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Love is Heartfelt, Really! ...parishioner feels love and prayers

Since Monday December 3rd, I now lie in bed each night and hear this new, strange sound emanating from my chest. It is the sound of my heart, beating loudly, with new vitality and energy thanks to the miracle of medical science, advanced technology from Medtronic, the skill and expertise of a great surgeon and his staff and the love and prayers of so many friends and family.

A little background is in order I guess; I was born with what is called a Ventricular Septal Defect or VSD which is a small hole in a chamber of the heart that causes blood to leak back in every time the ventricle tries to pump blood out. I was also born with an aortic valve comprised of four flaps instead of the usual three. Over the last 47 years, my heart was working much harder to pump the extra volume of blood than was normal. Although I generally felt good and was in good physical health, this condition was progressing to a point where surgery was needed to correct the problem or I would risk a potentially and possibly fatal aortic dissection or rupture sometime in the future. About 40,000 babies are born with this type of abnormal heart problem each year.

I believe there are no accidents. That there is indeed a purpose or reason for everything. About a year ago I had gained too much weight and was starting to feel tired a lot. My weight had gone up to about 215lbs. Last winter, I was given a brand new set of skis, boots, poles and bindings for Christmas. Skiing with the family over the winter would be just the thing to help me get back into shape I thought. The day after New Years, my family and I were skiing at Afton alps and on the very last run of the evening, on my way down the hill heading to the Chalet, a snowboarder came out of nowhere and plowed right into me snapping my left collarbone completely in two. After about 8 weeks of severe pain and inactivity, I decided to weigh myself and found that I was still weighing over 200 pounds. I decided to take the easy way and simply try to eat more sensibly. Anything was better than dieting or exercising.

A few months later I got on the scale and noticed that I weighed about 197 lbs. Not much weight loss really but it was the first time my weight had dropped below 200 pounds. Somehow this small loss of a few pounds had a profound effect on my desire to really get in shape. I had always felt that 185 pounds was a good goal weight for me and my thinking was 197 pounds to 185 pounds is only 12 pounds. I can do this, I thought. So I started to vigorously exercise. Ironically, this new insight came around June 1st of this year, right at about the same time that I lost my job. Well, since I had extra time on my hands, I decided to use it getting in shape.

Now I have never been a big fan of physical exercise. I hated it. But something was different. I had a new sense of purpose and desire to get in shape. At the time, I had no idea that I would be having open heart surgery in less than 6 months. It was as though God had whispered to me “I have something planned for you, it’s time you prepare for it”. So I exercised at home, joined a health club, cut out all the junk in my diet and quickly shed about 15 pounds.

The Erdman Family

And now the story moves to this fall and my wife Melany and I were coming home from the 11:00 service at St. Joan’s and I noticed a pain in my chest. I was admitted to North Memorial and after some initial testing, the advanced condition of my heart defect was noticed and I was told I would need surgery. Here I was being told by a cardiologist how fortunate and timely it was that I had lost weight and gotten in shape over the last six months since it would benefit me greatly during surgery. There are no accidents, right?

Everything happened rather quickly from the time I left the hospital on November 19th till my surgery on December 3rd. That evening, Monday the 19th, I was having a meeting with men’s group that I belong to and told them about the impending surgery. I asked them if they would each put their hands on my chest and send me their strength and prayers as I prepared for this ordeal. On the 26th, I went in for an echocardiogram and angiogram at Methodist so the doctors could pinpoint what needed to be done during the surgery.

I sent everyone I knew an e-mail letting them know of the date of surgery and asking for their prayers. I wrote special letters of love and goodbyes to my wife and daughters just in case something went wrong. The stage was set, the cast prepared and this special show was about to go on. We arrived at Methodist Hospital at 5:00 AM on Monday, December 3rd and after some quick filling out of forms, last minute blood pressure check and a pill to help me relax, I was given an IV and taken into surgery.

Michael Erdman is a longtime parishioner and volunteer at St. Joan's. Michael was the homilist on Fathers Day in 1994, has been active in the planning and hosting of Family Camp in years past, was a faithful choir member for a long time and belongs to a small Christian community that has been together for over 8 years. Michael, his wife Melany, daughters Melissa and Michelle have been coming to St. Joans for over 14 years and despite the distance from Crystal, says it's his "second home", "because it's where all my friends are" he says. Michael is passionate about parenting/family issues and sees SJA as a loving community that supports and nurture families in their spiritual journey.

I remember waking up and seeing Melany, smiling at me and telling me that everything went just fine. I later found out that the surgery had gone far better than anyone expected. I was on a brain bypass for only 17 minutes and needed no medication to get my heart started after the new valve and aortic root were grafted. The new aortic valve made out of titanium and carbon, as well as the new aortic root made from Dacron were working perfectly. I was discharged after only 4 days stay in the hospital after surgery.

So now I hear this new sound inside me. A sound of renewed life and love, of prayers asked and prayers answered. I hear and feel the power of God pulsing through me and know that I am incredibly fortunate to be living in an age where such a miracle is possible. I know that what I feel and hear is love. And it is truly heartfelt.