Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Wednesday started out like most of Daddy's days...on the golf course. He played 18 holes and shot an 85...not bad for someone who turned 81 only one week before. He loves golf and it shows!!!

Following his golf game and a bite for lunch, he and Nelda went to the funeral of a member of their church before going to their financial advisor's office to sign some paperwork. It was at that time we believe this particular journey of Dad's life started.

He mentioned not feeling well and being dizzy, then when it was time to sign the papers he couldn't write his name (we would learn later this was probably the beginning of the TIA's [transient ischemic attack], mini-strokes or "showers" as the Neurologist referred to them). Nelda suggested going to the hospital, but was told he was probably just hungry. Fortunately, Nelda insisted on driving and got no resistance.

After arriving at home, Nelda fixed dinner and they sat down to eat. After a little bit, Nelda looked over and Daddy was passed out with his head hanging over the back of his chair. She got to him as quickly as she could to make sure he didn't choke on his food and insure he wouldn't slip out of the chair. She called 9-1-1. When he regained consciousness he was very weak and began to get sick.

The firetruck arrived before the ambulance, but they began working with him as soon as they arrived (he passed out again once they arrived) and when they were ready to put him in the ambulance, instead of bringing the stretcher all the way into the house, they rolled him out in his chair (for those of you that have never been to their home, their kitchen table has chairs on casters and they roll!) and got him prepared for transport out in the garage. (I'm not sure why I'm even mentioning this, except that Nelda has mentioned it more than once...guess it's one of those things we'll laugh about down the road.)

Daddy told the paramedics to take him to Walls Regional, but they insisted on bringing him into Fort Worth to the Heart Center at Texas Health Harris Methodist AND are we glad they did!!!

Daddy's heart rate went to zero at least four more times on the trip into the city. And it continued to misbehave even after arriving at the Emergency Room. The decision was made to put a temporary pacemaker in to see if that would help fix the failing heart.

So to the Cath Lab waiting area we went and they started the procedure on Dad of inserting the temporary pacemaker. This is done by feeding leads through a vein into the heart...the vein they used on Daddy is from the groin area. This means no movement of the right leg and no sitting up until the permanent pacemaker can be inserted.

Following the procedure Dad was alert and like a new man. We are so grateful.