So Many Things to Do List

One of the many requirements to serve a mission is to have complete physical examinations and dental check-ups.  Susan also needed appointments with her cardiologist and her heart rhythm specialist (pacemaker) for permission to go.  If you are wondering why a cardiologist???  Susan had open heart surgery (June 2016) to replace a leaky tricuspid valve shortly after we returned from our mission to New Zealand.  A pacemaker was placed in her chest at that time to monitor her heart rhythm.

The test results with our primary care physician started a snowball of additional tests and procedures for Gary.

Initial tests showed that he probably had kidney stones, requiring an appointment with the urologist.  Later tests showed two kidney stones.  The stones were so large that it was necessary to have shock wave lithotripsy.  An appointment was scheduled and we reported to the outpatient clinic where they performed the procedure on September 24, 2018.  However, because there were two large stones, he was lucky enough to have another procedure two weeks later on October 12, 2018.  Now you would think that would be enough right?  Wait!  There was more.  The urologist referred him to another specialist who did further testing which showed that he also had an over-active parathyroid.  Another surgery was scheduled.

On January 8, 2019 he had one of his four parathyroids removed in hopes to lower his calcium levels.  Since then his test results show his calcium levels are now normal.  No more stones!

All prepped for his parathyroid surgery.

Susan did better - she received permission from her doctors to serve a mission.  Her device (pacemaker) will have to be disconnected from its remote monitor and she will need to visit a cardiologist every six months while in Germany to have her device checked.  

The dental check-ups were much easier.  Susan had a crown replaced, but no surgeries.

Indeed, this life is a test.  It is a test of many things - of our convictions and priorities, our father and our faithfulness, your patience and our resilience, and in the end, our ultimate desires.

Sheri L. Dew