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Today I just wanted to give a brief note about some personal struggles and blessings we’ve been going through.  

​My husband was diagnosed with a bicupsid aortic valve in his heart last March when we were living in Marquette, Mi.  It’s been a long and sometimes difficult journey for us knowing that open heart surgery was in the future.  

​After a job transfer back downstate to the Southeastern Michigan area, we had to start over with his cardiac care at a new facility.  This proved to be a true blessing because now he was able to go to the Ann Arbor, Mi VA.  For those familiar with the facility, it is right next to the University of Michigan Hospital, which is known as a leader for the cardiac care and surgery.  U of M surgical group goes back and forth doing surgeries at both U of M and the Ann Arbor VA.  

It was finally time to fix the leaky heart valve.  I was very nervous about this surgery as it’s open heart surgery.  My husband on the other hand was completely at peace.  He is a man of very strong faith and he felt God had him in this and he just had a sense of such peace knowing he would be fine. I did receive more calm from my husband’s assurances and increased my own faith and sense of peace about the operation.  

He had the surgery this past Monday.  Everything went well.  The heart was in great condition other than that sneaky ole leaky valve he was born with.  He made phenomenal progress in the first two days in ICU, and on the third day he was on step down unit.  He was released on the 4th day of hospitalization, which is really accelerated for a lot of people.  He had no complications so far.  Some pain obviously but is at home and walking on his own. Activity is restricted for about 4-6 weeks, but he is on the road to recovery.  I know we both feel so completely blessed so I felt led to post an update about his surgery.  

We also received a lot of help, support, and friendship from an online Heart Valve replacement Group on Facebook.   Here is the link,  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/15618633322/

We even “met” a young lady online who was having the very same surgery, the very next day, with the same surgeon as my husband’s only she was having her surgery at U of M instead of the VA .  I kept in contact with Leesa and texted with her on Jeff’s progress and have been tracking her progress with her family members/friends after her surgery.  She is doing well also.  We are so thankful for our Great God for all these blessings and bringing these people into our lives during this time.   

As far as farm news, the shop is on hiatus until next week.  I need to do a little care
giving for hubby at home.  We also are in the beginning phases of planning for planting this spring/summer.   We are planning a larger planting this year of several hundred plants.  We also have been thinking of a volunteer planting day for any who would like to help us get these plants in the ground.  More updates to come.  

Have a blessed day.  

Elaine S.  


0 Responses

  1. If our hearts are full of happiness and contentment, everything seems to fall into place. You faced a big challenge in your life, but because your faith was never shaken,everything happened so smooth and you managed to survive the problems that crossed your path! Your heart is very pure because you know how to forgive, you know how to understand. Though everything that’s happening in your life seems blurry, you still chose to stand by your faith! Look at you now, you’re more than blessed!

  2. If our hearts are full of happiness and contentment, everything seems to fall into place. You faced a big challenge in your life, but because your faith was never shaken,everything happened so smooth and you managed to survive the problems that crossed your path! Your heart is very pure because you know how to forgive, you know how to understand. Though everything that’s happening in your life seems blurry, you still chose to stand by your faith! Look at you now, you’re more than blessed!