Last week, my stepmom skipped up the stairs per usual to her bedroom. My dad noticed with apprehension that upon reaching the top, his sweetie was shockingly winded and gray in pallor. He insisted she visit the doctor, who after reading the results of her stress test, said Get ye to Anchorage stat. They drove to the big city for further tests, during which two blockages were discovered at a spot where cardiologists couldn't place a stent—complete blockages of the sort that cause a DROP DEAD ANY SECOND kind of heart attack. She was whisked off to an operating room, where surgeons cracked open her sternum, rummaged around in her chest, and tied the whole package up with string.
Three days into her recovery from open heart surgery, my dad was sitting at her bedside quietly weeping as he mopped her brow—okay, maybe he was reading the newspaper while she talked on her cell phone—when he started experiencing chest pain that wouldn't pass, despite the popping of nitro pills like candy. In fact, the pain intensified and radiated down his left arm. Since he was in the hospital any way, might as well take a ride in the wheel chair. Turns out he had a major blockage requiring emergency surgery and the insertion of two stents.
Both are now resting comfortably in their hospital beds, while visions of IVs dance through their heads.
UPDATE: Dad and Vickie are out of the hospital and recuperating at my home for a few days. Welcome to Kim's Kompassionate Kare, the fastest recovery center around . . . because there's nothing like a pair of screeching 4-year-old lunatics asking 500 times a day to see your scar to make you want to get out of your bed, on your feet, through the door, and back to your normal life.
Dinner last night: vending machine delights
Exactly one year ago:
15 comments:
how witty of you K. Hope your 5 golden rings are healthy though!
How in the? What in the?
Oh Kim, so thankful both their surgeries went well and they are getting the care they need until they can come home again.
Prayers for all of you.
Oh no! Thank goodness they were both where they needed to be in time. I hope they have a speedy recovery and the blessings of lots of family visitation this Christmas.
Wow. He could have just said, "I know how you feel" rather than having his very own heart surgery.
Hope everyone is back on track now!
It's a good thing he was in the hospital when his happened...maybe it was a blessing in a sense. I'm glad everything worked out okay and I know this will be the best Christmas ever for your family, just appreciating being together.
Glad both of them are ok. After all that excitement, any OTHER holiday stress won't seem so bad!
So glad to hear both are recovering well.
Oh no!!! Oh man!!! So happy to hear they're both recovering well but still....very scary stuff!
Oh dear. HUG.
My uncle is having a triple bypass this morning.
Oh my goodness! Here's to a speedy recovery and healthy New Year!
Stop it already - you're ruining all my fun! Now how can I complain about my bedridden husband with his ankle in a cast? You don't understand. I HAVE TO GET HIM THINGS.
WHOA! That's awful! I'm so glad they discovered all of this. And they can gently ease into recovery over the holidays. You are too clever, by the way...even in the midst of seriousness, you can crack us all up.
Hope they get better soon.
The upside of this is that they will be able to support each other through cardiac rehab and all the lifestyle modifications they probably need to make! They can exercise together, cook heart-healthy meals together, and help each other keep track of their medications and doctors' appointments. As a cardiac nurse for over twenty years,I can tell the power of a supportive spouse and family is a force to be respected!
I'm glad they're both recovering well. Nothing says love like matching heart surgeries!
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