Not exactly what I expected in At the foot of the hill

Papa and I both had appointments with our cardiologist yesterday. For me, it was a follow-up from a month ago when I saw him because my heart seemed to be beating too fast. At that time he ordered tests. Seems I passed all the tests and he just doubled my heart/blood pressure meds and said to come back next year.
Papa, on the other hand, hadn’t been in to see him for six years…his VA doctor had been managing his heart condition in the mean time. (It’s pretty hard to manage a condition when most of the contact is a once-a-year phone call…but that’s another story.)
When I saw the cardio last month and explained to him the stress I’d been under following Papa’s “incident” (car crash), the doc insisted that he see him, saying that blackouts can be caused by other things than strokes or seizures which is what they tested Papa for at the time. After the examination, doc said that his previous condition has progressed to a level that might well be dangerous… He mentioned valve problems as well as the possible need for a pace maker. A cardiac cath is being set up.
Now I don’t know if this is actually good news or bad news. Papa seems to be taking it in stride, but I’m scared… We aren’t spring chickens anymore. Could use some more prayers out there..