My Sisters Story

For all of you that does not know I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. I have just found out recently that my sister is having health issues. She is only one year older than me, turning 28 in April of "08". This is her story...Okay so just when you think life is good and finally going the right direction that is when you know to cherish every moment because soon the bottom is probably going to fall out and everything is going to come crashing down on you. This is a lesson I have learned very well recently and unfortunately had to learn the hard way.
For those who do not already know, what started out to be a trip to the doctor the day after Thanksgiving just to make sure I didn't have strep throat snowballed into a major ordeal for me. My doctor noticed my blood pressure has been running high, so he put me on a strict diet and exercise plan and a 5 day blood pressure check to see if I was going to need medication for my blood pressure. Thankfully the diet and exercise have been helping with my blood pressure, but on the day of my follow up another problem was noticed. At this point I am told I have a heart murmur, not to worry because it could really be nothing and we are going to run a few tests just to be on the safe side. What started out as a couple tests then turned to three, then four tests. After that a trip to the cardiologist where I find out that my Aortic Valve is not closing all the way and it is allowing blood that has been pumped into my artery to flow back into the left ventricle of my heart. This means that eventually an open heart surgery will have to be done to replace my valve with another valve and that my entire life is going to have to change in major ways. In my case I will be having surgery probably within a year or two so that it can be done before the valve does damage to my heart. Thankfully so far it appears that there is no damage yet and my heart is handling the extra work just fine.
Some how in all of this every moment of your time, every bit of energy and focus you have becomes about your health issues. The way you eat, sleep, exercise, think, everything you do and think changes. Also with concerned family members to call needing updates, every conversation you have seems to be about your health or somehow involve your health issues. For the last month every moment of my life has been consumed by my health to the point that it's almost impossible to get the chance to just be me instead of a person with a serious health issue. Sometimes you aren't even sure who you are anymore because somewhere in all the madness you just get that lost.
So, to all my family and friends I am begging and pleading! I love you all dearly and appreciate the concern, but this year for Christmas I am only asking for one little thing. All I want for Christmas is 2 days to completely forget about my health issues, and get to enjoy being me again. For December 24th and 25th please respect that I do not want to discuss my health issues or anything related to my health issues. It would mean the world to me!
And to each and every one of you please have a blessed wonderful merry Christmas!

As a sister I am very concerned for her health, I ask that everyone to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. When I read the last paragraph I could not keep from crying. When Angela asked me a while back what I would like for Christmas, I did not really know what to tell her. If I was to be asked now I would say that I would like for my sister to be back in good health and for this to have never happened to her.