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Alexandria Cheplak

@lexichep

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Sharing the hope of Jesus through illness 🫶
Email: [email protected]

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I just wanted to update everyone because I can finally use my phone. I have to talk to text, but I’ve never felt so much love from literally thousands around the entire world. This has been the most challenging thing I’ve ever walked well I can’t really walk so it’s just really challenging. The first few days were very scary. They kept me sedated on a ventilator because I had so much extra fluid on me, organs failing, and they couldn’t get me stable.

My temperature was 106 while laying on an ice bed. All I’ve heard from my parents was how scared they were sitting there witnessing the aftermath. Once I was coming to it, they had to hold me down because I was kicking and fighting to get the ventilator out of me. I spent the first few days after waking up hallucinating so bad that they had to check my brain because I had no idea where I was or what was going on. There were a lot of scary nights and I’m finally starting to turn a corner. I still need assistance sitting up drinking water and my oxygen won’t go higher than the 80s, but I’m alive and that’s a lot more than we thought a few nights ago.

I can’t even begin to thank the amount of people that have sat here every single day at least 40 people day in and day out watching all my milestones taking care of my daughter and just really encouraging me through this. I understand we have to go through challenges in life. I just never saw mine being this difficult. I might still be in the midst of it so it’s really hard for me to be encouraging. I cry and panic a lot, but I know there’s light at the end of this and I’m hoping I’ll eventually be strong enough to share my story. ❤️‍🩹 thank you for the out pour of love for being strong when I can’t be and for showing up for my parents.

Gods not done 💪 by @lexichep

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2 years ago

As most of you know I’ve been really sick the last 11 months and was told I could no longer fly due to the decline in my heart.

On Tuesday of this week my cardiologist gave me the okay and by Friday we were on a flight to Northern California to golf & see the city!!

Getting on an airplane for the first time after all the heart surgeries I’ve had this year was terrifying. I cried. I panicked. Kept checking my oxygen and heart rate. I prayed. I text my parents mid air having a melt down. So thankful Brenton was on that first flight with me because he calmed my nerves, beat me in a game of cards 😡, and just reassured me the entire time ❤️

Being able to do this together this weekend was everything. I think I looked over at him at least 5x saying I flew on an airplane!!! Heart disease has taken alot from me over the last 11 months but one thing it didn’t take was my fight. Fighting to get my life back one plane ride at a time 🫶

#heartdisease #openheartsurgery #congenitalheartdisease #survivor taken in Half Moon Bay Golf Links by @lexichep

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a year ago

If I’m being honest Bell’s palsy has been one of the most isolating seasons yet. Feeling trapped in my body & face scared me more than anything. But today’s huge it’s my fist time putting eye makeup on my paralyzed eye in 60 days to see if I’ll be able to get through the wedding with make up on! The count down is real! Brenton I can’t wait to marry you! Jesus you get the glory

#bellspalsy #bellspalsyawareness #bellspalsytreatment #heartdisease #openheartsurgery by @lexichep

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21 days ago

22 days until I’m Mrs.Van 😭 knowing how hard I fought to get healthy enough to be able to stand up next to him on our wedding day makes it all the much more special.

Having both of our dear friends and pastors @judwilhite and @heidenratner there to remind each and every one of us who gets the glory already has me emotional and excited!

This wedding isn’t just about us. It’s about every single person sitting in the crowd with us that has supported and loved us through an unspeakably challenging time. It’s their turn to also feel celebrated and enjoy an amazing night all together to laugh dance and spend quality time!

I’m so blessed God trusted me enough to be Brentons bride and in those little boys lives to help raise and love them! ❤️

The count down begins & I’m so thankful to Jesus my doctors and my Dad for helping me get my Bell’s palsy almost gone in time!!!

#survivor #vegaswedding #westernwedding #bellspalsy #openheartsurgery by @lexichep

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a month ago

Real questions I get asked in my DMs daily. This platform can be a very beautiful place for us to have connection, share, and use this as an outlet to help others. But at the same time two things can be true.

It can be a place filled with these messages. So many of us are fighting battles you’d never be able to get through. So hide behind your accounts and remember all you’re doing is hurting an actual human being. Messages like these ones below come through all the time.

“you look completely fine”
“are you faking it?”
“You actually seem healthy.”
“My daughters worse than you so be happy.”
You’re dramatic.”
“You deserve this because you voted for Trump.”
“You’re a fake Christian.”
“You did this to yourself my being vaccinated.”
“You just want attention.”
“You’re privileged and entitled.”
“The ozempic will take ya out next.”
“not everyone has daddies money”
“31 heart surgeries? That’s impossible.”
“You paralyzed face is AI.”
“You praise God but say you’re depressed. Weird”
“You curled your hair for heart surgery? Pathetic.”

Nah trolls id actually give everything I have to just to be healthy for my baby and my family. Love Jesus to the best of my ability. Glorify him always. Wake up without panicking. Smile because I go a single day without checking every single one of my vitals & ultimately healthy enough to walk down the aisle in 25 days. 🫶

I don’t post this for empathy I post this to remind everyone vulnerable enough to fight for their health and to share their story to keep going! Keep showing up. Fight with every ounce you have to survive. I love you!

Do things when you’re lazy, do things when you’re scared. Say yes to all the things. Enjoy every little moment you can. Do it for patients sitting in hospital beds that can’t.

#heartdisease #openheartsurgery #stroke #bellspalsy by @lexichep

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a month ago

Im blinking yall!!! I woke up 45 days ago and the left side of my face went paralyzed within seconds. As of today my smile is 90% back I can blink and the pain is barely there! The vision is still pretty bad in the eye but that comes with time I am told.

God really listened to me and all those 4 AM nights in the backyard crying out to him, begging to give me my face back for my wedding. If anyone else heard those conversations, they would’ve thought I was crazy. They went a little something like if you’re real, let me blink. If you can hear me, take the pain away. And honestly just alot of non sense and getting angry with God. It’s so easy to come on here and tell everyone else to trust in him and to stay positive but when it’s your own body that you’re fighting it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do.

I won’t sit here and sugarcoat it. If you ask the closest people around me I’ve been very negative during this season while all of them would tell me I’m looking better or to be patient. I’d shut down or get angry so to my fiancé, parents, and best friends thanks for dealing with my bullshit once again lol. You guys were right as always 💕#bellspalsy #facialparalysis by @lexichep

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a month ago

Sunday is here 😭 this little girl is going to heal my heart. Most of you know while I’ve been on bed rest my chihuahua of 18 years passed. I’ve felt like I lost every single thing. My license. My job. My pup. My independence. But now I have Sunday to take care of and bring so much joy to the hardest season yet. Sunday I love you with every single bit of me 😭😭

I named her Sunday because Sunday is the day Jesus rose. To me, it represents resurrection, new beginnings, hope, and the reminder that light ALWAYS comes after darkness. she is my light 🫶 by @lexichep

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a month ago

These girls are absolutely everything to me. I’m no stranger to hard moments we’re all aware of that by now. In a season where it’s been difficult to show up for them they never complained or judged. Instead pivoted and became my rocks when I needed it most.

I almost canceled my bachelorette because of how I feel and every stupid health excuse under the sun but I’ll forever be thankful for everyone pushing me to do it! The amount of dinners, birthdays, weddings, and special moments I’ve had to miss for every girl in this photo over the last 20 months is something most would take personal and instead every single one of them showed me grace, took things off my plate, and reminded me how special it is to have people you can genuinely count on.

Times when I’d just lay there in a dark room, times where they’d have to sit in a cold hospital, make me meals, drive Finny to school, cheer, target, or even vacations. All of that would be inconvenient for most but these girls showed up excited to serve and love my family.

Sure this weekend was about celebrating becoming Mrs. Van (can’t wait!!!!!) @brentonvan_themortgageman but to me it was more about having the quality time and opportunity to love on every single one of them because they are truly one of the biggest parts of my story.

To @sashmosh and @_ashleylayton_ thank you for going over the top planning this for everyone. So blessed by you both!

Saying thank you to every single girl in this photo will never ever be enough.

My @shannonlynfitness and @iamrachelmccord couldn’t be there but they are everything I wrote and more I LOVE YOU beautiful girls by @lexichep

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a month ago

Rich in this life no matter the circumstances because God thought I was good enough to be her mom. All the tough, broken parts of me. She’s mine and I love her with everything I have. by @lexichep

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2 months ago

You can love Jesus and still have bad days. Heck in my dark and twisty mind most days feel like the end of the world now. Social media creates this version of Christianity that’s just simply not real. Everything you see online are people’s highlight reels their most put together moments. When in reality it’s not the truth

Following Jesus doesn’t mean you’re always happy. Anxiety temptations and hard seasons don’t just magically disappear. Faith isnt pretending everything is okay, it’s still trusting God when it isn’t.

I’m in a season where I question why God is putting me through so much, where I get to cheer people on from the sidelines, and miss out on alot that I love but all it’s preparing me for is the season where I’m able. The season where I get to love my family and people well. ❤️ #heartdisease #bellspalsy #bellspalsyrecovery #openheartsurgery #jesus by @lexichep

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2 months ago

I don’t think the left side of my face being paralyzed is the hardest part about having Bells Palsy / Ramsey hunt. Losing my hearing, the vision, and the immense nerve pain is so much worse than not being able to chew properly, smile, or drink liquids without it spilling. As of now the eye will no longer blink the taste buds are gone and my days are consisting of changing eye patches, going to acupuncture, and facial massages.

I think the hardest part of it all is how disappointed I am in my body. Of how alone I feel. Angry with God because I’m grieving who I was before being on month 20 fighting for my life. Living in hospitals undergoing more surgeries than I ever would’ve thought imaginable. Life support. Heart failure and everything in between. What id give to just be a normal momma and friend again.

Everyone asks how they can help me daily and this is my only ask. Do it tired. Do it scared. Do it when it feels like a hassle. Love big. Take the trip. Apologize. Please for me don’t take a single moment for granted. Help someone on the street. Anything. LAUGH. Simply enjoy the small moments because those end being huge when they’re gone.

You try to be happy for others to stay positive and show up for people but all you wanna do when you’re fighting at this capacity is hide. I know God is still good and I know I have a responsibility to show up for my people in a big way but man I’m tired.

To the hundreds who have dmed sent texts flowers all of it I love you from my core. My wedding is in 60 days and this girl will be standing tall marrying her man no matter what life throws our way.

Gods not done 💪 also I showered and curled my hair! Wanted to feel good when I look in the mirror 🥺 #bellspalsy #heartdisease #openheartsurgery #ramseyhuntsyndrome #bellspalsyrecovery by @lexichep

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2 months ago

I’ll never be a highlight reel. I will always be REAL. My left side is paralyzed at the moment. Bells palsy took over. T from my understanding the immense amount of stress I was under triggered this.

My entire life changed 18 months ago when my heart disease took over and now this weekend it did all over again, I am asking my community to give me every single western medicine, holistic, health tip to get this face working by my wedding 😢 this girl needs to be able to smile and kiss her groom!!!

Asking for prayers and so blessed by this community. Yall truly are my outlet and help me feel less alone when all I wanna do is hide and cry. So from the bottom of my heart thank you for being my warriors and life line!

Lastly life is SO precious. Forgive quickly, say yes to every single thing you want to do. Take the trip. Tell your family you love them. Enjoy the small moments. Take nothing for granted.

#bellspalsy #ramsyhuntsyndrome #facialparalysis #heartdisease #survivor by @lexichep

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2 months ago