As many of you know, Kristi has had three heart surgeries in her lifetime. The first was when she was 15, which was a reconstruction on her Aortic Valve. Unfortunately the reconstruction did not work and 11 months later she had a Ross Procedure. That's where they replace the Aortic Valve with her own Pulmonic Valve and put a Homograph in where her Pulmonic valve was. And finally one when she was 22 where they replaced her Aortic valve again with another biologic valve. The typical lifespan of these tissue replacements is 8 years in someone of her age and it has been 7 years and 5 months since her last procedure.
Starting 1 week before the delivery of our second son, Hudson, Kristi developed a slight nagging dry cough. It was nothing too spectacular and since everyone in the house was coming down with a slight cold, we though nothing of it. When Hudson was born the cough got a little bit worse and Kristi noticed some swelling in her ankles. Since she just had a C-Section we figured that it had something to do with the surgery that caused some slight water retention. She also was drinking almost a gallon of water a day because she was breast feeding, so we naturally thought her swelling had something to do with that as well. We went about our business for the next 10 days enjoying our new baby, all the while trying to get over our colds.
And then last Sunday afternoon, after she was unable to sleep the night before because she could not stop coughing, we took the boys for a short walk. We got about 2 blocks away and she began to feel fatigued and short of breath. That is when she realized that something was wrong. That evening we went to the Emergency Room in Glendora and she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Her lungs were filling with fluid (which was causing irritation and thus her cough) and her heart was enlarged. Instead of being admitted to the Hospital in Glendora, Kristi decided to go to Loma Linda University Medical Center to get treatment. She has a history with them (all her prior surgeries) and felt that she would receive the best care there. So they stabilized her and sent her on her way.
Since then they have been monitoring her. She has been on Lasix to remove the excess water in her body and lungs and has been taking potassium supplements to replace what the Lasix removes.
Just to let you know that our crew here at Fire station 27 have been praying for you all. We all have intrusted your Kristi into the Lords hands. That has been a great comfort to us and I am sure it has been to you all too. We will continue to remember Kristi and all of her dear family in our prayers....Rick Albee and the crew at fire station 27.
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