Kitty's Bum Ticker Brigade

06/02/2026

To think a year ago today I had my 1st of 2 open heart surgeries. They would fall almost exactly 9 months apart eachother and I would lose my child. I had no idea what the LORD was setting in front of me and to this day, I still don't. I only know that he is not done. I have been through the most incredible physical pain as well as the most traumatizing mental and emotional anguish that I would wish on no one ever. But the bigger part of all of this is how he has sustained me and never left me. Even now sitting here reflecting on all he has done and how he continues to move through my life it steals my breath. I know their are more mountains left to climb but this year the one thing I learned through all of it is he will never leave me. I can promise you the only reason I am here today was because he carried me. And he put the most incredible and loving people in my life to help me move through all of this mess. They were at times the backs that I leaned on when I thought I couldn't do anymore. Even when I was a mess of a human they still loved me. I have always said "I am not lucky, but I'm blessed and there is a very big difference", "I'll stick with being blessed". GOD has been in the fire with me and he held me together. He has heard me cry, he's heard me plead, he's heard me in my anger, and he has heard me in my Thanksgiving. And through all of it he has given me a testimony of love, hope, strength, steadfastness, and unwavering faith because he does not make mistakes and everything that comes to you in life he uses for your good and his glory. I do not know what this next year will bring me but I know that no matter what I face next I know that he will be with me through it all.

So with that I will keep pushing through. I will admit that all of this has done quite a number on my mental health. Thankfully, I started going back into the office this week and I keep going to cardiac Rehab. I feel myself get stronger everyday albeit a little exhausted. I don't know how I got up and just went to work everyday before but the trade off is I have not slept this good in LONG time . So hopefully that will stick around for a while. I certainly need it. The old ticker seems to be staying in good shape and so far (knock on wood) it's holding steady. I did have an echo done already and everything looks good 🙌. Next appt is in a week with my cardiologist so hopefully we can start backing off some meds. That would be the best I could ask for. Until next time Facebook fam ❤️🫀🩺

Enjoy this picture of me and my bestie Bill ❤️

17/11/2025

Hey everyone, I just wanted to pop on here to give an update and say how grateful we are to everyone who contributed through the meal train. The food was delicious, and your donations while unexpected, completely warmed our hearts.

Everything is going ok over here. My energy is fair, I am getting around ok (it is hard to believe I had surgery 3 weeks ago tomorrow), I just need to get used to the ticking. I'm sure at some point it will just be something I don't really notice but it is a cool party trick when everyone can hear me. It has definitely freaked people out. I just tell everyone that I love so big you can hear it from the outside.

Everyone came over yesterday to get the house ready for Christmas since I am unable and it was really sweet watching everyone work together and decorate the tree. It was overstimulating but it made my heart so happy to watch them help me bring in the holiday cheer. I have the best kids and the best family ever.

Tj has been traveling for work since November 3rd and I have not seen him since the hospital but he will FINALLY be home tomorrow and it cannot come soon enough. We miss him so much and Laura will be making an early Thanksgiving dinner so we can celebrate before he heads to Turkey for the week of Thanksgiving (it is definitely not lost on us that he will be in Turkey for Turkey Day)🤣🦃🍗

I have been beyond blessed with Jenny and then Laura being here to help, and I love that my brother and my nephew have been here doing some much needed work on our house. Grandma and Grandpa will be here next for the changing of the guard and we are looking forward to having them here. Otherwise, I have my 1st post op appt on Wednesday via video and I will be back to UAB on December 1st for my in person follow-up.

Enjoy the pictures and don't mind the clutter 😊🎅🎄

Till next time. 🩺🫀

05/11/2025

SHE'S HOME 🎉🎉

04/11/2025

We know this is Kitty's 3rd meal train of the year but if anyone would like to send a meal their way every little bit helps. Thank you Nicole Lindsey for organizing all of these for our family. It is appreciated more than you know.

Our girl, Kristen, is having heart surgery for a second time this year. Let’s bless their socks off with meals this time around and show the Keezer’s how much we love them ❤️

04/11/2025

This sunset signifies a well deserved break and the end of another scary whirl-wind adventure. We are all tucked in to bed at Tom and Rosey's house. The surgery on Tuesday took forever, but was successful. Not sure how many details Kitty wants me to disclose, but she can chide me later. She's too weak to fight me just yet. 🙂 There were expected issues with the first valve which they addressed and fitted with a mechanical valve. They also found a hole on her heart and repaired that as well. (I'm assuming it was the Kenna-shaped hole she keeps talking about). Her first night in the ICU, she had an oxygen related issue and her blood pressure dropped. They resolved that issue and the next night it happened again. I wasn't there for either (TJ spent the nights with her), but it didn't happen again. I'm so tired, someone else will have to fill in the blanks of what the cause and remedy was.
Recovery then resumed and hit another bump on Saturday. She was ready to start pushing walks and breathing exercises, but she was fighting so much nausea that every task took her energy away. Eventually she got sick and with everything combined sent her into A Fib and VTec, which is pretty normal, but also scary. We found the level of concern increased with the number of nurses in the room.
Kitty made the decision that she didn't want any medications that were not necessary. Once the oxy and muscle relaxers were cut, she felt worlds better. We have learned so much with this surgery and how much you can control if you just speak up. Her breathing treatments, while necessary were BRUTAL. It was like being punched in the throat while your lungs were being violently inflated. That is the point, but how can anyone handle that? Turns out, there's a mellowed version you can do! Sunday was the best day and today was even better. However as the morning burned away the frustration waiting for nurses to release you was grating. Driving home from the hospital was a bit of white knuckles as I felt every bump and dip in the road and every jerky brake. Kitty was unfazed, but after my 600th "I'm sorry", I'm pretty sure she was ready to hogtie me and force a breathing treatment on me!
She is doing great and currently snug as a bug in a rug in bed. We travel to Florida tomorrow to be home so the true Recovery can begin.
We are so grateful to God for restoring Kitty's life for the 2nd time this year. Through all the pain and grief this year has brought us, we cannot forget the many blessings of the family and friends that supported us through all of this. Kitty had built such a beautiful community and we are grateful to every one of you. We are especially grateful of Tom and Rosey for opening their home to us and welcoming us so lovingly.
~Auntie Jenny~

26/10/2025

Welp... here we are just 2 days away from what I pray is the final chapter of a long year and a new beginning just in time for 2026. We have definitely been through it this year and my hope is that this will be another chapter of the testimony of my life. There is more anxiety going into this surgery but I know that even though the ground may shake the foundation is firm. Whatever plans HE has for me, they will be GOOD and HE does not make mistakes, HE redeems and HE restores.

Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his to all generations.

Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

UAB we're headed your way! 🩺🫀

15/10/2025

So this past weekend we took a few days to have some downtime and just enjoy ourselves in the Smokey Mountains of TN. And your girl even did the 5 mile round trip hike at Abrams Trailhead (if you've done it you know what a feat it is) and I survived. I may have had to stop a handful of times give my ticker a few to catch up but I finished (good thing too, as there is only one way out 😊) 2 weeks from today until surgery #2.

19/08/2025

Patient prosthesis mismatch

3 words I never thought I would have to hear and yet hear we are.

But 1st the back story..

If you have been on this page very long you know that I had open heart surgery to correct A congenital birth defect in which I had a quad cuspid leaflet (extra because I'm fancy) on my aorta. So on February 5th I went in and had open heart surgery since that pesky leak got too big and was affecting my heart function a little too much. Everything was going well (or so I thought).

I had my first post-op echocardiogram on May 15th which did uncover at my appointment on May 28th that there was in fact a problem with my new valve. My cardiologist decided to put me on a blood thinner because sometimes valves can develop a film around them and a blood thinner can often times correct the issue. Unfortunately, my spidey senses were tingling so I called my brilliant sister-in-love and after talking to her and her discussing it over with the doctors at her practice my suspicions were being confirmed that there was a bigger problem.

So in the waiting I powered on (although I was slowly watching my BP change and not in a good way) and was waiting out the process to see where it led. Then one day at cardiac rehab I started to feel chest pains and dizziness in which I had to stop the exercise that I was doing and suspend my cardiac rehab activities until I saw my doctor for my follow up echocardiogram and visit in July.

Once I had my appointment at the end of July the doctor had decided to do what's called a T.E.E. or transesophageal echocardiogram (this is an ultrasound done from your esophagus to get better measurements and photos). Which confirmed what I was fearing but suspected that the valve that had been implanted was in fact too small and it simply can not keep up with my body. As this has been progressing I have had my swelling come back, occasional chest pains, headaches, and I have been limited to activity as to not get my heart rate too high 🥴🥴. So this as you can tell has been less than ideal especially considering the circumstances surrounding my family the last couple of months.

We do however need to keep moving forward and so I have found a new surgeon up at UAB in Birmingham, AL who is going to have to take out the valve currently in place and install a new one that is the right size (which means a 2nd open heart surgery within the year). I will be having a CT scan next week and surgery is scheduled for October 28th.

Not quite the update I was hoping to write about but an update all the same.

I keep my requests simple these days as I have been humbled in a way only GOD can achieve. And because of this I also know that I serve a big GOD who does not make mistakes and everything he does is for a reason. So please if you can and your the praying kind, pray for me, my family, friends, the doctors and nurses. I truly need all the prayers, love, and good juju I can get.

Isaiah 41:10
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Joshua 1:9:
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Kristen

I know this is a heavy post so please enjoy a photo of me with my best guy Christopher John. He always makes my heart happy ❤️

19/06/2025

Good morning and Happy Friday Jr Everyone! It has been a while since I posted an update so I thought today seemed as good a day as any.

The beginning of May my sister in love got married and I danced my heart out (almost literally) at her wedding. It felt so good! I was so blessed to be able to attend and had the absolute best time. You all know family time is my favorite time 🥰

I went back to work full time the beginning of May and it has certainly been an adjustment (I also never slept better 😉) The schedule has been hard with work and still going to cardiac Rehab 3x a week but I really look forward to going and catching up with the awesome staff and other patients. I will miss them when I am finished.

We also got the kids wrapped up with their school and started the business of summer. Although now they are in MN with Jenny and then to CO until the end of July. They are living their best life (yesterday was MN largest candy store day)🍬🍫🍭

One thing I have had issues with lately with is my back 😖 but thankfully with the help of Kimberly the best (massage therapist ever) and going to a chiropractor I think we are going to get this thing figured out. The doc sent me for an MRI and said everything looks good and to just keep with what I am doing. I have slowly started doing yoga again but I do have to be mindful of how my chest feels. Slow and steady wins the race.

Overall I feel good and although I do have times when I still get tired my energy is coming back and I am starting to feel like myself. Back to the doctor August 13th we shall see how the old ticker is doing then and report back.

Thanks for following my journey. ❤️🙏🙌

Peep the scar? You can barely see it!

27/03/2025

Hello family! I know it has been a minute since I sent an update so here we go 😁
I saw the doctor back on the 11th of March and he said that everything is healing nicely. I am still on weight restrictions but I was cleared to drive short distances. I also received my prescription to start cardiac Rehab 💪 which I started this past Monday. That will entail 36 sessions at 3 x per week. I really have enjoyed it so far since I have really missed going to the gym.

Grandma Dona and Grandpa Mike were here for the past 2 weeks to help with kiddos and all the heavy lifting. I am so grateful for their help I truly do not know what I would have done without them here. 🙏❤️

For those who do not know my hubby bubby Tj, has accepted a position with Jensen and is primarily traveling for work. So far he seems to be enjoying it and we are all so excited and happy for him. We of course miss him when he is gone but it does make it that much sweeter when he is home. ❤️🏡

Spring break came and went and now we are in the last 9 weeks of the school year.🏵🌸 I myself will start working part-time from home on the 1st of April.

This whole experience has been challenging but more than the physical recovery is the mental and emotional recovery. Physically my muscles are tight and tense and a massage will definitely need to be in my future. I still do not know that I have properly processed everything and I do feel like I need to not only do that but have a damn good cry, and one of these days I will.😊 my meds and added exertion make me sleepy and naps are still sometimes a part of my day but I have definitely felt myself getting stronger. And that is something to celebrate 🎉🙌

Anyone who knows me knows I am a YES person but this experience has taught me that it is ok to be a NO person sometimes. And if I don't feel like I can do it I do not push to. I just let it go. This is one lesson I think I was meant to learn. Take time for myself and listen to what my body is telling me so that is what I am doing. 🩺🫀❤️‍🩹

I have truly appreciated everyone calling and texting, bringing food and checking in. Those spending time with the kiddos and taking care of the house. It means more than I can ever express. I have an incredible village so thank you, thank you, thank you ❤️

Tj has been home for a couple days and heads back out today, but yesterday we went and sat on the beach for a couple hours and just spent time together. Here's a picture I took. It was exactly what our hearts needed.🌊🌞

28/02/2025

Hello family, making slow but steady strides. My Jenny headed home a little over a week ago and my Aunt Laura came to take over. The kids are loving having her here. They have done crafts and are always busy doing something. It has been a real treat having here and getting to taste some of the yummy recipes of my youth that were passed down from my Nana.
I have not been leaving the house except to the doctor or hospital but Laura and I did venture out for some fresh air and a change of scenery at Southern Grace Lavender Farm, where we sat in the sun and smelled the flowers (literaly). We were the only 2 people there besides the owners and it was nice to sit somewhere besides my backyard ❤️.
I am still taking naps daily and it does not take much for me to get winded but I am moving around a little better. I have muscular pain in my back and shoulders and a terrible pain by my right collar bone. If I push to much I feel a pulling in my chest that puts me in check really quickly that reminds me to take it slow. It's amazing how exhausted reading makes me but I was reminded that the anesthesia brain fog likes to hold on for a while so I do have to read in short spurts but I am making it through. I am walking a little further and moving more and as always slow and steady wins the race.
I am super grateful for all the visitors I received this week (Kristen, Mariah, Leslie, Marsha, and Janie) and the yummy goodies they brought, the flowers I got from my bestie Bill, as well as the books and audible credits from my book club girlies. I truly appreciate all the love.

19/02/2025

Happy Tuesday family ❤️ thought I would post an update since I saw the doc yesterday.

I did not see Dr.England but instead his PA Tracy who after poking and prodding (to which I may or may not have smacked him and asked if he was a sadist) told me that everything looks good and told me I looked great. I told him I thought we had very differing opinions on what it meant to look great but I appreciated the compliment. He also made sure to go over all of my questions and concerns and reviewed my BP and heart rate. My heart rate likes to hang out in the in the 80's-90's and he said it could stay that way for a while as my heart is getting used to it's new parts. But it should settle over time. He then sent me to get new blood work done and I asked if he would check my potassium levels since I was on potassium in hospital and was have some palpitating that was unconformable. But thankfully, today I spoke to the nurse who told me all my levels were perfect and that no adjustments in my meds were needed at this time. 🙌🙏❤️

Today was a day of rest since yesterday was a marathon (or so it felt). I hung out with Jenny and did a whole lot of nothing special. Although if you get a moment on Angel Studios I highly recommend BonHoeffer and the Documentary on Joel Salatin The Lunatic Farmer, both excellent.

Sitting is still hard for me but I am taking this time as it is intended which is to rest. My Jenny is getting ready to go home on Thursday 😭😭 but B has shared his wife with me for long enough. But I am so grateful she was able to be here these last 2 weeks. She is a true ride or die and I do not know where we would be without her. My Aunt will be here tomorrow to tackle the next 2 weeks 💗 and I am gearing up for the shenanigans that will ensue.

Well that's all for now, it is almost time to tuck into some yummy enchiladas from my sweet friend 🧡

Talk soon ❤️