update from Spence...surgery scheduled for 7/31

Ok. New update. I went and had the much awaited test today to see if the medicine and my drastic change in lifestyle has help improve my heart. It hasn't. So, tomorrow I will be having surgery. They are placing a bi-ventricular pacemaker with defibrillator in my chest in the morning at 11am at St. Thomas hospital. I had hoped to avoid this, but at this point, I'm just ready to get better. It's time to start living a normal life again. Also, waiting any longer could put me in serious danger of more heart damage or even death. I have 3 children and a wonderful wife that need there dad and husband. Thanks for your continued prayers and support. They have meant the world to me. God heals in many different ways, and I whole heartedly believe this is the right thing to do. Also, in case you're wondering, after this procedure corrects my heart issues, I could live to be 100!!

.... an update on Spence ...

I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update this blog. I am so grateful to Julia Crutcher for setting this up, but I am certainly old, a full time student, and the wife of one in conjestive heart failure! Oh, and we have 3 kids!

So, since my last update, which was when Spence was released from the hospital...the first time...

He went back to the hospital for a one night stay about a month after he was released the first time. No big deal, but they just wanted to monitor him overnight, as they will any time he goes to the ER with his condition. He was released, finding out he cannot be outside at all...with record breaking high temps, this turned out to be just plain depressing for him, stuck in the house all the time!

We went to for his scheduled heart failure specialist appointment, and he thought he was doing good, they were able to "up" his heart failure meds, which was a good sign.

About a week after this appointment, he started vomitting everyday and his pulse was running way over 100. Normal pulse rate is 60-80, on a low day his was 100. Got up to 130...he decided to go back to hospital. Of course they kept him for observation. During his last stay, the doctors discovered he has Ventricular Tachycardia. This is an additional diagnosis, not just a byprodect of heart failure. He had an 8 second run of V-Tach, "a lethal one" according to his Cardioligist. It expalined why he was feeling so bad, and why the vomiting was occuring. They put him in CCU and gave him a drip of amiodrone, a anti-arrythmia med. He was released Thursday (July 12, 2012) with more meds to control the new diagnosis.

He had a decent weekend...his pulse never got over 90, and he's felt a lot better.

We are talking with the heart failure specialist to come up with a date soon to have another echocardiogram to see if the meds helped his heart at all. If there is not a significant improvement, we are planning to proceed with the implantation of a biventricular pace maker.

Thanks to everyove for all the prayers...one thing is for sure, Spence is a miracle, and I know that God has big plans for my man!!!

Update from Spence

Hey everyone. First I want to say thank you for all your prayers and overwhelming support. It has meant the world to me and my family. Now, for an UPDATE.... I have been temporarily released from Saint Thomas Hospital this evening. I have to wear what is called a "Life Vest". In case I go into cardiac arrest, if will shock me (hopefully) back to life. The plan at present is to install a biventricular pacemaker and difibulator. (sorry for any misspelling, these words are to big for me, lol). If this works it will get my heart working correctly, but I'm not out of the woods yet. Most hearts output 60-70% at rest, mine is pumping less than 10% which is dangerously low. As one doctor said "I can't believe you're still alive". The doctors are doing what they can do, but GOD IS IN CONTROL! there is much more consultation to be done between doctors in different states to insure the best plan of action. Please keep us in your prayers, as we don't know what the next steps are, but WE DO KNOW GOD STILL HEALS. Again, thanks for the prayers & support.

I wanted to share the details of the events that have led us to where we are today.

About 2 weeks ago, my husband, Spence went for his routine yearly physical.  During the appointment, his doctor discovered an irregular heartbeat.  He proceeded to do an EKG, in which showed abnormal results.  We went to consult a cardiologist the following day, learning that Spence's EKG shows a left Bundle Branch blockage.  He went for an echocardiogram this past Thursday.  (May 10, 2012)  The test showed a very weak left ventricle (one of the bottom chambers of the heart that supplies the rest of the body with oxgynated blood).  A healthy left ventricle pumps between 55%-60%, and Spence's was only pumping around 20%.  The cardiologist was called into the room in the middle of the procedure because his heart was so weak.  Spence was prescribed medication to try to prevent heart failure while waiting for his doctor visit that was scheduled for the following week. The cardiologist called Spence personally the following morning to check on all of his symptoms.  His cardiologist told him to go straight to the ER, and he'd meet us there. 

Friday night was quite scary for our family.  Spence was declining quickly, and his doctor let us know just how serious the sitution was and that he may not make it through this.  He stabilized overnight and has continued to remain stable since.  He's not gotten better, but he has not gotten worse. 

Monday morning (May 14, 2012), Spence had a cardiocathacterization.  The results showed it was worse than we first thought.  The output was actually less than 10%.  He was then transferred to St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville to be under the care of a Heart Failure Specialist.  We are currently consulting with the doctors/specialists here as well as seeking second opinions to be sure Spence gets exactly what he needs. 

We have been told this morning that Spence will be released from the hospital and allowed to home with a special vest that will monitor his heart activity until either his heart heals with medication or until he has a pace maker surgically implanted. 

Thanks to everyone for all the love, support, and prayers!  We can feel them!

Much love,
Angie Creasy

Greetings!

This site was created by friends of Spence & Angie Creasy, to provide a centralized location for updates on Spence's progress and healing, as well as a place for friends and family to send their prayers and encouragement back to them.

We also wanted to allow friends and family members the opportunity to support the family, financially, assisting with medical and everyday expenses while Spence is on the road to complete healing and recovery.

We know that our God is faithful and sovereign, and He continues to remind us that He has never stopped doing miracles!!

Thank you so much for your love, support, and especially your prayers!