Medical Stuff...  Mike moved doctors in 2020 and started the evaluation process with Dr. Gonzalez at the Spectrum Health Heart Optimization and Evaluation Clinic. With more detailed testing over the period of 2020 and 2021 we started to see a decline in Mike's heart function and ejection fraction (EF); this measures the amount of blood that is pumped out of the left side of the heart with each heart beat. As time went on Mike's EF got lower and lower and doctors became worried about a sudden death event, which occurs with Cardiomyopathy. Mike's EF was down to 20% (now 18% in Nov of 22) with a normal person's being 50%-70%. To help ensure there is a back up to this event, Mike had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) (Boston Scientific for the exact brand) put in September of 2021, this would restart his heart if it were to stop.  There are some fun benefits to having an ICD: He gets to carry around an official card to let everyone know, gets fun pat downs at

 The Beginning... I suppose we should start towards the beginning...well not the very beginning, but at least where this journey really started to make some waves.  On February 17th 1995 Greg was at work in the hospital, he was a surgical nurse at Alpena Hospital. That day Greg's heart failed him right in the surgical room and he passed away quickly. There were some signs ahead of time that Greg's heart function was not well, however he was a heathy 41 year old who left this earth far too early. From there Mike was tested and found that he had Dilated Cardiomyopathy; a disease of the heart muscle that makes it hard for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. This usually begins in the left chamber making the heart muscle stretch and thin, which makes the inside become larger than it should be. Mike had yearly visits to The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Pediatric Heart Center. At 14 years of age his heart changed slightly but with yearly testi

September was Heart Failure Month As we read through the hospital instructions for the heart cath it said to pack a small overnight bag...just in case. Mike did not want to do this. We drove to the hospital and they wheeled him back to the cath room. Shortly after, he came back and did well during the procedure. The Doctor came in and said some of the numbers were a little off and we may need to stay the night to do some tests...we should have packed that bag. He left and in came the PA from the Heart Center at the hospital, she gave us some honest words that I will never forget.  "Rachel, you need to get a notebook and start taking notes, Mike is in heart failure and we need to talk about heart transplant down the road here. He is going to stay in the hospital for a few days and there is going to be a lot of doctors and people that you will be talking with." My heart sank and the tears started flowing, "Well I can see that I have upset the wife, I better get going."

 Mike is currently at a Level 6  What does a Level 6 mean? Check it out.... 1. You are critically ill and need support from           *A heart bypass machine call extracorporeal membrane oxygenation          *Temporary devices to support both sides of the heart that prevent you from leaving the hospital or you have:          * A heart pump called a VAD and you have a life-threatening heart rhythm 2. You are critically ill and need support from:          *A temporary device to support one side of your heart that prevents you from leaving the hospital          *An intra-arterial balloon pump that helps to support the work of your heart          *An invasive (implanted) line that contains a pump to help support the work of your heart or you have:          *A VAD that is not working well          *A severe, life-threatening heart rhythm          *Any type of heart support and you only have one ventricle 3. You are critically ill and need multiple intravenous medications and invasive monito

 2022 started off great! January : Blake's 8th Birthday February : A trip to Disney and a 4 night Disney cruise...my birthday on a private island! March : A trip to Florida to visit Nana and Rick April : Spring Break with cousins Isaac and Sydney, Easter, and a trip to visit Great Gram Gram From Across the Bridge  May : This was a rough month for Rachel - Illness and Covid; but Mike and Blake went on a camping trip and Easton enjoyed the school carnival. Sadly we had to miss Uncle Dan and Sydney's birthdays...stupid Covid! June : This is birthday month: Easton's 6th birthday (11th), Kade (21st), and Ayla (27th), we also went on a big Foster/Miller Family camping trip to Racoon Lake July : 4th of July (duh), Mike's birthday, and one amazing vacation to Alpena, Hessel, and Pictured Rocks where we kayaked alongside Pictured Rocks.  August : This is where we hit some bumpy roads. The end of July and first week of August I noticed Mike was having a hard time breathing, getti

 Looking for a link! Mike also had genetic testing done.  They were looking for a linking gene which causes genetic cardiomyopathy. The TTN gene provides instructions for making a very large protein called Titin, this protein plays an important role in muscles the body uses for movement and the heart muscle. This gene is one of the main causes of heart failure and heart transplant.  Mike was positive, this is our linking gene for the family. Now the boys needed to be tested, they both had a 50/50 shot...and both boys are positive as well.  Blake and Easton now get yearly testing done at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Congenital Heart Center. Both have passed with flying colors in 2021 and 2022. They go back each year to have Echos and EKGs completed yearly. They currently do not have Cardiomyopathy, but do have the gene for it.  Time will tell on what happens with both their hearts, each heart has it's own story to tell...and right now, the story is good!

 "I thought I was going to see a 70 year old man, I am surprised to see you."  That's what the heart failure doctor said when she walked into Mike's hospital room for the first time. His heart cath numbers did not look good. This started us on the road to the Heart and Lung Transplant Center at Spectrum Health. I was instructed to be at every appointment going forward.  We were sat in a tiny room and scheduled to be there from 8:30am - 4:00pm. During this time we were given a handy dandy binder that included a business card holder...the holder is now full. We met with doctors, nurses, LVAD specialist, Transplant specialist, nutritionist, infectious disease, counselor, palliative care, and financial. Financial was the only one to not make us cry that day...he was great! I have never seen a team of people work so closely together and know everyone's jobs. I asked the financial guy a medical question and he was able to answer...they cross train and work as a true tea