Doctor Results...

First of all, thank you so much to each of you for your love and support through calls, emails, and prayers. We felt your love today.

Josh's appointment went as scheduled. Echo cardiogram at 8:15...can I just say that the parking garages at Vanderbilt University Medical Center are utterly ridiculous. We went in one, out that one, into another one, out that one, only to find out that we were originally in the right place...urggg.

Anyway, arrived just a tid bit late for the Echo...but they were running a tid bit late, so that worked out just fine. I was able to go back and be in the room for the test (have never been able to do that before)...It was amazing. It is basically like an ultrasound they do when you are pregnant, only of your heart! It was too cool. To see his heart just working and pumping and his valves so clear, it did my heart good. Test concluded around 9:15.

We went straight in to wait to see Dr. Keith Churchwell. Okay, allow me to just go on record and say that Josh's team of doctors are all just out of this world, especially this man. He is so thoughtful and comfortable to be around...and I swear the best dresser I have ever seen. Not the point, I know...but worth mentioning.
Dr. Churchwell reviewed Josh's Echo and reported the following:

~no fluid in or around his heart (answered prayer)
~no issues with his pericardium (another answered prayer)

~he does have some inflammation around this heart

Dr. C acted as though this was a normal finding because of the issues Josh had been feeling over the past week. He was concerned about it, but not overly concerned. He reviewed the lengthy list of medications that Josh is on...only to look at us and say, "What is all this stuff for?" Too funny. That is just the Dr. that he is. He remembered that Josh was still under treatment with his rheumatogist for any auto-immune issues...he just didn't understand the meds. Let me just tell you, Josh (bless his heart) takes a ton of medication a day. He doesn't mind, necessarily, but it is a lot.

He prescribed Josh a steroid pack plan of action to get him back off of the devil medication, prednisone. He wants to see Josh again in a month, probably around the time of Maggie's Birthday. Dr. Churchwell is hoping that this is just like a one time case...hopefully, the steriod pack will check it, especially since he caught it early.

All in all, it was a huge load off for right now. Josh doesn't feel great, but getting some good news today made him feel better. We were both very worried about how it would all turn out. The Echo involves quite a bit of pushing and re-positioning for them to get the images they needed, so Josh was a bit sore after the whole ordeal. We stopped by his work to arrange some things, and came home for an afternoon of resting.

I love this man. This adventure we have been on over the past year has really shown us how you can get through almost anything...especially if you love each other enough. It was kinda fun today to go through the hospital just us, holding hands and playing silly games in the waiting room. Josh is an amazing man, one that anyone would love to be around. I am just so blessed to be able to love him as much as I do.

Again, thank you for your prayers and concern. I will continue to update everyone on how he is...