Well this is an update on Craig. He had a heart appointment today, yes on Valentine’s. I am summing up what he told me quickly on the phone after his appointment. He was there for a little over 3 hrs. His Heart Doc. Here in Utah is also a Marfan specialist. Which is a Syndrome that he was born with, and each of our children carry. The doctor says that the Aorta opening in his heart is getting bigger. Here is a good explanation.
“In the Marfan syndrome, the walls of the major arteries are weakened. The aorta, the major artery that leaves the heart, often is affected. When this occurs, it gets bigger (dilates), which can weaken the inner aortic wall. Under strenuous exertion, the aorta wall can tear. Blood can leak through these tears into the aortic wall, separating its layers — a process called aortic dissection. Another problem that may occur if the aortic wall weakens is that an aneurysm (AN'u-rizm) may form.” You can read more about his heart issues at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4672.
So his doctor has put him on Heart medicine which he will take for the rest of his life. She says if he starts this medicine now, he hopefully will not need to have heart surgery in the next 10 years. More likely 15, so by the time he is 50. They want to prolong it because other parts of his heart will most likely have issues once the surgery is done. His doctor says that he cannot lift weights, only moderate exercise. With these few adjustments and possibly surgery his life expectancy is 60. Very lucky if he makes it beyond this point. So things are starting to get a little more real now that he is starting meds. He will continue to have heart pain because of his chest and growing older.
The doctor said he needs to start coming regularly and I think this will get him going.
On a side note, we left for church early yesterday to pick up a lest active girl that is in both Craig and I's classes. Luckily we did because the one other girl in my class was not there. So I would have spent all this time prepareing and no one there.
Here is a cute picture of Lexy at Charleen's work. She was trying on a Bonnet.
3 comments:
Wow Mindy! Jarrod and I were just thinking about Craig today and was wondering how his heart appt went. It is starting to sound serious and yes, like you said more real. I hope that Craig can prolong his surgery. Let us know if we can ever help you guys out.
I know, I am going to have to stop joking about him dying early, because its not really a joke anymore.
wow, Mindy, that is pretty intense. Let Craig know we are thinking about you guys and you are in our prayers. :)
Post a Comment