A Checkup and Treasure Hunting

Yesterday was a very busy day! I had to drive to the city in the morning to have an *echo* done, which is an ultrasound of the heart. It took about 30 minutes and it was fascinating to watch my heart on the screen while the technician did her thing!

Simple amazing to actually see the little valves opening and closing while my heart was beating powerfully!

In a couple of weeks I return for an early morning heart biopsy which is done to ensure that my body is dealing well with the donor heart :o)

Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made :o)

After the test, I met with the post-transplant nurse and a cardiologist for a physical exam which showed that all is working wonderfully well. I then made a trip upstairs to the ward that I *lived in* for 4 full months and met 3 nurses that I had before and who remembered me after all this time :o)

While there, I visited a man who recently received the newer, much smaller 'Heart Mate' LVAD [mechanical heart pump] which is literally implanted completely in his body ~ wires, hoses and all.

The only thing on the outside is the machine holding the battery and the dials and switches! He can virtually do ANYTHING he wants except leave the hospital because his home is too far away! If he lived closer, he could go there to await word of his transplant ~ ** ~ When I had my version of the heart pump, I had to push a boat-size battery on wheels everywhere I went; my hoses and wires were outside and I could NOT sleep on my left side which is the ONLY way I can sleep at night ~ even now!

Considering mine was one of the early ones, it's incredible how things change in just a few years!

Next on my agenda was a trip to my favourite thrift store to do some *treasure hunting* ~

This small hand-made quilt cost $.99
and here's a closer look at the detail ~
This hand towel cost $.69 and I bought it especially for the
detail of the crocheting along the edge to give me ideas :o)

Grand Total = $1.68 :o)