Sorry about the delay in getting information about my situation distributed, but since May (more likely since the summer of 2010), I have been struggling with a diseased heart and it has had a major impact on my daily activities.
In case you do not know, on May 2nd I went to the doctor to address some swelling I had in my legs. I was hoping they would prescribe some sort of medication and send me home. The exact opposite happened. They sent me directly to the hospital and I stayed there for next two
weeks. One week at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center the following week at University of Maryland Medical Center.
After a series of tests the medical teams told me I had Congestive Heart Failure. What is Congestive Heart Failure? It is a conditionwhen your heart is not able to pump the needed amount of blood throughout your body. The body responds by allowing fluids to collect
where ever it can. In my case I was collecting fluids from my feet all the way up to my lungs (some days up into my neck). Over the course of my stay, the medical teams removed over 50 pounds of fluid that had built up in my body. After performing a heart catheterization, where
they discovered the arteries going to my heart were healthy, I was released to return home.
Once released I had to change my diet, start a limited exercise program, take way to many medications, and slow down. All things I do not do well. I hate taking medications. The hope is over time, I will lose a great deal of weight and my heart will recover and pump my
blood more efficiently.
Today, like most days is a fight to stick to the diet, take the medication, get a limited yet growing amount of exercise and a good amount of rest. The folks at DaySpring, a few folks from City of Hope, and those that know of my condition at Chapelgate have been wonderful. Meeting to walk with me during the week. Sending me notes of encouragement just when I seem to need them most. The body of Christ is best experienced during struggle.
My greatest issue is dealing with me. Most days I feel very good, thus I feel free to return to my old ways (eating in between normal times, not stopping to eat at designated times, skipping exercise). It is on those days, I need to remember the doctors telling me that my
heart function was not at 85% - 70% (normal) but a measly 20% - 15% and focus on sticking to the diet and a limited schedule.
It is amazing how quickly I forget how I could not walk for 15 minutes without having to stop and rest. But then, I come from a long line of forgetful people. I think of the nation of Israel forgetting all that God had done when He released them from Egypt.
Thank goodness the Holy Spirit continues to bring family, friends, and a whole cloud of witnesses to remind me of His love and desire to see me whole again!
Seeking to know Jesus better,
Dwayne
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