Saturday, March 26, 2022

Home and Recovering!

Our smiles say how happy we are to all be back together again. =)

Well actually, the kiddos smiles are all because Gramps and Nana were taking the picture and being hilarious. =) But truly it is SO good to be back home together and recovering from the comfort of my favorite place! I was released from the hospital yesterday late morning and now am posting this from the happy spot of my living room.

For those who are curious about the actual surgery I had, here is a little info! Valvuloplasty is when the surgeon inserts a very small, narrow, hollow tube into a blood vessel in the groin and advances it up and then through the aorta into the heart. The goal of the surgery is to then use the tissue "ballon" on the end of the tube to help open a stiff (stenotic) heart valve. I had two tubes inserted, one on each leg. So although it is definitely a big deal and there is recovery needed, I didn't have to be technically cut open. 
Subsequently, the healing process shouldn't be too rough, which is a huge blessing. 

The surgery took longer than was expected due to the doctors having some trouble crossing over from one side of my heart to the other. They started right at 11am on the morning of the 24th and finished around 1:15pm that afternoon. The cardiologist was happy with the surgery and said it was successful. We will meet back with him on May 13th for another echocardiogram and overall assessment.

So far I've had to take things for the pain a few times, but other than that it has been manageable. I'm not supposed to lift anything for a week, but I am able to walk around pretty well, which is kinda crazy if you think about my status 48 hours ago! I think the main difficulty this next week will be for me to remember not to do anything. I'm supposed to rest, however, it's really hard to stay put when one is feeling pretty good, and especially when that person has Bontrager bloodlines, haha. =) But my dear husband and family are taking care of me and running the house, and our church is bringing meals, so resting is what I am going to do! 

 Thankyou all for your prayers, messages, comments, and love. It truly means so much to us. 
Happy weekend!
 Chels

12 comments:

  1. Praise the Lord! I am so glad to hear that your surgery went well and that you are already home and recovering! God is good. I will continue to keep you in prayer!
    Love,
    Hannah

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  2. Yay! Good for you. How awesome that your parents can help.

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  3. Dear Chelsy,
    THANK YOU For taking precious energy and time to write ALL these long, newsy updates and for sharing these intensely, precious photos!!! How my heart goes out to you all with everything the Lord has called you to walk through, with your hands in His mighty Hands of love, as His compassionate heart guided your every step and still does. I haven't checked your blog in a long time, and I felt impressed by the Lord to read it tonight, and there was even an update from today! Thank you for sharing joys and sorrows, rejoicing and tears. I so much appreciate it and will be praying for your recovery and strength for you, John, and the precious children. The Lord truly has been upholding you each. A believer in Jesus who sat in his prison cell once said, "My cold dark prison cell is a palace, because the Lord of glory is here with me!" "Blessed is the man" or woman "that trusteth in the LORD, and whose HOPE the LORD is...A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our SANCTUARY...Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my PRAISE... Thou art my HOPE in the day of evil." Jeremiah 17 KJV. "God is known in her palaces for a REFUGE...CONSIDER her palaces." Psalm 48 KJV. "GOD is in the midst of HER; SHE shall not be moved: GOD shall help HER, and that right early... The LORD of hosts is WITH US; the GOD of Jacob is our REFUGE. Selah...The LORD of hosts IS WITH US; the God of Jacob IS OUR REFUGE. Selah." Psalm 46 KJV. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will UPHOLD THEE with the right hand of my righteousness... When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them." Isaiah 41 KJV.
    Thank you again for sharing! I have to say that I didn't even notice your different smiles, for they still radiate the joy and love of Jesus. Your children are so precious and your little girl is beautiful! I will thank the Lord with you that your surgery was successful and for ALL the help He is pouring down upon you! I love your curly hair!
    With mountains of love in our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, and prayers for you all,
    Colleen F.
    Believer in Jesus from Buffalo, NY

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    1. Happy Singing unto the Lord with the following precious hymn that can be sung to the same tune as 'Sweet Hour of Prayer':

      Jesus! Before Thy face we fall,
      Our Lord, our life, our hope, our all;
      For we have nowhere else to flee;
      NO SANCTUARY, LORD, BUT THEE.

      In Thee we every glory view,
      Of safety, strength, and beauty too;
      'TIS ALL OUR REST AND PEACE TO SEE
      OUR SANCTUARY, LORD, IN THEE.

      Whatever foes or fears betide,
      In Thy blest presence let us hide;
      AND WHILE WE REST OUR SOULS ON THEE,
      THOU SHALT OUR SANCTUARY BE.

      Through time, with all its changing scenes,
      And all the grief that intervenes,
      LET THIS SUPPORT EACH FAINTING HEART,
      THAT THOU OUR SANCTUARY ART.

      - The Little Flock #309.

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  4. Wow. I am so thankful that it went well and that you are home recovering! I pray the Lord’s continued mercy and grace be upon you, and may His hand of healing be upon you that you won’t even need another surgery down the road!


    Rebekah
    Psalm 121

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  5. Glad to see you home with your family!!!! Joan

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  6. Good to hear and see you all doing well! Hallelujah for a successful operation and safe homecoming for you, Chelsey!

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  7. Lovely to see happy smiles together at home! Continued prayers for you all.

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  8. Lovely to see you home again with your beautiful family.
    Praying for you all and God bless.
    Xxx

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  9. You’ve been through a lot. Thank God for doctors whose skills help us.

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  10. Oh my goodness, Chelsy! It's been so long since I've been on here. I had no idea about all the other things you've been dealing with! Wow. Praying for you guys. Love you.

    Love, Rebecca

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