By Amanda Primus
My parents welcomed me into their lives in the spring of 1986. At my six-month well-child check, I was diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis Bicuspid murmur, which means oxygenated blood would flow back into my heart. My family did not treat me any different. I did everything my brother did; we ran, climbed trees, built forts, spent many hours on the sandpile, went hiking and much more.I grew up on a dairy farm with my mom, dad and brother in central Minnesota. When I was in school, I was involved in swimming, choirs and musicals, which kept me highly active. On the farm, I would help with chores like unloading and stacking the bales, feeding the calves, mowing the yard and anything that needed to be finished.
When I look back, I stayed very active while I was growing up and did not let my heart stop me from accomplishing anything I put my mind to. I did notice I would get tired a lot faster than my brother or classmates in school. Every summer, my parents would take me to my cardiologist appointment at Children’s Heart Clinic. During the appointment, I would have an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and a visit from my cardiologist to share the results from the tests. My cardiologists would discuss how technology was changing.
In 2009, I went in for an exploratory surgery to check to see which surgery was the best option for me (balloon, laser or open-heart surgery). After that, I was informed that I was only a candidate for one type of surgery and that was open-heart surgery. Before my cardiologist sent me back home, he said, “No surgery this year,” which was a relief. I knew deep down that day was coming.
When I reached my 20s, I was getting frustrated with God because I did not ask for this kind of heart. I just wanted to be “normal” like all the rest of my friends who did not need all the extra doctoring. All I remember is that a voice told me, “I picked you because you can handle this, and you will show off your scar proudly when that day comes.” I thought to myself, “Yeah, okay…”
When I turned 30, my pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Heart Clinic decided it was time for him to retire and for me to start seeing an adult cardiologist.
Around October 2019, I started feeling not particularly good. My left arm had numbness/tingling, and I had tightness in my chest that steadily got worse as time went on. I kept going to work to get my mind off the pain, because Tylenol was not doing the trick anymore. I would call my dad during my lunch break and cry about how painful it was.
I also called the heart clinic several times a week to complain about the pain and the numbness in my left arm. I had an appointment in November with my cardiologist to check on how my heart was doing, and my cardiologist said we needed to do something. I was approved for open-heart surgery in December. My health was declining rapidly at the time and I could have had a massive heart attack.
On December 19, 2019, I had my open-heart surgery. I was nervous, excited and still in a lot of pain. It was finally my turn, and everyone was praying for a successful surgery. I had complete confidence in my surgery team. They were going to work their best miracle ever. My aortic valve is now a mechanical valve. I am getting used to my new lifestyle of being on a blood thinner and hearing my mechanical valve clicking away. I am enjoying life to the fullest, hiking at Itasca State Park and living in northern Minnesota.
My story does not sound like it was a struggle, but trust me, it was. But learning how to accept such a precious gift from God is amazing. I am extremely thankful for every day and for everyone I have met along the way. You never know when your last day is, so be grateful for what you have.
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