many praises:

- my nausea has greatly improved, but still remains from time to time
- Blood work findings have become more clear
- my surgery recovery is going pretty well, quite a bit less soreness and pain
- my immune system has remained relatively healthy!
- sleep has been a bit better
- Doctors have been able to stabilize my cardiac medications for the time being

I would appreciate your continued prayer for:

- I have pretty bad tendinitis in my left shoulder/armpit area from the ICD surgery, please pray for gradual movement and strength in this area as it is quite painful and immobilizing at times
- Strength for my overall body and spirit (I have lost a lot of previous physical strength, weight and endurance)
- My acceptance of this new lifestyle with an ICD
- A positive attitude for the coming weeks ahead out in Chicago

This week I had two doctor's appointments and some more blood work done. After carefully going over the heart transplant blood "workup" my specialists informed us that it looks like I have a "metabolic syndrome" developing (pre-diabetes). We spent some time discussing the different details and options that are involved and decided it would be a good intervention to begin a new medication to lower my triglycerides and cholesterol. My hemoglobin A1C, triglycerides, cholesterol, calcium, bun, and blood sugar have been quite high or very high. Many of these things are related to a development of diabetes and must be monitored closely to best treat any further development. We will let you know about any further information on this additional health "complexity" when we know more!

My next doctor's appointment will be in mid-February to meet with the Heart Failure/Transplant specialist in Chicago. Updates about this visit will follow later in the month of February. No more doctor's appointments...just blood work! Hallelujah!

For now, I am stable and praising God for every minute of it! I truly am looking forward to returning to Chicago to complete the semester and begin my student teaching! Saturday is just upon us! Please pray that God would give me strength to do more things on my own since the surgery, develop more endurance that has been lost, and energy during the long days ahead for my student teaching!

Updates to come again soon!
In Christ,
Heidi

Deuteronomy 10:21

He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Deuteronomy 32:3
I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

Patience

I thought I would make a post now that I am beginning to feel a bit better.

This past week has required me to have lots of patience. I have been fighting quite a bit of pain, nausea, body ache, loss of appetite, and loss of sleep. It has been difficult to stay positive in conditions like these, so your prayers have been so appreciated and have helped me persevere through this past week. Thank you ALL so Much!

Today (Wednesday, January 21) is the first day I have felt up to writing on the computer and moving around quite a bit more. Doing minor daily activities are a BIG chore for me to complete being that I am still not feeling up to regular speed yet. The pain has begun to improve, but the soreness at the incision site and the implant area will most likely remain for some time yet.

I would appreciate your continued prayer for:

- soreness/pain at the incision site and implant area to improve
- nausea to improve
- my acceptance of this new lifestyle with an ICD
- better sleep at night
- a positive attitude for the coming weeks ahead
- clear direction on the next steps in my health journey
- that the doctors would be able to stabilize my cardiac medications accurately
- for clarity as to a future date to be able to return to Trinity Christian College to complete my Student Teaching
- a healthy immune system (our family is suffering from bad colds!)

I have really enjoyed reading all of your encouraging, supportive, loving, and prayer-filled comments! They are the highlights of my day! Thank you all so much, Heidi

Psalm 40:1-3, "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

Surgery Update

Just wanted to post a quick update on Heidi's status post-op:

She is out of surgery, alert, and seems to be doing well. My parents and Heidi agree that the staff have been wonderful. Heidi is in some pain but is hoping that the pain medications kick in soon.

A more detailed update will follow...

In Christ's Love,

Whitney (Heidi's sister)

Surgery Date Scheduled

Heidi has received notice of a surgery date- praise the Lord! This news is truly an answer to prayer, as the necessary communication and scheduling happened in such a timely manner after a decision was made to go ahead with the procedure.

This Wednesday, January 14th at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern Standard Time) Heidi will be having an AICD implanted at a hospital in Connecticut. Click here for more information about AICD's.

Heidi will need to stay overnight at the hospital after her surgery. In general, recovery time from a surgery like this can vary.

Your prayers, words of encouragement, and support have been greatly appreciated. It is so evident that God is at work and that his perfect will is unfolding just as he planned it long ago (Psalm 139).

Here is how you can be praying for the Gropp Family in the coming week:

-For God's protection of Heidi during the surgery
-Guidance for the surgeon's hands as the device is implanted
-Heidi's overall health prior to, during, and after the procedure (restful sleep, free of infections)
-Heidi's anxiety and concerns about the upcoming procedure and her concerns about the cosmetics of the AICD in her chest
-Strength, energy, and comfort for the Gropp Family as they seek to support Heidi through this trying time
-And last, but certainly not least, that God's kingdom purposes would be evident in the midst of Heidi's circumstances

Psalm 139: 13-18,

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

Decisions

The last two days I have felt quite torn in my decision to move forward with having the AICD (defibrillator) surgery. There are many decisions to make regarding who will perform the surgery, how it will be implanted, where it will be placed, at what hospital, and when the surgery will be performed.

The last 48 hours has been a lot of waiting to hear from several different specialists who have tried to help us sift through the decisions and details. We have now heard from a variety of specialists and I feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the options and details. I have sat on my thoughts about the smartest and safest way to have this surgery performed and have contacted a few doctors about setting a date for surgery. The only problem is one is on vacation! So as soon as we are in touch, I will set up a date and will be ready to move forward and have the surgery completed. More updates on surgery date to follow, Thanks again for all of your support and prayers!

Heidi

January 6, 2009

Today started with an evaluation by an electrophysiologist locally who in discussion with Heidi's heart failure specialist at NY Presbyterian Cornell, feels Heidi definitely needs an AICD (automated internal cardiac defibrillator)sooner than later. This device gives your heart a "jump start" if it decides to go into a dangerous rhythm and stop. He also felt we should consult a plastic surgeon regarding the best way to place the device in her smaller frame. Our hope is that we can coordinate this very soon so that Heidi can return to school in Chicago in a timely fashion.
We then went on to see the Cornell doctor, (Dr. Horn) who reviewed the results of the cardiac catheterization with us in more detail. The results indicate that Heidi should start the process for heart transplant. While this can be more fully addressed late spring, it is a long "application process" and a potentially long wait for a donor heart, so she actually had 21 vials of blood drawn today in preparation for further work up. Heidi told the technician she'd like to negotiate $100.00 per vial! Meanwhile, we are happy we didn't have to carry her back to the subway! While the overall readings of the cardiac catheterization are not desirable, the good news is that she does not appear to have any current clinical features that would not allow her to be on the heart transplant list.
Our current prayer concerns are:
*For wisdom in deciding on a "team" for the AICD surgery (cardiac and plastic surgeon) and for it's speedy organization and healing.
*For wisdom, trust and patience as we see God's plan unfold for Heidi finishing her senior year at college.
*For Heidi's general protection of body and spirit in the days ahead.

Psalm 73:28
"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."

We are thankful for the outpouring of God's kindness through our friends and family.
Kim Gropp