*UPDATE*

Time to catch y’all up on what has been going on in the House of Eclipse. Back in July 2019, Pappa had to have two stents put in his heart. He had two blockages that were either 80% or 100% blocked. His EF was 15%. EF is the amount of blood that is pumped back out of your heart with each beat. A healthy heart will pump out 55%, his was dangerously low. After the stents were put in during a heart cath, he was sent home with a LifeVest. A LifeVest is a portable defibulator. You see, if Pappa’s heart rate got too fast, he could go into cardiac arrest. The LifeVest would shock him to prevent that from happening and potentially save his life. The only time he could take it off, was when he showered. It was a total pain in the ass, but one of those better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it. It was more or less an insurance policy. He also began a new medication and was told to come back in three months.

Three months passed, it was time for another echocardiogram. We waited with anticipation and breathes held, that his EF had increased. Then, we heard the news. While it had increased, it did not increase enough. He is now sitting at 15-20%. Dr. Singh knew what a pain in the ass the LifeVest was and recommended having a defibrillator implanted in Pappa’s chest, as well as increasing one medicine to the highest dosage. Another month of wearing the LifeVest then the surgery would be done.

Pappa had the surgery, one week before Thanksgiving. I took the day off of work, his daughters were not able to come over for it. Pre-op, we facetimed his girls, his Mama, and his brother. I kissed Pappa and they rolled him on back. He tries to convince me to leave and get something to eat while he is in surgery, but my stubborn ass stays put in the waiting room. I am not leaving that hospital until he does. Dr. Miller comes out when it is all over, says he did well and will be going to recovery soon. The nurses then wheel Pappa by the waiting room, stop, and ask me if I would like to see him before they take him to post-op.

The next moment, it is forever etched in my memory. I touched the top of his head, said “Hey Pappa”, watched him turn his head towards me, then he opened his eyes. When he saw me, he put the biggest smile on his face that I have ever seen on him and said, “Hi Baby!”. It was at that moment that I realized, everything that I thought he felt for me, everything that he has said and done for me, for us, it was solidified in my head, my heart, and my soul! Pappa may have been as high as a kite thanks to the medication, but the honesty in his eyes and his voice….To this day I still tear up thinking about that moment.

Throughout all of this, Pappa and I have each received a tattoo that is to become our House logo. We have someone working on designing the patch, Pappa has his leather vest ready, and we have signed up to attend The Journey Conference in Ft. Lauderdale in July 2020. When we say there are big things coming for us, there really are. We have our eyes on the prize, the light at the end of the tunnel, and are so very excited to share our journey with y’all.

Live, Love, Learn ❤