Just a little bit from the heart

I apologize for the lack of updates these past few weeks. Everything has been wonderful! My new incision healed up perfectly and because of the way he made the new incision he was able to close up the old one! The first few day after surgery was quite rough because of the anesthesia. However by the second day I was feeling wonderful. While I was not back to my complete normal self I felt better than I had since the very beginning of this journey.

Yes I know it was slightly insane of me due to the fact that I had just gotten out of surgery but the third day I was privileged to stand and be part of my best friends wedding! I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends! It was a beautiful wedding!

I had two appointments today, one was a cardiac stress test and one was my final check up for the year! The stress test went well, my heart seemed to handle it well. I should start cardiac therapy within the next week. My primary doctor said as far as he can tell everything is fine and I should be good to resume my normal life! I have to say what a wonderful blessing it is to go to my primary doctor here. I typically can't stand going to the doctors but I have been blessed with amchristian doctor here in Mansfield that is very involved in medical missions trips. I always enjoy my visits with him because we always end up talking of missions and what the Lord is doing in each others lives concerning His mission.

Thank you all for your continued prayers, calls and cards they are a wonderful blessing! I will continue to update on any changes both here and in Kiribati.
Candace

Home again

Thank y'all so much for all of your prayers, texts and calls yesterday. I can't explain how much it helps in trying times to have those encouraging things. I got home yesterday evening. I am doing well my pain is pretty low which is nice. I havent actually taken any pain meds as of yet. I struggled with sickness from the anesthetic all yesterday and last night but that has mostly passed. My throat is pretty torn up from the breathing tube but other than that all is well.

Everything seems to have been successful. They removed the top wire from my sternum with hopes that everything will heal up normally now. The doctor said when he got in he was very thankful that they did not wait another day because there was a great deal of build up and fluid around my sternum. He believes that if I had waited even one more day it could have gone into severe infection.

Today I am on "bed rest" which is driving me crazy but I am very thankful for my sweet little brother who is taking such wonderful care of me. I can't imagine where I would be without this kid he has been my right arm these past few days. I cannot wait till my parents are home tho! There is nothing quite as good as having my sweet mama here with me.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support. I have a follow up appointment next Wednesday, I will update how that goes. 

Please don't forget to keep the Daku and Snyder families in your prayers as well as the I-Kiribati people. 

Candace 

Back to the OR

Just wanted to give a quick update. I am heading to the OR within the hour. The doctor called this morning and feels as though the need to remove the top wire from my sternum right away. After reviewing the CT scan he fears that a bone infection could develop if they don't remove it right away. Please continue to pray they are very hopeful that this will help everything else to go start to improve.

I'll update when I can.

From Valley Moments to Mountain Tops

To say that these past few weeks have been all skittles and lollipops would be a lie. However to say that I haven't been abunantly blessed through these times would also be a lie.

I still ask that you continue to pray for my left lung. We are unsure of why but it still has not opened up. The doctors lowered my medicines a second time and my blood pressure has started to even out some these past few days which is wonderful! As for my incision not much has changed. It seemed to be healing up but the doctor still had concern for the stability of my sternum. Wednesday when I was in Cincinnati for my 1 month cardio check up I received a call from the surgeon saying he wanted to do surgery right away to remove the wires from my sternum. He feels that they are causing the fevers and wound and believes that the only way for me to heal would be to have surgery again. However while I was at the cardiologist I explained the matter to him and he felt as if that was the craziest thing he had ever heard. As you can imagine this out me in a difficult position not knowing which doctor to follow and whether or not to have the surgery. With the indecisiveness I have contacted Dr Dearani at the Mayo Clinic. Since he is the one who did the original surgery he is going to be making the decision for what the next step is. Please pray for him to have wisdom as he reviews my tests and makes this decision. He ordered a CT Scan for tomorrow and when he receives the results from that he will make the final decision.

As you can see there has definitely been some valley moments since my last post. However I need to also express how wonderful it has been to have some mountain top moments. Along this bumpy road God has constantly reminded me that He is right here with me. And occasionally just because  He can He adds in some extra special blessings. These past weeks I have just been overwhelmed with how wonderful He is and the wonderful friends He has placed in my life.

Last weekend a group of friends from my church came up to visit. It was so wonderful to spend some time with them! While laughing hurts somethin terrible it was so good to laugh with friends again and be reminded of how blessed I am to have them! I am so thankful for their each of them giving up their weekend to come up here and spend it with me! I have been blessed with the best friends!

This past week was full of blessings as well! Thursday because my heart check up was in Cincinnati I was able to stop by my church and give a testimony of all that the Lord is doing in my life now. It was so wonderful to see my church family again. Having not seen them since August you can imagine how excited I was to catch up with my friends and family in that area. After coming back to my parents Friday morning I was quite worn out but overwhelmed at how wonderful it was to have seen my friends. Saturday morning I receieved yet another blessing as some friends from Milford drove up to visit for the day! I can't tell you how big of a blessing it has been have the Money and Ziemer families in my life! They have invested so much into my life I am just so thankful for all they have done for me! 

Yesterday was a particularly difficult day. I was just completely worn out! My parents are out of town so it has just been my little brother and I here which has been fun but very tiring! My fever came back again yesterday and my pain was abnormally strong. Yet again I found myself in a valley moment. Not because anything bad was happening but I was just simply having a rough day. But just the time when I was getting down is when God reminded me that I am not alone. I received these pictures from the singles group at my church  last night. And was reminded that I am not alone! I am so thankful for all of you who have prayed for me and supported me! Words really can't express how much of a blessing y'all have been.