Update on Dad

So it's been a little while since I have posted anything about my dad -- for the 2 people that read my blog! But for the record and for my own journaling mind.. here goes nothing.

So Dad did have the triple bypass surgery on June 30 and came through it with flying colors. He was released on Sunday, July 5th after passing all the tests that he needed to do. On Monday evening he was drinking a cup of coffee and immediately began to have chest pains. Mom and Kari debated about what to do - weren't sure what was happening but Kari told Dad they were going to the hospital... he agreed but wanted her to take him back to St. Joseph's. She said No, she was taking him to the closer hospital. After getting him down the stairs and in the back of the car, he began to tell my mom that his fingers were numb and he was in a lot of pain.

They got him to the hospital and the doctors hooked him up only to find out he was having a 2nd heart attack (the 1st being the one that put him in the hospital originally) There just "happened" (nothing is a coincidence with God!) to be a St. Joseph's doctor at Upper Chesapeake who performed a catheterization on dad to find that the bypass that they put in for the artery which was 99% blocked had failed. This bypass was the one that they had to splice together. Apparently the body thought it was an injury and tried to heal it but that made the bypass clot and get blocked. The doctor put 2 stents end to end in his blocked artery and that seems to have done the trick.


Dad came home on July 9 from his 2nd hospital stay -- and last for a VERY long time we hope! He is feeling pretty good - doing everything that he is supposed to - walking, using the breathing machine, not using his arms a lot. He is healing well.


Thank you all for your prayers for my sweet Daddy. Things like this put life and what is important into perspective. Makes you reevaluate where your priorities are and where they should be. I encourage you all to make the most of every moment and to take the opportunities that the Father gives you. I... really we, believe that all of these things that have happened with Dad were for a reason and we know that our Father will use them and my Dad's testimony for HIS glory and to touch others. HE is faithful and good ALL the time!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Maya Angelo