Oh, you all are just the best!! Thank you so, so much ... don't know how I could get this without you! The update today is: Patrick did have a heart attack ... the enzyme levels just kept going up and the heart cath today confirmed it. I did not know the risks involved with this procedure! One in 1000 who have a heart cath ... die! Two in 1000 have strokes ... that's one in 500!! I didn't know that they run the "wire" through the femoral artery and that there is a nerve that runs along the side of that artery! They first stuck that nerve ... the poor doctor just kept apologizing for that ... there was risk of him bleeding to death. Pressure had to be applied for 20 minutes ... he had to be "stuck" twice. All is forgiven ... this cardiologist is just wonderful. There are a couple of blockages but they are so tiny they do not need to be addressed. I am on "information overload" so I may not get everything accurate. He does have _______ heart disease .... can't remember the word. There is plaque in some arteries. The doctors believes that everything can be controlled with medication. His "always perfect" cholostral levels are all out of kilter .... his potassium level is way too low, even though he eats bananas like a monkey! Very long story short .... prognosis is very good ... if the doctor is confident, then we have to trust his best judgement and his plan for treatment. He even obtained the heart cath results from Chattanooga and studied them. In 2000 everything looked good so he feels this has been discovered early on!

OK ... the good news! He has his new "diet" to thank at least in part for this not being worse that it could have been. We have been eating "healthy" since January and has lost 32 lbs.!! :) We are adding a walking regimen to our schedule ... doctor's orders and will help a lot. We are discussing a lot of ways to reduce his stress ... this will be most difficult of all! And last, but certainly not least was his tiny visitor tonight!! Yep, St. Mary's is "pet friendly" and believes that the pets are good for patients!!! I forgot my camera but you all should have seen those two happy faces .... Patrick was thrilled to see Toto, but Toto was estatic!!! She ran from the foot of his bed up to his chest and absolutely bathed his face with kisses .... checked him all over and then laid down between his legs and gave the biggest sigh I have ever heard her make. She only moved to great everyone as they came in the room and spent a few minutes politicing with the cardiologist to let Papa come home tomorrow and he just melted. Cuddled and played with her and totally agreed that she was good medicine for Pat and a great stress reducer!! Sorry this is so long but I am overwhelmed with all the good news today ... life is good!! Now I will sleep good .... thanks again and hugs & puppy kisses to you all!!! ;)

Bettyeanne, you news just made my day! It is so wonderful that Patrick is better and is going to be o.k. and just perfect that Toto got to go see her Daddy!!! I know that helped him in so many ways! We are still praying for Patrick that he will continue to get stronger and get over this wicked old hump he is struggling with right now!

Aww, Toto's gonna be her Daddy's hero now! St. Mary's is GREAT to allow pets to visit, it must have just melted your heart to see your two favorites love each other like that! Thanks for letting us know Patrick is doing better, we've been thinking about you guys all day! :)

Bettyeanne , thoughts and prayers are on your way . I am so glad that Toto have had the chance to see Patrick .

Update .... they let me bring him home yesterday!! Yayyyyyyyy .... I think!! :) The hurdle now is to make him slow down! He promises he will do exactly what the doctor says with no protest, but he's in that "life is too short" mode! :rolleyes:

Again, I want to thank you all for all the prayers and encouragement. Just don't know what I would do without you!! You're the best! BTW ... Toto is one happy little girl ... he can't move without her right by his side! ;)

Lora, I meant to tell you the other day ... I was a little scattered ... I do hope your husband does well with his heart cath. We will certainly have you both in our prayers!

bettyeanne, I am just now reading this with wide eyes. I am glad it is looking better. You all are definately in my prayers. I know you and Toto will take good care of Patrick and make him stick to the doctors orders. His YT family is most certainly :ghug: pushing for an excellent recovery.

Oh the power of prayer! Ain't it great!!! I am so glad that you have Patrick home and Toto has her daddy home! Just tell Patrick to take it slow and easy and keep making those life changes that will keep him healthy. We are so proud for you guys!

Thank you all sooooo much! Oscar'sMom, you are absolutely right! He is an Awesome God and always does what's best for us, even though it's difficult for us to understand! :) Denise, hope you and Bob & the furbabies are enjoying your motorhome! Hopefully, we will actually get to take ours out soon! I told Patrick that the TotoMobile will still be ready and waiting to go when he is well enough!! :p

I really appreciate all our family here at YT! This last Wednesday I would not have believed that I would ever feel better ... you all helped me do just that!! ;)

Bettye I'm so sorry that all this has happened but am very glad to hear he is home and doing better. We'll be thinking about you over here in Vance.

On a side note it looks like someone stole your pup. I guess he may need her a little bit more right now then you though. Just make sure Patrick takes it slow and I'm sure if he doesn't Toto will be right there to correct him.

Oh Bettyeanne I'm so glad Patrick is home!!!!! We have been keeping you in Our Thoughts and Prayers. We will be out everynight at 9:00 with our star sending healthy wishes your way. I'm sure Toto will be keeping a close eye on Patrick, making sure he takes it one day at a time. Hang in there my friend, you're YT Family is with you.:2hearts2: :2hearts2: :2hearts2: :2hearts2:

:ghug:

Bettyanne!!! I can't believe I missed this!!!
 

Oh honey, I am so glad that Patrick is doing well after all that!! Poor guy!!:eek: And girl, you must have been scared silly!!!!!!!!!:( I am so proud of you, though, every single one of your notes sounded brave and determined, and your faith is winning this battle for you, my friend!!:thumbup:

Oh how COOL that Toto was allowed a visit while Patrick was in the hospital! That story sure touched my heart!! I could just picture everything! Too sweet.

My hubby has had to undergo three cardiac caths. I hate it every single time for the risks. I pretty much hold my breath all the while he is in there, and if I think it is taking too long, I start to freak out a little...but so far so good. Hopefully your Patrick will never have to undergo another one really soon!:thumbup:


You know I am a Healthy Eating Cheerleader:cheer: , so I am so excited to hear you mention healthy eating as a reason for why things were not worse than they were!!

Give my best to your "Best Friend"!! Gentle hugs, and loads of kisses to him and to you!! Way to go!!:thumbup:

Bettyanne, that's my sisters name as well, I am so happy your husband is home and you can all breathe a sigh of relief! I will continue to keep you both in my prayers.

I am SO glad that your hubby is home and doing better. I just found out yesterday that my hubby also has 2 valves leaking in his heart. I am not for sure when he found out about that but he just told me yesterday. So I am pretty sure that we are looking at open heart at some point. That is the only way I am aware of to fix this. He does not want the kids to know about this at this point. I am not sure that I agree with that but he does not want to worry them until he has to. Anyway I did not mean to get off on my life. Just wanted to say I am happy for you. Tell him to follow Dr. Orders.

Thanks!! I appreciate you all so much ... the hard part now is getting used to a new lifestyle .... exercise, etc. I'm trying so very hard not to be overprotective but have to a little. The cardiologist insists that he absolutely has to reduce his stress!! I'm finding that is much easier said than done ... but we're certainly working on it! :)

Lora ... I am so terribly sorry about the new development for your husband. We will certainly keep you all in our prayers ... hopefully he will not have to have surgery. Just know that we are thinking about you and if there is anything we can do, please let us know. Also, please keep us updated! We so appreciate your concern and prayers for Patrick.