Howdy to whoever is reading this blog! I thought it would be kind of cool to discuss my first two weeks in the hospital before I got the Impella Heart Pump. Less than a couple hours before I went to the hospital, I was at my high school filming a senior graduation video that would be played at graduation. I remember having to leave as soon as we were done filming because I could barely walk the entire time, because of the pain in my stomach. I pushed through because it was always my dream as a film student to film this video, an honor only given to two of the best film students in the program. Even as we were in the hospital and I was struggling to move, I still had my school macbook in hand… editing… yeah the grind never stops with me : )

I stayed up until 3 am that night in the hospital bed finishing up the editing, health be darned. I still think it’s funny but my nurse would keep coming to the room and be baffled that I was still awake. “You need sleep!,” she would yell and I would just say I was almost done (this probably went on for 2 hours; sorry nurse). While working in the hospital was less than ideal, I was still glad I could finish filming and editing the video with my ride or die friend (he’s the other person in the graduation outfit in the video). I got to make a lot of fun memories with people and admin that I may not see again for a good time, so I am very thankful. And to have it played for everyone at graduation! Aren’t I famous : )

Learning I would not be allowed to go to my high school graduation kinda sucked. The second I heard the words from the doctor, I was trying to put it to the back of my head. The time when I had filmed the video in my cap and gown would be the only time I would get to wear it at school. It really was not the end of the world and at least I got to make a video for the class of 2024I will always cherish that. 

To me, I was so happy I got to enjoy my senior year. The silly trips with my friends, the hours filming and newscasting, running clubs with friends, and endless hours practicing music. Heck I even got to go to San Francisco before my heart issues crippled me. So the “me” writing about these first two weeks really has no regrets. I am not one to write sad stories anyway. Even in the hospital I was known as that one drummer kid, the one sitting there with my drum pad and sticks playing the same thing over and over. Just because I was in the hospital does not mean I was going to slack.

Being told my options were a heart transplant or a pump was definitely not on my bingo card for 2024. In fact, less than two weeks ago I was told that we’ll stick to meds and transplant was a distant idea. This whole thing was like a rollercoaster, except I was at Loma Linda instead of Disney Land (very big difference surprisingly). After a lot of thinking I decided on transplant. You see, I wish to become a cinematographer ,in english, is a camera person. Being plugged into a heart pump through my stomach like an iphone would really complicate my ability to chase such a dream without major issues. I also plan on doing DCI (Professional marching band) and a battery in the hot weather, far away from home and experienced medical help would be tough. I would get my life back, and I would make sure I kept running at one hundred and twenty percent as I always do (at the dismay of my social worker : ) ) That’s a wrap on this blog. I hope hearing a lil about my story was interesting in some way as I continue to blog my story of making sure I use this second life I was graciously given to the best of my ability.