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June 16, 2026: The Day Everything Changed: Part 2

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This is a follow-up to my last blog post about my pulmonary valve surgery on June 16, 2026. Since that post was about the surgery itself, I wanted to write this one to keep track of what happened afterward and what my doctors found during my follow-up.

They found a leak in my new pulmonary valve, so the cardiologist here at OSF did an echo, X-ray, and some blood tests. Three of their congenital cardiologists think the other doctors who looked at the images probably got a little confused. However, they did request the imaging that all the other doctors saw to see exactly what they were looking at or what they saw. Then they are going to review it themselves.

I have an artery above my pulmonary valve that is enlarged, and when the blood flows through it, it swirls around before going where it needs to go. Apparently, that can make it look like a larger leak than what it is. Another thing is that my blood pressure has been higher than normal. When that happens, it puts extra pressure on the heart, almost like it’s squeezing it, and it may have been pushing a little more blood out of the valve at that time as well. I also had fluid on my lungs, which added even more pressure.

I saw my Peptide (BNP) number, which is something I’ve been keeping track of myself. That number helps indicate fluid buildup. When I went into St. John’s the other night, it had gone up to a little over 1,700. Even before that, it was around 1,200. Today, I noticed it was 400 when they checked it, which is the lowest I’ve seen it, so I was really happy about that.

They also told me that while 1,700 is an increase for me, they’re used to seeing numbers of 10,000 or even 15,000, so they put it into perspective for me by telling me how high the peptide numbers they’ve seen can get.

The doctor also said my heart function is wonderful, which they told me at St. John’s too. He said they’ll keep an eye on this mild-to-moderate leak, and if they need to, they can repair it through a catheter instead of open-heart surgery. They would not be opening me up again, at least not for a very long time.

As far as the fluid goes, it’s really about finding the right amount of medication to keep it off, and that’s what they’re working on now. He doesn’t think the fluid will last much longer, but if it does, I can call them. They can either see me in the clinic or prescribe an extra water pill if needed. Of course, if I’m ever gasping for air, I should go straight to the ER.

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June 16, 2026: The Day Everything Changed

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My Open Heart Surgery was on June 16, 2026. I’m writing this a little while after the surgery, but I wanted to go back and share what those first days of my recovery were like.

My surgery went pretty well. It was nerve-wracking, but I got through it. Most of my family was in the waiting room, and I was awake just long enough for my immediate family to come in and say hello before they took me back.

They gave me a lot of fluids in the ICU, apparently to support the right side of my heart. I don’t remember all the details, so I’m not exactly sure why they were needed. The surgeon put in my new valve and said everything went well.

The next day, they took me off the ventilator and, as I remember it, sat me up in a chair. That felt wonderful. Over time, my lower body became very swollen, probably because of all the fluids I had received. They started me on Lasix, and the swelling slowly began to go down. I took a walk down the hall either later that day or the next morning. I can’t remember exactly when.

They placed me in the PICU because the surgeon who performed my operation is mainly a children’s heart surgeon, although he also operates on adults. I believe he prefers his patients to recover on the pediatric floor. The nurses there were incredibly attentive. You really couldn’t ask for better care.

Around the third or fourth day in the hospital, though, I started feeling guilty. Because I was taking Lasix, I had to use the bathroom constantly and needed the nurses’ help every time. I felt like I was taking time away from the children who needed them.

I was also healing from a sheath they had placed in my right groin. The doctor wanted to leave it in a little longer to give the area more time to heal. While I was taking Lasix, fluid was leaking from the opening where the sheath had been. For a couple of days, I was a hot mess and felt very needy. They eventually removed the sheath, and although a little fluid continued to leak afterward, it finally stopped. That was such a relief!

I’ve been home for a while now, but I’ve been lagging behind on my walking. I have been walking, just not as much as I should. At my follow-up appointment, they found some fluid around my left lung and a small infection where the sheath had been. Those bumps in the road have made me pretty nervous.

After my appointment, I walked around the block once. Yesterday, I walked around the block four times. My doctor also prescribed another antibiotic and more Lasix, hoping the fluid around my left lung will continue to improve.

Recovery hasn’t been a straight line, and there have been a few setbacks, but I’m thankful for how far I’ve come. I’m taking things one day at a time and trusting that, with patience, walking, rest, and the treatment my doctor recommends, I’ll continue getting stronger.

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Once is Never Enough

shelie272 Comments

What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?

I’m a big movie buff, so narrowing this list down wasn’t easy. There are so many films and series I’ve enjoyed over the years, but these are a few that really stuck with me. Some made me laugh, cry, and some told a story that stole my heart.

5.) Schitt’s Creek

I laughed, I cried, and I thought this show was both hilarious and touching. You can’t go wrong with Eugene Levy, and it’s great to see his son right there beside him. It reminded me of Doc Hollywood, a movie from the early ’90s with Michael J. Fox. Sometimes we all need a new perspective.

4.) The Queen’s Gambit

I was not familiar with Anya Taylor-Joy, but she knocked it out of the ballpark In this movie. She wasn’t dealt the best hand of cards to begin with and landed in the right place at the right time. The way she carried herself in fashion, pose and attitude, especially in a man’s world , was remarkable and envious and way before her time.

3.) The Longest Ride

I wasn’t very familiar with the cast, but they did a wonderful job. The movie is a bit cheesy, but there’s another story being told—actually three, if you’re paying close attention.

2.) Flight (Denzel Washington)

Let me just say, if Denzel Washington is in a movie, I’m watching it. It’s probably going to be good, because he’s such a great actor. This movie is suspenseful, sad, honest, and deeply moving.

1.) Regarding Henry

I remember watching this with my family when it first came out. Another favorite actor of mine, Harrison Ford, doesn’t disappoint. Sometimes other people’s choices can change the path we were heading toward. This movie is sad, sweet, and truly touching.

These are just a few that stuck with me, but I’m always open to discovering more great movies?

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King Of The Jungle

shelie271 Comment

Write about your dream home.

My dream house is a ranch-style home on the outskirts of a small town. The porch wraps all the way around, and it’s concrete and flat to the ground. Soft, dim lighting lines the porch, giving it a warm glow in the evenings. There’s a big willow tree in the front yard, and the front yard is bigger than the back. I have a few wooden rockers, a glider for two, and a large wooden chair. There’s a small side table on the porch, perfect for early morning coffee or a refreshing drink on hot summer days.

The house is modern. The living room and kitchen are open, with a small amount of counter space separating the two, but you can see both areas clearly. My living room has just enough shelves built into the wall.

We have three, maybe four, bedrooms, but they are not huge — just big enough for guests to have a bed and sleep comfortably. The master bedroom has only about four stairs leading up to it. It’s a decent size, big enough for a king bed to sit in the middle of the room and still have space to move around.

The window in our room is on the right side of the bedroom. It’s rectangular and opens outward instead of sliding up. You can see most of the weeping willow when looking out. Every night before bed, my husband climbs up the tree in his boxers and swings down like Tarzan!

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Wire-trap

shelie275 Comments

My Mom came over to my house last week and I had the Alexa playing music. She was surprised because I would  name a song and Alexa would play the song.

She asked me how Alexa was hooked up, and I told her through our home internet. I told her I paid 4 dollars a month for unlimited music.

This morning she called to tell me a story about my niece.

When she was done with her story, she told me she heard Alexa could record your conversations inside your house, and on your phone. She told me, she had noticed when she was talking to me at times the phone would repeat back to her what we were saying on her end of the line. I said, if the government wanted to spy on me let them! We are over here talking about a cup of coffee splitting in half while I was taking a drink, and coffee splashed all over the place…

She chuckled and said I’m making you aware of what I’ve heard.

We hung up and there was knock at my door. Leery, I opened the blinds and two men in bright yellow vest were standing there. One man introduced himself. I spoke up and told them to hold on, I have to put some clothes on. I stepped outside and asked them where they were from. They said they were tax inspectors from an Assessors office taking pictures of our property for tax files, and there was nothing they needed from me, right now.

I started thinking about an unfamiliar Bill in the mail, and how I needed to call the doctors office and find out what’s going on. I decided to heat up a cup of coffee in the microwave. I had my phone in one hand and put the cup of coffee in the microwave with the other. I dialed the phone number, put the phone up to my ear and heard silence.

I looked up at the microwave and noticed I dialed the number of the doctors office into the microwave keyboard.

My Mom has me giving Alexa the side-eye!

 

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Garbage Pickup

shelie272 Comments

Dear writer,

We have a pile of garbage out in our front yard because the garbage company has not picked up our garbage in two weeks.

 This morning , I called them to find out what the hell was going on. The woman on the phone told me my services were canceled July 1st because they did not receive a payment. I told her I would call her back after I went through my check ledger, because I remember making a payment.

I went through my ledger and found a payment I made in early September. (my garbage bill is every three months.) I also wrote down a confirmation number. I called them back and let them know I had found this information.

She asked me if I paid the payment over the phone, and I said yes, I have the confirmation number. She told me I should have asked to speak to a representative, because your services were on the breaks, and we have to make sure you had no additional charges with that status. She said she would go ahead and update my account and set me up for pickup next Monday. I said well I have two weeks of trash sitting outside the front of my house. She then told me an additional pickup would be 60 big ones, plus 10 for each additional bag!

I said I will just wait til next Monday.

I feel the story changed from the first phone call, I made. I feel like they received my payment but the ball dropped somewhere and they are covering up their mistake. I do not recall any kind of warning of cancellation. I understand mistakes are made, and that is not what upsets me. I feel like I should not have to pay for an extra pickup.

This pile of trash in my front yard is stressing me out!

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Timeshare

shelie274 Comments

Dear Cosmos,

This morning started out rough with Gabe because he was up at about 4:30 this morning and so was I. We were both having a hard time getting our lives together for school.

After he left

I took a deep breath in, and exhaled out, poured me a cup of coffee, and moseyed around the house opening up the curtains.

Then I gathered all our bedding, towels, and socks up by the washer and started on laundry.

I made a phone call to Branson travel group to change our reservation for a vacation. I want to move up the date one day because I can’t take off work on the date I wanted to take off.

I ended up leaving a message because their office wasn’t open yet. A few days ago I had left a message with a woman, and she told me my agent had to move some days around on the schedule and he would call me back after everything was situated, and he never did call!

I caught up with more chores around the house and after a few hours I had to call them back. She new exactly who I was without telling her my name, which raised my brow. Then she repeats back to me why I’m calling, then says hold on I will get Mason. I hold for like five minutes, he answers the phone “Shelley I have you moved up a day so you’re all ready to go!

No, I’m sorry for the wait, no I’m sorry for not getting back to you, and no confirmation number.

I’m getting leery of the situation because of the mishap I explained above. To cut straight to the point I got suckered in to a timeshare meeting, and I’m thinking about cutting my losses and backing out…

What do you think?

Family · Home · love

My Notepad

shelie2712 Comments

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I miss my Son, my Mom, Dad, and my Husband taking the picture. I miss them without any of us being gone. I miss Izzy too, she’s the clump of fur on my Moms lap. I have a good life.

I’ve been writing in a notepad I carry in my Vera Bradley, bag. I don’t write everyday in my notepad. I don’t write every other day, either. I only write when I’m feeling the vibe.

 

I can’t believe I carry a notepad, in my bag, with a lot of my feelings openly written inside. I have actually thought about how I would feel if I misplaced or left my bag at someone’s house or my job. I worry about what people might think of me if they read what I wrote. I worry more about the notepad than my money I have in my bag. If I’m being honest it’s because I have a lot more feelings than money.

 

I’ve thought about leaving the notepad here at home but then I think about how much I love my notepad and how it’s there to catch me if I need to write down what I’m feeling. The fact that there are other feelings of mine written in my notepad, encourages me to keep my notepad with me and write down other feelings, if needed.

 

The notepad has no cover, because of taking it out and putting it back inside my bag so much. I still carry the cover that belongs to the notepad around in my bag, as well.  The notepad at first was to write information down about a product I wear and share on social media. I still share the love I have for the product but not as often.

 

The notepad comes in handy for my feelings, and basically, I guess, that is where my heart may be.

 

I write in my notepad when something or someone makes me angry, and the rest of my writing is about death. I think about death a lot. I think, I think about death more than I should, and no, I don’t know WHY, either. I don’t think about death as in what will happen when I die. I think about all the people I will miss when I do die.

 

I know this may sound odd because when we die we obviously don’t know we’re dead, and in Heaven we don’t miss people they say. I guess you could say, I miss the thought of missing my family and friends.