I found out on Friday that I have a Bicuspid Aortic valve.

Fatigue over the past year and a half--explained.
Unusual sound heard in my neck in physical diagnosis class (the reason I got checked out)--explained.

I have a wonderful cardiologist at MUSC now and I will be seeing him for visits every year/every few years to watch my valve and to make sure that my left ventricle and aorta don't increase in size. He told me I will probably need a new aortic valve in my 50s or 60s but until then I need to live life as usual and just make sure my cholesterol stays low (exercise, watch diet, etc). Pregnancy may or may not be an issue due to increased load on the heart causing my valve to become diseased more quickly but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

I cannot tell you how amazing it was to sit and watch my heart beating on a screen for 40 minutes as they did an echocardiogram, I could clearly see the 2 valve leaflets where there should have been 3, but it was beautiful!! The heart is a very cool piece of machinery and it is amazing how resilient it is. It's quite fun that I happen to be studying all this in school right now so "studying" can now also include researching the studies on prognosis, embryology, physiology, etc of my condition. Of all the heart things to have it's probably one of the best (and most common-1% of the population has it!).

The Lord is very good in all this. The heart is a miracle--human bodies are miraculous!! The Lord's design is awe-inspiring and it has made me want to fall on my face and worship Him! This whole thing puts a very new spin on Proverbs 4:23, "Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" and creates a whole new challenge in Proverbs 31:25, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." I had already felt a conviction to hide Proverbs 31:25 in my heart and work on my joy during uncertainty and, what-do-ya-know, the Lord had a reason!! :)


So who knows what I'll do now, maybe 2013 resolutions will include a half marathon or two for a little heart health?!?!