Soak up the Good: Arden Update and a Little Inspiration

Yesterday morning we visited the hospital in our community for Arden to receive an ECG and a holter monitor again. He has been off the medication that once controlled his ectopic atrial tachycardia (called propanolol) for about a month now, and he has been doing well. Our cardiologist at the Stollery just wants to make sure that everything is continuing to go well and ensure that he isn’t having any more irregular heart rhythms. If everything looks great on these tests, we will likely not have to get in touch with the cardiology team for at least the next 6 months. So that’s excellent! 

Going into the hospital today caused me to think. Each time we visit, the techs kindly explain procedures to us as if we’ve never heard of them, and Brodi and I silently smile at each other, knowing that this isn’t our first rodeo. I’ve lost count of the amount of times that Arden has gotten an ECG. There was a time when it was common for him to have one every day, and for there to be electrophysiologists from the cardiology team regularly hovering around the monitors outside his room. It’s amazing the things that we took as “normal” or “everyday” occurrences. And it’s incredible to look back, and really be mindful of the way things are now in comparison. 

Currently, because Arden is stable and there are no imminent surgeries on our horizon (not right away anyways), we get to go to the hospital for routine appointments. We get to walk in, spend a half hour there, and walk out. It’s glorious. I know the day will come again, when we may be kept within the confines of a hospital room once more. But we won’t anticipate it, because it doesn’t matter. Right now, we’re soaking up the good.

As I’m thinking about all the ways that our experiences have impacted our perspective, I wanted to share this journal entry that I wrote on October 19. 2020:

I want Arden to know that the hard does not diminish the good. The struggle does not diminish the triumph. Some of your strongest moments can come during what feels like a point of weakness. Fear can make you keen. Sadness can make you really savour happy. 

Count the good and let the hard roll through. Because the most important moments of life happen during the good. And if you think about it, the rest doesn’t matter. It’s just there to make you stronger, smarter, keener, and more triumphant when the good does come. And it always will.

IT ALWAYS WILL. So have faith, my friends. Steady yourself and breathe deeply through the hard days. Power through and show courage. Know that the tides will change and the sun will shine upon you once more. 

XO, Rayel