I am a work in progress.....

Everyone has their own way of dealing with life and the everyday struggles we all encounter. Some people take their frustrations out on a pillow, others scream out loud, for some it is yoga, or working out at the gym. But me, I write. I don't write to see how may "likes" or "comments" I get. I write because it is my way of releasing all of the emotion I have inside of me. I appreciate everyone who reads what I write, but if no one was reading what I wrote I would still write anyway! It is my therapy. You might say, well write in a journal, write it in a letter and tear it up, you don't have to share it with everyone, and that is your opinion. I choose to believe that God has placed me on this earth for a reason, a purpose and that by me sharing, I might help another, and they might help another, as the cycle goes. I am a real, honest, person. Yes, I have my good and bad days just like everyone else, but 99% of the time you are going to get the same Danielle, every time we meet. While I was born with a congenital heart defect that has followed me into my adult life and yes, I have been coined "disabled" and the disease at times is disabling, I will not for one second stop living! Every night when I go to bed I pray. I always pray that God will help me to be more like Jesus, to be the hands and feet of Jesus to everyone I meet! I want to show love, respect, mercy and try to give hope to those I see everyday whether or not I get it in return. Call me crazy, but I love helping other people. I don't do it to get something in return or to hear everyone say "wow, she is so nice". It is in my make-up! I am not ashamed of where I came from, my family, or anything that I have been through. I would live the same life over again if I could. All of this has made me who I am. Who am I, you might ask?? I am Me! God made Me and there is nothing more I could be more grateful for!

Finally an Answer

I spoke with Dr. Kanter at Duke this morning. As it turns out I am not a candidate for the bi-ventricular pacemaker. The amount of desynchronization in my ventricles is only mild so the benefit does not outweigh the risk. A positive is I won't have to have my chest cracked open. I will only need to have my pacemaker battery replaced and a defibrillator implanted. Dr. Kanter will speak to Dr. Greene (my local pediatric cardiologist) next Thursday when he is in town seeing patients at Dr. Greene's office and I should know more than, as far as a date for my pacemaker battery/defibrillator to be replaced. Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and love!


H = Have
O = Only
P = Positive
E = Expectations

Attitude is Everything

Just a quick little update. I am still waiting to hear from Duke regarding my surgery being scheduled. I called last week but my doctor was out of town at a conference so I have not heard back yet! Also, on Tuesday I noticed my weight was creeping up, I was having swelling and more shortness of breath than usual. So for the next couple of days I took an extra fluid pill. Well even with taking the extra fluid pill for a few days everything was getting worse and when I weighed on Thursday morning I was up 11 pounds from my normal weight. I called my pediatric cardiologist that morning and being that they are so FABULOUS, they worked me in to see the doctor. The doctor put me on a different fluid pill through the weekend and I can say that as of tonight I am down 10 pounds and feeling much better :-) 


Every struggle in your life has shaped you into the person you are today. Be thankful for the hard times; they can only make you stronger!

Practicing Patience

After having my tests done at Duke on October 20th and waiting a couple of weeks for the results, Dr. Kanter called to let me know that one of the tests was not done correctly so I had to go back last Friday to have the test redone. So now we are just waiting for the results. They let me know at Duke there are only two physicians who can actually read and interpret the test so it could take a little while for the results. But I am hoping we will hear something soon so the surgery can be scheduled. Thank you all for the prayers, love and support. I really appreciate all of you! 


We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world. ~ Helen Keller

Testing, Testing 1, 2....

I had my appointment with Dr. Kanter on Thursday and he agreed with Dr. Greene that it is definitely time for my pacemaker battery to be changed out. Kanter thinks I am going to be a great candidate for the Bi-ventricular pacemaker. http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/cardiac-resynchronization

I have to go to Duke next Thursday the 20th to have two tests done. I need to have a resting MUGA scan and an echocardiogram. A resting MUGA scan (gated blood pool imaging) uses an ECG machine while imaging my heart. The result of the scans is a movie of my beating heart, which will allow my physician to assess how well it is pumping blood.When I arrive for my appointment, I will receive an injection that will allow the radioactive tracer to "hook" into my blood. About 20 to 30 minutes after this injection, a small vial of blood is withdrawn and allowed to mix with a radioactive tracer. About ten minutes later, my blood, with the radioactive tracer, is injected back into my body. Then, four images of my heart will be taken. 

After the results of the tests are back, Dr. Kanter can schedule the surgery. The surgery will be done at Duke Medical Center. This will be an invasive procedure due to them having to cut my chest open. I will keep everyone updated as we go along! Thanks so much for reading and keeping myself and my family in your prayers!

Hope is necessary in every condition. ~ Samuel Johnson

The countdown begins!

Well, I saw Dr. Greene yesterday, my pediatric cardiologist in Charlotte. Overall, the visit went well. I have not had any changes in my overall heart funtion. My pacemaker was checked and I have about a quarter to half battery life left on my pacemaker. The doctor (Dr. Kanter) I see from Duke for my pacemaker will be in Charlotte next Thursday and I have an appointment with him. Dr. Greene thinks Dr. Kanter will discuss with me replacing my pacemaker and implanting a pacemaker/defibrillator or a biventricular pacemaker in the near future. I will definitely know much more next Thursday after my appointment. So I will keep everyone posted! Thanks for reading!

Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
(Corrie Ten Boom)

Busy as a Bee

I haven't updated in so long! I know I feel like such a slacker!
  Summer came and went in what seems like just a matter of weeks. Jesse and I did get away with some friends for a long weekend to Wilmington, NC. He got some diving in and I got some much needed relaxing under the sun. We went to a great Thai restaurant called Indochine! It was absolutely DELICIOUS!! I spent some time with my family at the pool too before it got too hot to even want to be outside for longer than 5 minutes!
  I have to say the best part of the summer (besides my nephew Evan Daniel Keith being born) was being able to take a couple of trips down to Port St. Lucie to spend time with Dad (my grandpa, my dad's dad) before he passed away in August and all of my family down there. He was such a great man, so proud of his military service, and loved all of his family no matter how near or far! He taught us all the importance of family. He also taught me how to use Skype! I will never forget hearing the sound of his voice coming from my computer! His stories will live with me forever in my heart!
  My favorite season is now upon us! I love fall! I am looking forward to the cooler weather, football, and the leaves changing. Also, so excited about Thanksgiving! It is my favorite holiday! I am not quite what the plans are for Thanksgiving this year since Amy and Jim have moved to Jacksonville, Florida but I am sure it will all work out!
  I have an appointment with my pediatric cardiologist on Tuesday the 27th, for a check-up and to have my pacemaker checked. Hopefully, that will all go well! I should be close to the end of battery on this pacemaker so they should have some news on about how much longer I have on this battery and when they can expect to  replace it and add the defibrillator. So I will definitely be sure to keep you all updated! I have been feeling pretty well all in all. I have been feeling a little more tired than usual but I keep myself pretty busy so I am sure it is just me needing to SLOW DOWN; but as usual, I have never really figured out how to do that, but I am SLOWLY learning :-) 
  I have been working on being the best ME that I can be! I am trying to focus on all the blessings that I have and spending time with positive people who fill me up rather than drain me! I hope you all are doing well and I thank each and everyone of you for taking time out of your busy day to keep up with me! Happy Fall <3
  When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller