I posted this on Facebook, December 12, 2015
Good afternoon friends and family! Please know that all of your thoughts and prayers on our family's behalf is always so very appreciated!
This post is probably gonna be long, so just skip to the end to read the finale. Most of you know that Mike was hospitalized a few months ago for chest pain. An angiogram was performed and it came back fairly normal with a little bit of plaque buildup and one artery was 45% occluded. He was put on heart attack medication, but his symptons persisted. Eventually an ulcer and gastritis were found. We thought we had a concrete reason for his chest pain. Because we thought it was never really his heart, we asked the followup cardiologist to cease the baby Aspirin and Plavax. The cardiologist agreed IF a PET scan of his heart came back normal. Which it did. Two weeks ago, Mike took his last heart attack meds. However, the chest pain frequency started to increase.
Last night, Mike was at the Nephi AirMed base working when he had a more severe chest pain attack, not as bad the ones he had a few months ago, but more than he has had in a while. He and the nurse ran an EKG, which was abnormal. His blood pressure was also elevated. The nurse took him to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center ER in Provo. While we were in the ER, his troponin levels began to increase, which is an indication of heart muscle death. He was admitted and this morning he was experiencing more chest pain so another angiogram was performed. Two arteries were found to be 85% occluded and three stents were successfully placed and now those arteries are working beautifully.
As the cath lab cardiologist showed all the imaging to me and so patiently explained what was performed, tears just began to flow. I told him, "I could just kiss you!" I was terribly terribly grateful for his thoroughness, his kindness and concern and for saving my husband's life! The other staff were right beside me expressing their concern and showing such compassion, the tears flowed even harder.
Last night, in the ER, I prayed so fervently. I pleaded that the doctors, nurses and staff would be guided to know what was wrong. I felt Heavenly Father's reassurance that all would be well. I felt of His great love for Mike and that He was indeed aware of him. Even when he was admitted, yet again!, I felt a sweet calm assurance that he was going to be okay.
While I waited for Mike to recover, I went to the cafeteria to eat and was looking at the milks lined up with a few tiny buttermilk cartons and I said out loud, "Who in the world would drink buttermilk as a refreshment???" A sweet familiar voice said, "Kathryn????" As she wrapped me in her warm embrace I started to cry again. It was such a nice surprise to see a friendly face and feel of her love as I recounted what had transpired. Such a tender mercy.
Mike is resting comfortably, he has woken a few times but remains asleep right now. He will probably be discharged on Monday and can resume work in a week. Michaela's baptism was scheduled for next Saturday and the doctor said, "I want you guys to go forward as planned. I want him to be living his life."
As I said in the beginning, I want to say, "Thank you," to everyone and tell you how much we love all of you and are grateful you are in our lives. I am grateful for prayer and for our Savior who suffered everything for us. I feel such strength in knowing that we need never suffer alone when we have Him to turn to and lean on.
