The Gene Pool is Strong

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!

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3 Months with Christmas Around the Corner

This month we celebrate Jesus' birth and Mike's 3 month anniversary with a new heart! A wonderful month to celebrate in! We started off December trying to cram in every holiday activity that we could. Hot cocoa, cookie baking, craft shows, Christkindl Market Downtown, and visiting with loved ones. Mike had his 3 month (Dec 10th) check up, left heart Cath, and biopsy. It was a long day at the hospital as left heart caths take more time. Nothing some raspberry sherbet and peanut butter crackers couldn't fix though. On the 11th we each (Mike and I) received some news. Mike was at a level 2 rejection and my position with Learning Care Group was eliminated. It was a tough day for the Neubert household. Mike started on a higher dose of steroids and an extra 3 day boost of steroids to help kick the rejection. He was also scheduled for another biopsy on December 23rd. After 15.5 years with AppleTree/LCG I am transitioning into a new era in my life...what that is is still to be de...

6 Months...180 Days...and so Many Moments Together

2025 is going by so fast! I can hardly believe that six months have past since Mike got his heart transplant. March 7th marks half a year through this journey, and oh what a journey it has been! Over the last couple months we have celebrated Blake's 11th birthday, my 38th birthday, and a few more birthday parties on top of those. Blake crossed over into Boy Scouts and went on his first campout with his new troop. Easton and Blake wrestled in a few tournaments where they earned some new medals, they have Regionals coming up this weekend. The boys are doing great in school and growing so fast, Blake is catching up to us all and already 5'4". While I am writing this blog tonight I had to put them back to bed three times...they are getting creative with their procrastination techniques. In the not so far future I can only imagine that they won't be coming back out to ask silly questions and want to be tucked back into bed. These times are so precious and fly by so fast. ...

One Giant Leap of Faith into 2025

It's amazing to think that one year ago we were celebrating Mike getting off the Heart Transplant List, and now here in 2025 he has a new heart! 2024 was a rolling rollercoster of emotions, fears, celebrations, and the deep unknown. It started off with celebration packed with the never ending question of when. When would he get worse again, when would his heart fail, when when when. The looming question that seated itself in the back of my mind. The question that popped into my mind when I was driving alone, when Mike didn't answer my phone calls, when he was alone with the boys; it wasn't an overwhelming thought, just a thought that would spring up and make itself at home in the corner of my mind. Mike would say that I worry for the both of us, which is absolutely true...someone has to do it! I worry and then prepare for those worries. I think all that worrying and preparing really helped us get through the worst moments of 2024...but then again, you can never be prepare...

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