It all started with a simple trip for daddy and Sybil to Thomson (about 20 minutes west of Augusta) to visit with Paula, Brian and Shelley, Mikey and Sammie. They were just going to stay overnight, then come on back to Glennville for the holidays. They arrived kinda late Sunday, ate and went on to bed after some short visiting, thinking they'd get up Monday and have a good visit, then head on back south. God had a different plan. Da had this "spell", you see, where his heart just started slowing down until he passed out, then it would stop. Thank God Mikey was there, who has some EMT training from the military, and got him back around and Brian, who is a hospital administrator, and knows more than a little about the system, and could tell the ambulance driver which hospital he needed to go to, Medical College of GA, straight away.
Monday was kind of a blur, what with the quick trip to Augusta for us to see what was going on. By the time we got to the ER, he was feeling only slightly better, and was giving them a FIT! Again, God stepped in. On the way to Augusta, I was finally able to get in touch with Uncle Asa to let him know what was going on, and low and behold, he was actually in an exam room with Dr Cobb (Da's trusted advisor), so he was able to relay to him what was going on, and he sent word for Da to keep his butt where it was and let them treat him how they saw fit. Turns out, this news is what made him calm down ('course the repeated "spells" helped, too). After an hour or so, Dr Cobb left word with Sybil he wanted to talk to Da when it was okay. So, when he sabilized for a few minutes, we put him on the cell phone with Dr Cobb, who told him exactly that. Stay your honory butt where it is, listen to those folks and let them do what they need to do." Then he asked him who he thought trained him... the doctors at Medical College of GA. He's been fine ever since, in that department.
Late afternoon, they finally moved him into the cath lab and got the temporary pacemaker on him, which, thankfully, kept his heart from completely stopping again. Tuesday afternoon they did a double by-pass, which he came through wonderfully. However, his heart rate and blood sugar are running high, causing them to keep him in ICU 3 days longer than expected, but on Christmas day, he finally got moved upstairs and could get a good nights rest.
Today brought in the cardiologists, and the determination that a pacemaker is needed. Seems he actually has 2 problems. Electrical, in which his heart just slows down and stops, and plumbing with the 90% blockage. He actually never had a heart attack. The electrical issue is what brought him in the ER, where the blockage was detected and corrected before he could have an attack. Another "hand of God moment" for us.
Anyway, lots of ups and downs and struggles. It's down to just me and Syb up here at Paula's and going back to the hospital to spend every day with Da. (I wouldn't be anywhere else). We're hoping for maybe a Thursday release, and I don't think it can come too soon for anyone. LOL! Paula surely won't EVER say, "Ya'll come see me." LOL! Well, I've had it for today, and am bedding down. Finishing the day as I started it. In prayer. For Da, for us, for Tracy and Michael as they bury their grandmother, and for my friend Kelly Odom for success with her MRI tomorrow, and I know I'll think of others while in conversation with Him.
God is good ALL THE TIME! So glad to hear things are getting better. Let us know if there is anything the Hillians can do for y'all, besides praying. You know we are praying for you all.
ReplyDeleteLove y'all bunches!