I’ve had congestive heart failue for years. I had my annual checkup at the local Heart Center this morning with an echocardiogram, examination by the cardiologist, and pacemaker check. Ejection fraction is a measurement that indicates how well your heart pumps blood; normal ejection fraction ranges from 50% to 70%, and lower values indicate heart problems. Even with congestive heart failure that was diagnosed many years ago, a mechanical mitral heart valve, a pacemaker, and a moderately leaking aortic valve, my ejection fraction is now an unbelievable 50%. (Years ago it used to be down close to 30%.) The swimming is partially responsible (I’m closing in on 5,000 miles after 20 years of swimming). More importantly, it’s the grace of God who is the ultimate engineer; his superbly and divinely engineered heart muscle can still perform at a normal level of efficiency even when badly damaged. By way of analogy, it would be equivalent to your car still getting the MPG it had off the showroom floor – but with 500,000 miles, a cracked engine block, poor compression in the cylinders and a failing drivetrain. The cardiologist says I’m his poster boy for heart failure and he tells other patients about me. Soli Deo Gloria.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made(Ps 139:14)