I remember when all this heart stuff started happening I felt very impressed to write everything down. How grateful I am for that! Being able to re-read through this journey is very helpful.

Surgery is set -- December 1st, 2010. We will fly out on Monday, November 29th. Tuesday, November 30th will be spent doing pre-surgery testing all day, then Wednesday is the day. It is nice to have it figured out. Dr. Dearani's staff is very nice and helpful.

I had an interesting experience last week that I wanted to share. I got a call from my friend Paul Shields - Paul and his family have been such a wealth of information for us during this process. What a wonderful family! Anyway, Paul called to suggest that it might be worthwhile to have another great surgeon give us a second opinion. This surgeon is at Boston Children's Hospital and one that the Shields have dealt with. That thought surprised me because I hadn't even thought about doing so. I was so excited that Dr. Dearani could help us that I didn't even think about a second opinion. As Paul and I discussed the option of getting a second opinion I got a strange feeling - a not so good feeling. After I got off the phone with Paul I was confused. When I thought about getting a second opinion from Boston Children's Hospital I just felt sick, and that really confused me. Why would I feel that way? Getting a second opinion seemed a harmless thing, why should I feel sick about it? Really strange...... so I spent a few days doing some pondering and praying. After doing so I made my choice, and felt great about it! I thought I felt good about the choice to go to Mayo, but after talking with Paul I felt even better about it. For whatever reason that is where we need to be. Whenever I think about Boston Children's Hospital I feel nervous, but that is not the case with Mayo. I am glad Paul called and made me think about another option. Although we didn't decide to get a second opinion I now feel even more solid in the choice to go to the Mayo Clinic.

Before My Heart Stops

Every week I get random emails from Deseret Book advertising new books. I usually don't pay much attention to these - until this past week. This week when I briefly looked over the email sent I noticed a name that stuck out. That name was Dr. Angela Yetman, who is my heart specialist. She had written the foreword for a new book written by Paul Cardall entitled "Before My Heart Stops". I was draw to read the few bits of info on the book since I think so highly of Dr. Yetman. It was then that I felt very impressed to read this book. I felt so strongly about it that I quickly ran over to Deseret Book at 8:45 p.m. and quickly picked it up. Now, that is so not my thing. I like to ponder every expense I make so to jump up and get it the moment I see it advertised is very un-Cary like. But Heavenly Father prompts us for reasons He knows, and He knew I needed to read that book.

Before My Heart Stops is a memoir by a man named Paul Cardall. Paul was born with congenital heart disease, which means he was born with a severe heart defect. This book is based upon a blog Paul kept while he waited over a year for a heart transplant. What an inspiring story this book shares!!

I needed to read Paul's story. I do not face a heart transplant - thank goodness! - but it is hard waiting and wondering for an outcome. Paul shares many words of wisdom that I can relate to and I am very grateful for them! Some such things are these: #1 - Patience is more than just waiting. Waiting is being lazy. Patience is waiting while still giving of yourself. #2 - To deny others to serve you is to cheat them out of joy. It is always easier to serve than to be served, but allowing yourself to be served strengthens character. #3 - Live for today and not for what could be. So many people waste countless hours thinking that when certain events or other various things occur they will suddenly be happy. I am a huge believer that you can't wait for tomorow to be happy. Happiness is a daily choice. Paul's thoughts about this issue reminded me that I can't put everything on hold until I get better. I need to live today for today. And #4 - Attitude is everything! I have always been a huge advocate of attitude. I believe your attitude determines the outcome your life. You cannot control what happens to you but you can control your attitude about it. Reading Paul's story reminded me of the importance of hope and how hope affects your attitude. We all need hope and we all need a positive attitude - those two attributes will get you very far in life!

Thanks to Paul for sharing such a wonderful story! I believe many lives will be enriched as a result. I truly admire his ability to share such a personal struggle with others. I know that that would be a hard thing for me to do.

Congenital Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in children. As I have been up at Primary Children's Medical Center I have noticed many children who are very sick. I feel very humbled to have the health I do. Yes, I do have congenital heart disease but overall my health is good. I am grateful for all I have been blessed with and have hope for a bright future.

The Verdict once again...

We finally heard back from the Mayo Clinic! Dr. Yetman called yesterday and said Dr. Dearani had called her that morning. And the verdict.........MAYO CLINIC!!

Dr. Dearani says that he cannot perform the true cone procedure because one of my tricuspid leaflets is too damaged. His plan is to take out the old ring in my heart and replace it. He will then do a repair my heart valve using my own heart tissue. There is still some question about having a pacemaker or not. I believe that will be determined when meet with Dr. Dearani.

Dr. Yetman believes this to be our best option and truly, Keven and I feel it is the best option we could have been given. Dr. Dearani is a very gifted surgeon. He knows this heart defect SO well. It is comforting to be under such wonderful care!

May I add that Dr. Yetman and her staff - Barbara and Nancy - are so wonderful! They treat me with such kindness! I just love nice people!

Dr. Yetman said the next step was too make sure we can get our insurance to approve the surgery, Mayo Clinic, etc. So after talking with Nancy, Dr. Yetman's nurse practioner, I made a call to the insurance today. More wonderful blessings. First, our insurance happens to be BCBS of Minnesota! That means our insurance approves the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Dearani, etc. I love it!

Once we check one more insurance issue we will be ready to schedule a date for surgery. We are looking at November. Our home is supposed to be done the first week of November so anytime after is fine. We are thinking right after Thanksgiving. That way our house should be done and we will be here for Thanksgiving with our kids. The Thanksgiving/Christmas season is a crazy time to be doing all this but we need to do this before the end of the year and we also want to be in our own house so what do ya do?

Ahh....so glad to have some sort of answer. Not knowing is harder than knowing.