Graduation Day....I MADE IT!

This Saturday, May 16th was my college graduation! I had the pleasure of spending this wonderful milestone and celebration with all of my family present in Palos Heights, Illinois.

Friday evening we attended my Honors Convocation Ceremony where I received High Honors from the College's President. At this ceremony I received my golden cord, which I had worked for four long years to receive! I also received my Trinity Christian College Alumni Medallion. Both of these items were also worn with my graduation gown on Saturday's Graduation Ceremony.

Whitney was able to get a video of me receiving my diploma during Saturday's graduation ceremony as well!

A few hours later, after a lovely time with friends, faculty, and family at a reception following the ceremony, we packed our Suburban and my car full of my entire apartment and four years worth of STUFF! We just BARELY fit it all! Everything was packed like sardines! Thanks to Dad who is the ultimate car packer!

I am truly amazed at God's work in my life and I continually praise Him for allowing me to complete all 13 weeks of my student teaching! I honestly doubted that this would ever be completely finished and God gave me the daily strength to meet this huge goal of mine. AND then of course GRADUATION DAY! I praise God for these wonderful milestones in my life!

I thank you all for your continued support, encouraging words, and prayers. They are so appreciated and a huge part of what keeps me journeying forward on this road. More updates soon to come. I apologize this one came so late, it's been a crazy time in my life finishing teaching.... but I am officially a TEACHER! I actually said my Teacher Vows to Trinity Christian College on Wednesday, May, 13th at my commissioning teachers luncheon and I passed my final teacher's certification test in the state of Illinois about a month ago. Now I just need to file the paper work with the state in July!

Always full of Hope in Christ,
Heidi

A New Perspective on Strength

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

The last few weeks have been VERY busy with my student teaching...and as a result my updates have not been quite frequent! I do apologize!

Over the past four weeks I have been journeying through my student teaching experience. This experience has been a fully packaged deal in a way I never could have imagined!

First, the individual's I work with are a complete blessing and gift. I could not be more fortunate! Second, I am learning so many new things about teaching that I had not yet experienced. Third, everyone is so helpful, generous, supportive, and accommodating. Fourth, and MOST importantly, I see God at work EVERY DAY! I have never seen God at work in my life in a more vivid way than now. Each day I step into my school God's plans, timing, faithfulness, graciousness, and strength are revealed and unfolded in every single detail.

A couple weeks ago, I met with a new Cardiac specialist in downtown Chicago. This first time meeting went very well and I felt very confident that this doctor is a good fit for while I am out here in Chicago. Our next appointment out in Chicago with this specialist is in mid-April.

About a week ago, I received notice that I would be continuing the "heart transplant process" by having some of the pre-testing done downtown Chicago. These tests and other procedures must be done in order to get me ready to be placed onto the heart transplant list. This past Friday, March 6th I spent the day getting some of these tests completed. Though there were some frustrating complications with the scheduling aspects of these tests, they were completed on Friday in good spirits! (We do not have any updates on these tests yet. We will update these results when we know more!)

Most recently, in the past couple days, I have been having some pretty severe shortness of breath. The best way I can explain it is that I feel that I cannot get enough air to satisfy what my body needs. I also feel like my body is just exhausted physically after activities that take a lot of energy like showering, using stairs, erasing the board at school, and other random times. This can get frustrating for me because I feel that it sets me back on what I need and want to get done! I had been doing fairly well considering all of the busy schedules with my teaching until a couple days ago, so your prayers for continued strength are so appreciated!

In spite of the last couple days, it truly is incredible the strength God provides me with each second of the day. I don't even ask for it and it is given to me as a gift! We are so undeserving and God gives us SO much! God knows our EVERY need and provides us with these needs at the PERFECT time. 2 Samuel 22:33 says, "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." Just when I am feeling like I cannot go up another stair or another stroke while erasing the board--God provides me with that strength in such a PERFECT way and in such a PERFECT moment. I praise Him for these things.

So whether my heart is literally failing, spiritually failing, or emotionally failing I choose to claim God as my strength for HE IS strength. His strength is perfect.

His strength is perfect for ALL of our needs, so remember to praise Him for the ways in which He has given YOU strength on a daily basis.

I am learning that through my physical, emotional, and spiritual weaknesses I may better see my need for Christ. God has revealed to me my desperate need to rely on Him daily for everything--even strength to shower in the morning.

For when WE are Weak He is made STRONG. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

So I thank you again for continuing to pray for me and journey ahead with me even when we cannot see the road ahead. I am so thrilled with where God is using me for His kingdom right at this current moment and I look forward to what He has for me ahead in my future.

Prayer Requests:
- Pray that we find out or control what is causing this worsened shortness of breath
- Pray that I am not retaining fluid (I have had a rapid weight gain)
- Pray that the "weird circulation sensations" in my legs improves (sometimes I feel that my legs are giving out on me as well as my arms)

In Christ,
Heidi


Here is a praise and worship song that has been ringing through my thoughts constantly...titled "Salvation is Here"

God above all the world in motion,
God above all my hopes and fears,
Well I don't care what the world throws at me now,
It's gonna be alright!


Hear the sounds of the generations,
Making loud our freedom song,
All in all that the world will know Your name,
We're gonna be alright!

Cause I know my God saved the day,
And I know His word never fails,
And I know my God made a way for me,
Salvation is here.

God above all the world in motion,
God above all my hopes and fears,
Well I don't care what the world throws at me now,
It's gonna be alright!

Cause I know my God saved the day,
And I know His word never fails,
And I know my God made a way for me,
It's gonna be alright!

Cause I know my God saved the day,
And I know His word never fails,
And I know my God made a way for me,
Salvation is here.

Salvation is here,
Salvation is here and it lives in me,
Salvation is here,
Salvation in God means to set me free,
Salvation is here,
Salvation is here and it lives in me,
Salvation is here,
Cause you are alive and you live in me!
Salvation is here,
Salvation is here and it lives in me,
Salvation is here,
Cause you are alive and you live in me!

Cause I know my God saved the day,
And I know His word never fails,
And I know my God made a way for me,
It's gonna be alright!

Cause I know my God saved the day,
And I know His word never fails,
And I know my God made a way for me,
Salvation is here.

Salvation is here and it lives in me,
Salvation is here,
Cause you are alive and you live in me!
Salvation is here.

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."

Thanksgiving Break

Over my Thanksgiving break, I came home to Connecticut from Chicago (Trinity) for ten days to go to some follow-up appointments at the GI, Pulmonologist, and local Cardiologist (and oh yea, have some Turkey with my family!)

I had been experiencing some significant changes in my health, since the summer, mainly regarding my lung and chronic cardiac issues. After additional testing, my Ejection Fraction appeared to be at 34% and I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).

My local cardiologist informed us that we needed to begin some more intensive interventions (other than increasing my current medications and doing more local tests). My cardiologist recommended that I have a Cardiac Catheterization on both the left and right sides of my heart.

My cardiologist allowed me to return to Trinity in order to finish the last eight school days of my semester before I needed to return back to have this procedure. I was sent back to Chicago with a Cardiac Event monitor (which has been used before on other occasions to document cardiac episodes).

It was difficult to return to Chicago and concentrate on my studies, but God was faithful and protected my mind and my health during this trying time.

Summer 2008

Ever since I began attending college in the mid-west, I have followed-up with my various doctors during my school breaks.

During my spring semester at Trinity Christian College, I experienced some gastrointestinal symptoms, and decided to go to a GI doctor while I was at home over the summer. This appointment was inconclusive, however, it led me to have other tests in order to understand my symptoms better- such as an Echocardiogram, Stress Echocardiogram, more GI tests, advanced pulmonary tests, Nuclear Muga heart scan, three CAT scans, X-Rays, blood work, and the list goes on!

Aside from my laundry list of tests, Summer 2008 was a very busy summer. My sister, Whitney, was married on June 14^th to Joshua Albright. Whitney and Josh’s wedding was the most joyous event of the summer for me, along with a trip to Rhode Island with my mother for a weekend getaway.

A couple weeks after my sister's wedding, I continued with more follow-up tests and discovered some key factors about my chronic lung and cardiac health issues.

Two days before returning to Trinity, I was diagnosed with Restrictive Lung Disease. In addition, my Ejection Fraction for my heart was around 32% (normal being 55%). I returned to Trinity in Chicago and kept mental logs of my cardiac and lung status with plans to follow-up during Thanksgiving break...See my Thanksgiving Break Post for more details.