I am making this page since it will be easier to keep everyone updated in one place as my health journey continues. 

It has been four months since my emergency open heart surgery. I will say it has been the hardest four months that I have ever experienced. From the pain, to the rehab, to needing more help physically, my emotional state, and let's not forget being terminated from UPMC because of my health.

My days are spent going to cardiac rehab three days a week for two hours each day. The days that I do not have cardiac rehab I have appointments with nutritionists, cardiologists, hematologist and so many more doctor. I can honestly not remember the last weekday that I had no appointments at all. 

My strength is slowly getting back to where I was but of course it is still not my normal strength and energy. You would be amazed to find out how many daily activities require the use of your chest muscles.

I went three months without my TPN after the open heart surgery so I am behind nutritionally once again. Now that I am back on TPN my body is not sure how to handle it and that is causing some issues with my liver and pancreas now. 

We are just one month away from my next surgery. The surgery date will be September 1st and will include a total colectomy (removal of my large intestine)and a total gastrectomy (removal of my stomach).  

I have to be in Cleveland August 21st through the 23rd for all my preoperative testing. I will then return home for a few days so I can get my four big kids off to their first day of school.  I will then return to Cleveland August 30th and will remain in Cleveland until mid October. 

The thought of leaving my husband and children for over a month is awful, and then you add in that I am over three hours away which leaves me anxious and terrified.  

My younger sister Jena will be staying with the kids Monday through Friday during the day while Alex is at work. We need to figure out weekend childcare so that Alex can come up to the hospital on the weekends as much as he can. 

Between all of my doctor visits and co-pays, the gas to get around to my appointments, and the upcoming need for hotels and gas to get to and from Cleveland, this journey is really starting to affect us financially.  

We are trying to stay positive and I am doing my best to make as many memories with the kids before I go as this has also been a rough journey for them. 

If you could keep our family in your thoughts and prayers we really need them right now. I will update everyone in a few weeks as we get closer to go time.