The Stress Test Lots going on for my Sam these days He just got over having a ferocious cold – flu that was very disarming. For over a week. He is getting better. Yet, even with his illness he took the news of MORE diet restrictions with the brave determination he has always displayed. Try telling a teenage boy he can now only have 2 meals a day (the third is now a liquid meal replacement drink) One of the last times at UCLA, Sam had a stress- echo test. What this involves is an echocardiogram An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart, allowing your doctor to monitor how your heart and its valves are functioning. An echocardiogram, also referred to as “echo,” can help spot blood clots in the heart, fluid in the sac around the heart, and problems with the aorta (the main artery connected to the heart). It is a key test in determining the health of heart muscle. They told Sam he could not drink any water for several hours prior to the test. Taking water away from Sam is like taking away air. He is already so restricted on his water intake he is constantly thirsty. So with a stress test, he has an echocardiogram and then they try and “stress “the heart by having him go on a treadmill. They start slow and every few minutes increase the speed but also the incline of the walking surface. And then after he has endured the treadmill experience they rush him back to the bed for another echocardiogram to monitor what his heart looks like at a full working rate. I was really nervous. Sam does not have a lot of energy or stamina these days. The capacity of his heart function when we entered into this nightmare and took residency in the UCLA PICU was as low as 9%. and around 12% when we were released. I could not imagine this going well. Jesse was with us. He was also agitated and concerned and wondering if Sam should be doing this test. Together we watched the monitor as they show Sam’s heart. It is unreal watching the echo monitor and seeing up close; the broken heart. Watching the portion of the heart that clearly does not work. Watching your boy with the biggest heart, struggle to have his heart pump. Having a healthy heart is not just about being a muscle or an organon good working order. It is what I realized an attitude and a frame of mine. It is about a capacity to live, to love and to give. Initially, I couldn’t even look at the screen. I did not want to see or watch our reality. I still do not want to believe my Sam’s heart is weak and failing. It did not make sense his diagnosis is he is in heart failure. It was not right. Then they medical team assisted Sam on to the treadmill. Jesse sat on my lap as we watched in strained anticipation. They started the treadmill slow and every couple of minutes increased the speed and the incline. They mentioned the incline could be increased up to 10%. As I drove down Carillio St. yesterday there was a caution sign as you proceeded down the hill because the street was at an 8% grade. It was steep! You had to use caution. 10% is a very steep grade. I was nervous as I held tightly to my Jesse. Then something happened, something amazing and wonderful happen. The athlete in my Sam kicked in. It was the superhero determination and focus that made his body language screamed, “Challenge accepted!” Each increase he endured, each step was purposeful and each incline mastered. I was very surprised and blessed to see the moxie that I know helped him be his water polo team’s MOST VALUABLE PLAYER! He was becoming very thirsty. The test went on and on (which was less than 15 minutes but for me it was eternity) The doctors were amazed how well he did, as were Jesse and I. They monitored his heart rate and vitals through out the test. I could tell how thirsty he was getting. Then he was rushed back to the bed where the last echocardiogram was hurriedly taken to see his working heart rate. Then for all his heroic effort Sam was rewarded with a drink of water. His medal of honor, his badge of courage delivered in a small Dixie cup. We did not hear the results for several days. But the test results brought tears to my eyes and a renewed HOPE to MY heart. His heart capacity is up from 9% to 23%. This helps make him a better candidate for a heart transplant. Sam of course in his typically joking manner chuckles and says something like who else would want to celebrate their heart working at less than a quarter of its capacity? Who else indeed? Because in TEAM Sam O, there is just one MVP!
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:07:35 +0000
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