Year two has been good to the Neubert family. Mike's heart has fully settled in and is treating him like a king. He is allowed to do almost anything and everything he wants to. While much to Blake's dismay, Mike is not allowed to do much yard work, but he helps when he can with his trusty mask. We also watch our salt intake and he still has to eat like a pregnant lady (no raw fish, lunch meat, soft cheese, etc...) this will be a lifelong thing. Mike can now have celebratory drinks every once in awhile and apparently all of us Neuberts need to watch our cholesterol, which I am proud to announce I have gotten our numbers down to the good range with menu changes and daily step goals!
Year two testing left us with amazing results. Mike's rejection levels are low and with year two we only test for rejection if there are signs of heart failure or colds he cannot kick. This is an amazing goal to reach! Less worries of rejection and more room to enjoy life. Mike will continue to take lifelong immunosuppressive drugs to prevent his body from attacking his heart, but after year two the risk of acute organ rejection drops significantly. He will still wear his mask during flu season, we sit away from others at church, carry our hand sanitizer, wash our hands, stay up to date with our vaccines and flu shots, and so appreciate our friends and family that protects us from illnesses they may be getting.
Mike's new heart came with some mild coronary artery disease with 20% proximal left anterior descending artery. This just means that he has a mild, non-obstructive 20% narrowing in the upper part of the main blood vessel at the front of his heart. This is not something to worry about, just to keep an eye on and even more important to watch that cholesterol. At Mike's year two left heart catheterization there were no changes to this and the doctors were very happy with how his heart has settled in. His echocardiogram showed a 55% ejection fraction, which is a normal male heart...as a reminder he was down to 10% when he went into the hospital two years ago. Great numbers and wonderful results. Over the next yeart he will visit the clinic doctor and do routine blood work every three months, at six months he gets another echo, and then at year three another left heart cath. Praise God for all the positive test results and the amazing heart that lives on inside Mike.
Life Updates:
Mike has been busy at work as Fifth Third Bank purchased Comerica Bank this summer. Mike's portfolio has grown and he has been busy trying to help build businesses back up to full strength or at least help owners make the best decisions for them and their employees. Mike has a lot of great ideas and visions, this summer he was able to build a squirrel feeder and has enjoyed feeding the squirrels that we have worked hard to not feed for the past few years...whatever makes you happy babe!
Blake and Easton have been busy this past year! Both boys passed their heart testing with flying colors and will go back in January for yearly testing. Blake has gown like the weeds in my garden...so fast! He is officially 5'11'' and likes to make fun of my vertical difficulties. I now purposefully make him get up and reach things around the house for me...make fun of mom and get more chores! Both boys participated in wrestling this year and will start back up in November. Easton is finishing up Cub Scouts with Arrow of Light and will crossover in January to Boy Scouts. He enjoyed summer camp this summer through JA Biz Town learning about businesses and finance. Easton started 5th grade this school year and is at the top of his game in Elementary school.
Blake and Easton went to their first Michigan game...and oh what a game it was! Not only did they get Michigan jerseys, but we also had front row seats to all the action. A game and night we will all remember forever! We can't thank you enough Bill for loving on our family and allowing us to have this special event together. Michigan was playing when Mike received his new heart. His surgeon missed going to the game with his daughter to ensure Mike got his heart and everything went well. When Mike was coming out of anesthesia but still had the tube in his throat he started using sign language with the nurses to ask what the score was. Michigan lost that day, but Mike gained the biggest prize of all. It was a sweet treat to celebrate his two year heart anniversary at the Michigan game...and even sweeter that they won!
I have been busy living life as a mom, wife, friend, daughter, weekly menu preparer (I think that deserves a title) and my newest promotion as Assistant Registrar and Academics Project Coordinator for the Office of Academics at Cornerstone University...the many hats I wear now! This coming February will be my 40th birthday...so for my last year in my 30s I have made some bucket list items. So far I have gotten my second earring piercing, lost 20 pounds, completed a redemption UP trip (4 years ago we did a similar trip where it ended with Mike getting Covid and heart failure), saw a black bear in the wild, made the most perfect loaf of bread in my new dutch oven, spend more time with family and friends, and joined a Bible study for the fall. On my list is a calligraphy class, Hocking hills, and a 40th birthday cruise.
Comments
Post a Comment