At 39, I'm beginning my 2nd life. My first began in 1979. I was born with a condition known as TGA, or Transposition of the Great Vessels. Many children born with TGA need immediate heart surgery to save their lives. I was very blessed to not need surgery, as my condition was congenitally corrected. My heart's Aorta and Puminary Artery are doing each other's jobs. The PA is supposed to pump to and from the lungs. The Aorta pumps to and from the whole body. My weaker artery is having to do much more work than it is designed to.
I lived as normally as the rest of the kids at school, so this heart issue really didn't affect me. I only had signs when I shoveled snow, or ran the mile every year. I almost always came in last because I couldn't breathe, and my heart would pound so hard. (Good thing I never signed up for sports!)
In 2000 I finally figured out what path I should takein life. It was during this time that I met Ray. I've known him for years, but this was like the "love at first sight" you hear about. I was going to Aesthetic school in Baltimore, and Ray had decided to join the BPD.
A little over a year later, I was working in a salon and started feeling very ill. I was nauseous, gaining weight, constantly cold, and exhausted. This went on for a couple of months. I had to leave my job and the medical center I went to wasn't helping.
I asked my parents to make me an appt with their Dr. The minute he saw me he said, "Be ready to spend some time in the hospital." I was taken to Hanover Hospital and treated for Congestive Heart Failure. Over time, my heart became weaker, and was unable to pump blood as well, the heart began to fail and I began retaining many lbs of fluid. While in Hanover, I also suffered a stroke, which thankfully I recovered from with no lasting effects.
Due to the stroke, I was transported to Johns Hopkins, where I met Dr. Kasper. At that time he was chief of the Heart Transplant unit. I told him I wasn't having one of those, so he could leave. Well, I was wrong, and he is still my Dr. 16 yrs later! After 2 weeks I was released. I went into the hospital at 140lbs I believe, and left around 100lbs. That's a lot of fluid!!!
The next 14 yrs or so were wonderful. I was on medication and a low sodium diet. Ray and I married, and had a great life going!
But.....this was just the beginning.
