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Saturday, September 14, 2013

They call him the Tinman....

Can we go yet?!
 
 

This is my Johnny!  He is 17, and a senior in high school.  For my non-American friends this is his last year in our public school system, in 3 months he will be eligible to enlist in our armed forces (I doubt that will happen), vote in both national and local elections (I hope that this one does happen) and be considered an adult everywhere except a bar (I seriously doubt that he is interested in alcoholic beverages anyway). 
 
Earlier this week he had "heart surgery".  I put that in quotes because I have a hard time calling it surgery.  Whether that is from denial on my part or the fact that they didn't actually cut him open I don't know.  It might be a bit of both. 
 
John had an irregular heart beat.  It was just like any boys most of the time, but on an occasion it would be super charged and beat far faster than it ought to.  The one time we were able to capture a picture of what was happening the doctor clocked it at 240 beats/minute.  I believe a normal heart beats 60 beats/minute.   That time he was playing dodge ball, however, his heart would go into over drive when he was sleeping.  My understanding is that this wasn't exactly hurting my boy, but left untreated could cause issues later....like an enlarged and over worked heart, or him passing out.  In short is was going to limit what his ability to participate fully in this life.
 
The doctors suspected that he had an extra unprotected circuit in his heart.  Did you  know that our hearts are electrical?  They have biological circuits in them that work just like a the metal ones that run our lamps and lap tops.  They usually have breakers on them so that impulses remain controlled.  In John's case the extra circuit, the rogue, didn't have a breaker on it because it was outside the normal system.  Consequently when it got utilized it didn't know how to stop...it just kept looping.
 
The plan was to go in, find the rogue and disconnect it. Tuesday morning they did just that.
 
For all of the prayers and well wished I thank you!  I am blessed to have such quilty friends, and awed at the mighty workings of my God and His creation.
 
This is a picture of the tinman.
 
Oh...his friends have given my boy all sorts of heart related nicknames now...

 

11 comments:

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

Oh your dear son, I will be praying for him and for a speedy recovery!!

Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts said...

wow, I'm glad it went well. Prayers for him also!!

Sarah said...

Big hugs to you and speedy recovery wishes for him

Patti said...

Glad to hear the ablation went well, Cindy! A wonderful future ahead for your boy!

Dianne said...

So glad John is doing well, Cindy!

Carla said...

Isn't it amazing what they can do now? Blessings on you all

Benta AtSLIKstitches said...

how wonderful that there are people who understand how the body works, and how to sort it when it misbehaves! thanks fir translating his school age, i giggled, but it does help!!!! God bless xxx

Lynne said...

Praise The Lord for His goodness nd for the wonders of modern science. Eighteen years old makes one a full adult in Australia -- compulsory to vote in elections, join the armed forces, able to drink alcohol in any bar, pub or club, and to sign contracts without guarantors.

Sheila said...

My husband has this condition and is hopefully to have the same procedure soon, I believe it's called ablation??
I am sure your lovely boy will now be able to enjoy a full life with no further heart problems.x

Gale, Ky quilter said...

Such a handsome young man . . . I can't imagine how worried you were. He looks as though he is doing great and I will pray for a full, speedy recovery. He looks like he's already there.

Celtic Thistle said...

Delighted to hear that there was a straightforward reason for the problem and that it has been resolved so quickly.