Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!
We hope you’re having a happy Thanksgiving weekend! I have been especially thankful for the progress I have made as I heal up from my open heart surgery.
I have received good reports from my surgeon (Dr. Timothy Hunter) and my infection doctor (Dr. Richard Kilgore). We even found out what I got that caused my endocarditis. It is called “Cardiobacterium Hominis.” Essentially (from what I could understand and remember from that doctor’s report), it is a common bacteria that is in the mouth, and there is nothing I could have done differently to have prevented it.
A couple of weeks ago, I started the “Cardiac Rehab” program at University Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute. I’ve never been a “gym person,” but I am having fun working out there. It’s a boost to my spirit to know that I am strong enough to do that now.
The Celtic Service at Saint Paul’s Church on Sunday, November 24th was a special time for us because it was the first time I publicly played music with The Family Fold since having my open heart surgery (Friday, September 13th, 2019). Prior to being hospitalized, our band had provided the music for Saint Paul’s Celtic Service on September 8th. 11-weeks later, we felt like we had come full circle getting to be back at Saint Paul’s Celtic Service after all we had been through. On our YouTube channel (eubanksfamilyfold), you will find a video of one of the songs we played that evening (“Hallelujah + In The Garden”). I especially enjoy when we provide the music for these services because my mom gets to shine and have the lead on her beautiful penny whistle. I love getting to play off of her on those instrumentals! And of course, Mike Merritt faithfully provides a strong rhythm for us. I am so grateful for my band mates, and I felt very privileged to put on my black beret and share our music with others that evening!
I am thankful for your prayers for me through all of this, and I ask that you please continue to remember me. The medical people still remind me that it could be a year before I’m fully healed up from all of this. But I am feeling better with each passing week, and they encourage me to be inspired by that.
I will have an appointment with my cardiologist (Dr. Michael Johnson) on December 12th, and I will have an echocardiogram done that morning to see how my mechanical aortic valve and heart is looking. Please pray for me to have an improved “EF.” The “Ejection Fraction” is the percentage of blood in the heart that is pumped out with each heartbeat. The normal range is 55-75%. Right after open heart surgery, my EF was below 35% due to the heart failure and endocarditis I had. With this lower EF number, they don’t turn me loose on all of the gym equipment at cardiac rehab, and they remind me to pace myself. Anyways, please pray that my EF will improve.
Through it all, my heart is full of thankfulness... Thankfulness to God for shielding me through all of this, for keeping me alive, for letting me see another holiday season, for letting me play music again... And I am grateful for the love & prayers of precious family & friends like you! I pray The Lord will keep you and fill you with His peace & hope this season and every season.
God bless you, and always remember... GOD LOVES YOU!!!
- Eryn Eubanks -
11/28/19