Penny Beaman Penny's Page

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. Penny has lived with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) since 2009. In 2016 Penny was admitted to Unity hospital for possible pneumonia. After being there a few hours they moved her that evening over the the Heart Center at Mercy Hospital due to her CHF diagnosis. You can call it coincidence, but I say it was God's divine intervention for the move, because the next morning at 7:30 am Penny's heart stopped and there happened to be a cardiac nurse right outside her door! The staff revived her, only to have her heart stop 2 more times that same day, and she ended up having emergency open heart surgery. Penny had a mitral valve replacement and did well with her new heart valve until 2018 when her valve failed. Penny was not a candidate for another major surgery so they performed a "valve in valve" procedure which is less invasive, and it worked like a charm! April 2021 Penny experienced acute elevated blood pressure, decreased kidney function, elevated lab numbers, and water retention.  June 30, 2021 Penny was admitted to the hospital with acute kidney failure secondary to heart failure. While in the hospital she also experienced acute respiratory failure and hypoxia, as well as double pneumonia. Penny has also lived with chronic pain for many years and she's tired. She is tired of all the poking and prodding, constant pain, hospital stays, and not being able to do the things she'd like to do because of her health. On July 5th Penny talked with her Dr in depth about her desires and what her life might look like if she continued on the current aggressive treatment plan; which is more like a balancing act because treating one issue can cause another with her vital organs...it's always been a fine line. Penny told her Dr that she just wants to be comfortable with no more drastic measures to keep her broken parts working. She asked if she could just go home where she could see the staff she loved and be kept comfortable. Her Dr respected her decision of comfort over care and started comfort treatment immediately. She was discharged from the hospital on July 6th  back to her apartment at the Landmark of Fridley.  Penny is currently on Hospice and the Landmark staff are assisting to keep her comfortable. Penny is strong, courageous, loving, caring, kind-hearted and generous, and is loved by all who are blessed to know her. Family has always been very important to Penny and she is loved and supported by her family in her very brave decision. Penny will walk hand in hand and step by step together with her friends and family on this new journey. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting Penny's page.