Journal entry by Jenny Schroeder —
Well, it’s been almost two weeks since my second surgery! Recovery has been harder than I expected, but has been going well. I have inch long incisions on both sides of my groin/leg area where they put in the catheter with the valve. I have severe bruising on my left hip and groin area since that is the side they tried to put in the valve three times. So yeah, it’s in a very sensitive place and has made walking and moving around difficult and painful to say the least! But it’s getting better everyday.
The first week I stayed at my parents house since I was hardly walking and still in some pain. During that week, I slept a LOT and tried to walk outside a little bit even thought I could not walk very fast. I’m walking fairly normal now, but my incisions are still healing so I can’t do everything like I used to yet.
The past weekend me and my family were on Spring break so we stayed at a cabin near Two Harbors up the North Shore. It was so fun to just rest and relax with my family in the amazing winter wonderland that is northern Minnesota. I was able to go snowshoeing with everyone, which I surprisingly was able to keep up with everyone. It’s hard to tell if I had more energy with my new heart valve because for the last two weeks, I’ve been sitting on the couch haha. But it does feel crazy that just less than two weeks ago I was laying in that hospital bed feeling and now I’m out here in the middle of nowhere snowshoeing in Narnia!
Because of the blood thinner I’m taking, I have to go get my blood drawn every few days to regulate my medication. Next week I will be starting a rehabilitation program for patients with heart problems. I will essentially be working out with a trainer while they monitor my heart. This is to help me to get back into being active in a safe environment so I don’t overwork my heart. I will be doing this for several weeks.
With all of the corona stuff happening, it does make me a little nervous going to the hospital every couple of days, especially because I have a heart disease. I go back to Mayo on April 3 for a checkup and hopefully I won’t have to cancel that because it’s really important. But for now, I’m just chilling at my apartment in Minneapolis for the rest of this week during Spring break. Bethlehem College has at least the next two weeks of classes online. Any day my Starbucks that I work at could close. So at least I’m thankful for the extra rest that I’m getting.
But I’m so thankful I was able to have my surgery before all of this got so bad! Thank you all for continued prayers while I recover and slowly make it back to normal and hopefully soon, even better than normal! With every day hearing about more people getting sick, I realize how dependent on God we are. Our lives are all in his hands, and the only thing we can do at this point is pray and trust in him. And of course, wash your hands :)
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