Support During Chris' Heart Surgery
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"On May 16th, the day after my 36th birthday, I was officially diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. I was born with a bicuspid aeortal valve instead of a tricuspid, which means that my valve has two leaflets or flaps rather than three. It has been leaking for an indeterminate amount of time, and now must be surgically replaced.
It's a miracle that we discovered this as I had no significant, identifiable symptoms. In fact, it was due to two seemingly horrible experiences that we figured it out. First, I was working on a project back in February when my left cornea was struck by a rose thorn resulting in a trip to my doctor. She noted that my blood pressure was high, but attributed it to the trauma. Second, a couple months later I had food poisoning that lasted for multiple days, which led to me visiting the doctor again. This time I was seen by someone other than my normal doctor who also noticed my blood pressure irregularities. She then listened to my heart, jumped back, and declared, "That's the loudest murmur I've ever heard!" She sent me to the cardiologist and several tests, consultations with surgeons, and much thought later here we are.
I'll be having open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve in August or early September preceded by a necessary oral surgery.
I can't stop thinking about the parable of the man who found a horse on his way home through his village. The villagers said, "Oh you're so lucky you found this horse! What good fortune." To which the man replied, "Maybe so." The next week the man's son was riding the horse when he fell and broke his leg. The villagers said, "Oh how horrible that you found that horse. Now your son can't work and help on your farm." The man said, "Maybe so." The next day a militia rolled into town and took all the able bodied young men off to war, but the man's son was left behind because of his broken leg. The villagers again said, "What good luck that you found that horse. Now your son is safe." Again the man said, "Maybe so."
It's crazy timing in that we have an almost three year old, we're expecting our second beautiful babe in November, and I'm the primary breadwinner in our home.
Still I'm thankful for the horse, and I hope y'all are too. The doctors told me that with my normal level of physicality that three months or so later there would have been irreversible damage with likely fatal results.
Keep us in your thoughts, and I'll see y'all when I'm more like Iron Man.
Love to you all!
Chris"
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The doctors have advised that Chris' line of work in construction is not safe for him to continue due to the severity of his condition so we are trying to keep him comfortable in the time leading up to and between his surgeries as well as his recovery time. This all adds up to about 3 months preceding the birth of our new baby. Any help you would like to offer is so appreciated!
All of our love and gratitude,
Chris and Jessica
It's a miracle that we discovered this as I had no significant, identifiable symptoms. In fact, it was due to two seemingly horrible experiences that we figured it out. First, I was working on a project back in February when my left cornea was struck by a rose thorn resulting in a trip to my doctor. She noted that my blood pressure was high, but attributed it to the trauma. Second, a couple months later I had food poisoning that lasted for multiple days, which led to me visiting the doctor again. This time I was seen by someone other than my normal doctor who also noticed my blood pressure irregularities. She then listened to my heart, jumped back, and declared, "That's the loudest murmur I've ever heard!" She sent me to the cardiologist and several tests, consultations with surgeons, and much thought later here we are.
I'll be having open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve in August or early September preceded by a necessary oral surgery.
I can't stop thinking about the parable of the man who found a horse on his way home through his village. The villagers said, "Oh you're so lucky you found this horse! What good fortune." To which the man replied, "Maybe so." The next week the man's son was riding the horse when he fell and broke his leg. The villagers said, "Oh how horrible that you found that horse. Now your son can't work and help on your farm." The man said, "Maybe so." The next day a militia rolled into town and took all the able bodied young men off to war, but the man's son was left behind because of his broken leg. The villagers again said, "What good luck that you found that horse. Now your son is safe." Again the man said, "Maybe so."
It's crazy timing in that we have an almost three year old, we're expecting our second beautiful babe in November, and I'm the primary breadwinner in our home.
Still I'm thankful for the horse, and I hope y'all are too. The doctors told me that with my normal level of physicality that three months or so later there would have been irreversible damage with likely fatal results.
Keep us in your thoughts, and I'll see y'all when I'm more like Iron Man.
Love to you all!
Chris"
---
The doctors have advised that Chris' line of work in construction is not safe for him to continue due to the severity of his condition so we are trying to keep him comfortable in the time leading up to and between his surgeries as well as his recovery time. This all adds up to about 3 months preceding the birth of our new baby. Any help you would like to offer is so appreciated!
All of our love and gratitude,
Chris and Jessica
Fundraising team: Love for the Coles (3)
Jessica Cole
Organizer
Raised $200 from 1 donation
Santa Fe, NM
Sabin Bailey
Team member
Raised $1,061 from 10 donations
Chris Cole
Team member
Raised $100 from 1 donation
This team raised $3,250 from 32 other donations.
