The Adventure Begins.

I always knew my Jonathan had a wild heart, but I had no idea how wild it actually was, until this week.

Little did I know what I was getting myself into when I started dating my handsome, dark & curly-haired, rocking climbing friend.  Our frequent visits to IHOP (or really any 24-hour breakfast diner), allowed me to learn more and more of his heart.  I soon discovered that not only is this man after God's own heart, as well as mine, but he lives for adventure.  I told God shortly after we started dating, "Jesus, if John's my forever, our relationship is not going to be "normal" is it?"  Meaning, we're going to climb mountains together, fights battles for Christ together in 3rd world countries, and he'll probably take me quite a way out of my comfort zone.  He's an adventure-seeker.  It's where he comes alive.  And
I
love
it.

The past few days he's started us on our first adventure.  His close friends, family, and I have all begun up our first mountain.

John grew up extremely active.  He was a varsity athlete, the captain of several sports teams, and performed WELL.

For the past few weeks, John has been in and out of the cardiologist due to chest pain.  He described them as "mini-heart attacks."  After nearly every heart test in the book, the doctor's concluded he has [genetically] high cholesterol and a very low EF (Ejection Fraction - meaning the amount of blood pumping from his heart to his body is less than normal).  So with a weak heart and a high cholesterol, yet a 25-year-old, super-fit, active, and overall healthy guy, the doctors remained puzzled as to what was causing this abnormal EF level.

Today I went with him to his latest appt to talk about the results of his latest stress test.  Without many answers we left the office and headed back to his mom's house.  On our way back he mentioned more chest pain.  It increased, spreading down the left side of his body.  We were convinced of heart attack.  After calling his doctor when the pain did not subside, we were instructed to head to the ER.

After having a heart cath and getting the results, they found it.  They finally gave us an answer.  My Jonathan was born with an extremely rare heart condition called ALCAPA (Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (instead of the aorta)- google it!)  Basically one of his arteries is coming off of another artery rather than his aorta.  This condition requires open heart surgery.  This will be happening within the next week.  We are hoping for this coming Monday.

The miracle in this already is the fact that John is alive today.  He's made it 25 years strong while this condition is almost always found in infants.  90% of infants with this condition do not survive.  Not only did John survive the 10% survival rate as a baby, but he made it 25 years with this condition! AND without complication!

I already see God's hand at work in this.  Before leaving for the ER yesterday, I prayed over my Jonathan.  I whole-heartedly believed in God's healing power and rebuked away the chest pain in the name of Jesus! Upon opening our eyes, the pain was still there.  We went to the ER.  On our way there I was debating with God.  "I don't understand! You can heal him from this chest pain! We don't HAVE to go to the ER because you are the ultimate healer and physician! WHY didn't you stop this!?"

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD - Isaiah 55:8 Oh....that's why.  Okay Lord, I will trust You.  I see now that had we NOT come to the ER, they would not have done the heart cath which was the one test that revealed this abnormality.  Had this condition been ignored, John's heart would have continued to weaken and he would only have about 5-10 years of life left. Praises to God's holy and mighty name in the highest! Thank you to everyone who is praying.  It's truly encouraging to be in community with other believers who place their faith in the one true God. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  His parents, brother and sister-in-law, nephew, close friends, and I appreciate it more than you know. Stay tuned for updates.