Life in the slow lane ...

Being referred to the University of Washington Medical Center Cardiac Transplant Program was a huge step for us.  The "transplant cloud" that had hung over us like the grey Seattle mist since that day in 1992, had burst into a downpour, showering us with "what ifs" and "what now?".  After numerous tests and consultations, it was determined that Lee's health hovered right outside the need for transplantation.  Over the next few months there were many adjustments to Lee's medications, many of them making him feel much, much worse before he began to feel better.  Eventually, he DID feel better than he did in January, 2001 but he was still very limited in his daily activity.

• December 2002 - ICD (pacer, Medtronic GEM w/implanted defibrillator) surgery
• July 2007 - BiV/ICD surgery - Wire placed in left ventricle so pacer is now pacing both sides of his heart.  Implanted defibrillator still in place

... and so it goes.  We adjusted to "life in the slow lane" and enjoyed the life the Lord has blessed us with.  Our children are grown and serving God in their own churches.  We have 2 beautiful grandchildren.  When the gray drizzle of Western Washington's fall and winter and spring settles in, Lee had a difficult time getting out and walking as he should.  We both tend to hibernate, so we sold our beloved Genesis and now have a small home in the sunny desert of southwestern Arizona.  In Arizona, the sun shines nearly every day so Lee has been out walking, nearly every day.

January 17, 2012  Lee had not been feeling well for quite some time.  He just felt "off."  This day, he was determined to walk anyway.  When he was only about 1/2 mile from home he felt "funny."  He stopped, rested a few minutes, then turned around to head back home.  A few steps later he heard the ZZZZZZZZZZZAP of the ICD and felt the kick of the defibrillator.  Being the always level headed athlete that he was, he crouched down and rolled onto his back, avoiding a nasty head-knocking.  This was the first time his defibrillator had ever gone off and it saved his life.  He spent the next 5 days in a local hospital where he was placed on a new and powerful drug, Amiodarone.  This amazing  drug has suppressed the V-tach (ventricular tachycardia) that caused the ICD to fire but has many undesirable, long term side effects.  We hope Lee will be off of them soon.

When we went from our home in Arizona to the Pacific NW for the summer, we checked in at the UWMC and Dr. Levy for more tests and evaluations.  By the fall of 2012, Dr. Levy's recommendation was for Lee to be listed as a Status II (more on that later) on the heart transplant list.  Since our permanent home is now in the Phoenix area, we would need to try the Mayo Clinic for their heart transplant program.