Glory and Praise
- Team Gabbie
- Oct 20, 2023
- 3 min read
Friday, October 20, 2023
Yesterday, October 19th, I had my sixth month heart check up. It was time for an echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart. I never know what to expect from these appointments. Will there be good news or bad news? However, yesterday, there was GOOD news!
My mom and I left at 5:20 am for my first appointment at 9am. On our drive up to Sacred Heart I mentioned that it was cool that Oct. 19th was the Feast of the North American Martyrs. Remember this for later...
We made it to the hospital with plenty of time to have blood work done before the ECHO. The blood work went fast and that was great to have that done first.
My echocardiogram was fast too. The ECHO lasted only thirty minutes and the tech was kind and brought me a heated blanket.
Two of my least favorite things (blood work and ECHO) behind me!
After the ECHO, Mom and I went to visit our dear friends, Emma and Patti Watson.
We were pretty sure Emma was in the same room I was when I was in heart failure at Sacred Heart.
We enjoyed a great visit and thank God for the miracles of their lives!
I ask for continued blessings and prayers for the Watson family.
My last appointment was with my cardiologist who would share the results from the echocardiogram with us.
My doctor didn't know if he agreed with the ECHO results.
He told us he had to look at the ECHO results three times, triple checking my name to make sure these were my results before coming to see me.
The ECHO said my Ejection Fraction was 50% which is a NORMAL heart pump.
My doctor thought for sure 35% Which is HUGE.
I had a great appointment with signs of UNEXPLAINED strengthening in my heart! My ECHO showed a considerably strengthened ability to pump!
My doctor asked what I have been doing differently. I haven't changed medication in over two years.
I didn't have an answer. The only thing I could say was that I feel stronger since I started working out.
My mom shared this beautiful prayer and I wanted to share it on my blog.
I want to thank Our Lady of Lourdes for her intercession on Gabbie's behalf--I can see Our Blessed Mother taking Gabbie to Jesus and telling Gabbie, "Do whatever He tells you." Thank you, Jesus, for this precious gift of healing grace!
Thank you to everyone for the prayers!
I am in complete "What just happened?"
I don't have the answer but I know God does.
I shared this crazy awesome news with the Sisters of Life.
They too had been praying for me and thought of the North American Martys yesterday.
Meet St. John de Brebeuf:
In 1649, the Iroquois attacked the Huron village where John was living. They brutally martyred him, Gabriel Lalement, his companion, and their converts. Their suffering is indescribable: bludgeoned, burned with red-hot hatchets, baptized with boiling water, mutilated, flesh stripped off and eaten, hearts plucked out and devoured. But John de Brébeuf had his prayer answered. He traded his life for the seven thousand souls he had converted and baptized.
My God and my savior Jesus, what return can I make to you for all the benefits you have conferred on me? I make a vow to you never to fail, on my side, in the grace of martyrdom, if by your infinite mercy you offer it to me some day.
—John de Brébeuf
Excerpt from Voices of the Saints by Bert Ghezzi.
To God be the glory and praise!
Painting by Erin McAtee
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