One month ago, we were brought to our knees by the news that Terry is in immediate need of open-heart surgery due to an aortic aneurysm. First off, Terry and I have no idea what an actual gosh darn aneurysm was. Let alone how to spell it, seriously! After a quick google search and the crashing realization that Terry's aneurysm was encompassing his entire aortic root, cue the absolute panic and sheer fear of how fragile Terry’s life was at that moment and every moment moving forward.

As the panic set in, so did our support system, our immediate family members, inner circle, and community knew what we needed before we even did. Individuals swooped in to provide courage, the strength to ensure the forward steps, assistance in "straighten my crown," and support both of us and our kiddos needed through our entire heart journey.

Fast forward to now, we are eternally grateful to be on this side of things, post-op. Each week brings a new layer of normalcy, as well as layers of worry and anxiety lifted as we celebrate Terry's daily accomplishments and extraordinary medical post-op appointments. These are breathtaking to witness. What I imagined our lives would look like after surgery is not even comparable to our actual realities; I am in awe of Terry moving mountain ranges during his recovery.

As another week passes and we prepare to add another layer of normalcy next week with me heading back into work, we are ready to take on the task. I have told many that going back to work may be comparable to dropping our firstborn off at daycare for the first time {#hotmessexpress}! I may have more emotions to work through than Terry {insert his look here}. I will not be going back completely 100% percent due to Terry's driving restrictions and the difficult reality of heart assessment appointments for all three kiddos next week. It's hard to fathom this reality, but it is an essential preventive measure to understand if Terry’s heart journey is congenital or genetic. I know that my co-workers and work families will handle me with grace and understanding as I navigate this journey. I will not be full-strength Schmalzy next week; I will definitely have a few players in the penalty box, but it will be great to step back into my joy job, School Counseling.

Terry will be embarking on another level of recovery with Cardiac Rehab starting Monday! I know he is excited to add more exercise and field trips to his days. Thank you to his chauffeur, my mom, as she takes over this responsibility for me. I am sure these “outings” will be full of giggles. What a total lifesaver she has been in the past month and always has been in our lives!

As Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the helpers...” in the world. It has been a hard transition because usually, Terry and I are the helpers. Being on the flip side is humbling, but we absolutely could not do it alone. We are honored and eternally grateful. Moving into our future and multitudes of Schmalzy Adventures, our daily goal and intentions will encompass paying your kindness forward.

All our Schmalzy - T + B