Keeping the Blood Pumper Pumping
This post is a little more serious than the previous ten. I will post those links at the bottom.
February is the time of year where we all start posting about kids raising money via social media for Heart Health. When I was a kid, we called it "Jump Rope for Heart" and donations were collected via check. My how times have changed.
Every year when I sign my kids up online, we are always asked if we are raising funds to honor a Heart Hero. I often skip this portion since my grandparents, who both suffered heart attacks, have passed. However after this week, the Croupes have a new Heart Hero-my husband Christopher.
Last week, shortly after 12 AM on Tuesday, my husband woke me up because he was having severe chest pains and his jaw was tightening up. He'd already browsed "symptoms of a heart attack" for about 15 minutes before deciding to wake me. Because it was just after midnight and I was trying to process what was happening, this is how I remember the conversation going:
Me: Wait. What? You think you're having a heart attack?
Him: Or it could be pneumonia. I looked up symptoms and they are similar with the chest and stuff.
Me: Okay, so what is happening here? Am I calling 9-1-1? Am I taking you to the ER?
Him: I don't know. I mean, I'm in pretty bad pain.
Me: Again, is it the kind of pain that needs an ambulance?
Him: Don't call an ambulance! They cost too much.
Me: I can call Jake (my BIL who is a firefighter/EMT) and see if he is on duty and willing to come get you.
Him (with a slightly irritated tone): No. I will drive myself to the ER.
Me: No you won't! I'm calling my parents to see if they can come over and stay with the boys (who remained asleep during all of this).
Let's take a moment to acknowledge I've never been more grateful that my parents still have a landline than I was at that moment. About 25 minutes later, my dad was at the house and we headed to the ER. I dropped Chris off at the ER door, and I parked the car. He moseyed in with his work bag over his shoulder in case he had to wait to be seen.
By the time I parked and walked back to the ER entrance, a total of maybe 5 minutes, my husband was already being prepped for surgery. His EKG indicated he was indeed having a heart attack. The doctors found a blockage that required a stent. As the nurse walked me to his room she said, "Just to let you know, he is okay but it's a little chaotic in there." I had seconds to come to terms with what I saw: seven people with tubes and syringes and papers and liquids and monitors all working on my husband at the same time. As overwhelming as the scene was for me, I could not begin to imagine how my husband felt. What I could do is remember how strong he was the day our oldest was born when I was the one surrounded by doctors and tubes and monitors. I would be as steady and strong as he'd been for me.
If you know my husband, you know he makes sense of the world by making fun of its absurdities. Every time someone new entered the room, Chris said "dollar sign." He cracked a joke with the guy who shaved the "area." He even comically commented on the morphine drip. All of this made me love him more and work harder to keep from bursting into tears all over the ER.
At 2:45 AM, they wheeled him into the operating room. Then the LONGEST. HOUR. OF. MY. LIFE. passed while I waited to hear how it was going. Simply to keep my mind busy, I messaged people knowing they would not see anything until the next morning. I tried reading one of the books I brought. I even thought about getting in a bit of a nap. No good. Finally, at 4 AM the doctor came to speak with me. I made the trek to the ICU to see Chris. He had so much color in his face I almost didn't believe he'd been in surgery. I arrived back home at 5:30 AM.
With 90% blockage in the front of his heart, my husband now has three stents. He is alive and working towards recovery.
The rest of Tuesday was hard. I did cry. A lot. I cried from what could have been. I cried out of relief. I cried from exhaustion.
Here are takeaways from this whole experience:
- It isn't if you have a majority of the symptoms of a heart attack listed that counts. It is if you have ANY of the symptoms.
- Don't argue about an ambulance. Just call 9-1-1.
- Everyone needs to have a stress test done. A heart attack should not be the first time doctors discover blockages.
- My husband is a pretty damn good fella. The outpouring of encouragement and concern by his friends and co-works reaffirmed what I already knew.
- I have one hell of a support system: family, friends, teammates. All of them were there. They helped me be okay with letting others take care of my "to-dos." They understood when I still needed to do a little work to occupy my mind. They showed up with hugs, encouragement, food, and even funds to help get us through the week.
- Don't dwell in what might have been because it didn't happen.
- Prayer kept me sane especially during his surgery.
I am so incredibly grateful that my Christopher is currently on the couch downstairs binge watching Stranger Things. His recovery will have its challenges. There will be frustrations. We'll get through them together.
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| From Chris's 50th in November. |
