VLAD the Impeller

09/05/2025

Gym therapy

09/05/2025

Some days the mental and emotional struggle is so much tougher than others. Why God has this happened to me? Why is this my burden to carry? Literally carrying these freaking batteries everywhere. Today is one of those days, but when the day is done I will have survived another day, defied the odds once again, even if it is through heartache and tears. We are not alone. Other LVADers are making this journey with us, and can be our inspiration when we are not theirs.

08/25/2025

Proving to myself more than anything that I can still do anything I put my mind to. Mailbox repair in 4 hours time. I’ve never laid brick and mortar before, so it was a learning experience for me. Starting outdoor temperature was 91, and it ended at 99 degrees here in the great state of Texas! Sweat out more fluid than my daily intake, so extra ice water for me. Down three pounds this morning from Sunday morning. That erased my cheat day of a really (too much) salty steak at Outback. My ribeye steak is better Kelli Krieg Garrison assured me.

08/20/2025

I graduated from Cardiac Rehab today!

08/13/2025

Whoever farted in the machine weight section….God bless you, that was horrid.

Postop week 14 day 1 - Push day at the gym

08/12/2025

Right heart cath and LVAD speed adjustment today. Looking forward to having a probe sent down my jugular to my pulmonary artery.

08/09/2025

Where are my D/FW LVADers?

The support groups at Baylor seem to always be during the middle of the week in the middle of the day, and I was just wondering if anyone does meetups to go eat a salty cheat meal anytime…

08/06/2025

Cardiac rehab isn’t always fun. 2.5 mph at 15° incline until my heart rate hit 148 before switching to 3.0 mph at 10° incline. 18 minutes on the treadmill, followed by 16 minutes on the stationary bike with a resistance of 11. Resistance up from nine last week also increased my bicep curls and tricep extensions by 5 pounds up to 25 pound dumbbells.

08/06/2025