Can you say, “Right Coronary Artery 100% Occlusion?” or “Heart Attack?” I thought it couldn’t happen to me until last Thursday afternoon August 15, 2013. As far as I know, there is no one in my immediate family who has suffered a heart attack or stroke. Yet while enjoying a pleasant day working outside using my chain saw to cut some downed logs away from the path down to the Dungeness River and trim some low hanging limbs out of the way of my tractor canopy, I experienced the classic heart attack symptoms. Suddenly, after a couple of hours of exercise, I started to sweat profusely although the level of exertion wasn’t excessive. Also, my arms suddenly felt like I had 50 pounds attached to each one when I was only carrying a relatively light weight chain saw. Breathing became difficult as my chest felt tight and burned when I tried to inhale deeply. Immediately I realized this was not something I had ever experienced, but I still didn’t associate it with my heart. I slowly moved to my garage where I have a chair and sat down expecting to wait a few minutes until I normalized. After 10 minutes of profuse sweating and continued difficulty breathing, I decide to walk the few steps to get into the house where I called out to my wife Shirley. She came immediately and helped me get out of my wet clothes and towel off, as much as was possible. After hastily putting on dry clothes, Shirley asked if she should call 911. Still not expecting it was a heart attack, I said, ”no, just drive me to the Olympic Medical Center” which is 17 miles away. Upon arriving and telling the attendant my symptoms, he affirmed that it was the real thing and I was immediately wheeled to the emergency room for treatment. I found out that we should have called 911. The response unit carries the necessary medication to relieve the pain and blood thinners to help dissolve many blockages, which could mean the difference between surviving and not. It was good to be in the hands of professionals, but there was a moment when I felt that it could have gone either way. I was not getting enough blood to the brain and I couldn’t answer the simplest of questions. I could understand but could not put the words together to form an answer and momentarily I felt like I might lose consciousness which could have resulted in a stroke and brain damage. My body was trembling involuntarily and I felt completely helpless. It is easy to see why those who have suffered a stroke can get angry from the frustration of not being able to communicate what they are thinking. Shirley, sensing my predicament, came to my side to comfort me. Sensing her concern, I told her, “The Lord will take care of me.” She asked me a few questions about friends we have known for the last 10 years and when she saw that I didn’t remember them, she raised the alarm that got things moving more feverishly. Fortunately the resulting actions stabilized me in preparation for transport to Swedish Hospital at Cherry Hill in Seattle. I hate to think what could have happened if my distress hadn’t been recognized. I was stable for most of the siren aided trip until we arrived at the Bainbridge Island Ferry. The Ambulance went immediately to the front of the line and to the front of the open center lane, at which time the ferry captain left for Seattle with a partial load. On the ½ hour crossing I began to be in distress again and the team responded with 3 nitroglycerin tablets at 5 minute intervals and morphine for pain until I was stable again. At the hospital, the Cardiac Team wasted no time in prepping me and evaluating the location of the blockage. They had me on a table with a diagnostic device over my chest scanning for the blockage. I remember hearing Dr. Huang say that he believed it was in the right Coronary Artery and feeling a stinging sensation in my right groin area as he prepared to insert the catheter. The next thing I remember is lying on the table breathing normally without distress. Fortunately, the area of the blockage was the least impacting on the heart. The whole procedure lasted about 20 minutes and I have the before and after pictures and a CD of the different stages of the procedure. My arteries are for the most part clear and the cause of the single blockage is suspected to be what is known as The Silent Killer, an isolated occurrence of plaque coming through the lining of an otherwise healthy artery. A sonogram evaluation indicates that the lower right quadrant of the heart muscle was slightly damaged but should repair itself with proper Post Cardiac Recovery Therapy. I went into the Hospital on Thursday evening and was discharged on Saturday around noon. Except for healing of the point of entry of the catheter, which will take about 5 days and limits me to lifting less than 10 pounds, I am going about life almost as usual. Many thanks to the doctors, nurses and technical assistants at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles and Swedish Hospital at Cherry Hill in Seattle! They were wonderfully competent, caring and attentive. I learned a great deal during this experience and hope that this information might be of help to others also. In retrospect, I realize that during the entire experience, I was in physical distress, but never concerned about the outcome, whatever that might have been or may yet be. I credit that to my Christian faith and assurance that this physical life is only the preparation for an eternal existence. I am assured of a guilt-free outcome as promised by Jesus Christ because of my acceptance of the pardon His sacrifice on the cross provided and not because of any goodness or credit due me. This gracious pardon is readily available to anyone who will simply believe in Him and are not afraid or ashamed to say so.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 19:43:52 +0000