Summer Health Issues (Reprise for 2010)

Well, I haven't written anything in a while, but many people have asked me to tell the story of the health problems I've experienced over the past couple of weeks.

As Mark Twain said the rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated (but not by much).

I left for Beaumont on Sunday, July 25th, with my wife and daughter behind me in my wife’s car. It had been a normal work week and weekend for me, but Shelley had just finished a long, hard, stressful week of pre-training with the Rangerettes, and she and Ryan wanted to spend some quality time with me in Beaumont. We left Kilgore about 4:45, and about nine miles south of my home something happened that made me pull my truck over and put it in Park, but I left the motor running.

Shelley pulled over in front of me because I had not called to her say I was stopping. Her assumption was that I had forgotten something at home, and I was going to tell her in person what was going on when she pulled up next to me.

However, I was slumped back in the seat of my truck, and my doors were locked. My locks were not set to unlock when the truck was placed in park, an issue which is now corrected.

Upon seeing my condition (which was unconscious) Shelley began beating on the door glass and screaming to try and make me wake up; no response. While this was going on, a Good Samaritan pulled up and Shelley began screaming for him to call 911; he did.

Being the awesomely strong, sensible, and sometimes purely insane women my wife is, she climbed into the bed of my truck, got a loose 2x4, and use it cave in my back window with one mighty swing. Shelley climbed through the back window, unlocked the doors, and killed the motor. She checked my pulse which was very weak and thready at best. The Good Samaritan climbed in the truck, and had 911 on the phone while Shelley was administering CPR.

Two other men and a woman pulled over to help. It took all five of them to get my big dead-weight self out of the truck. They lay me down on the ground in front of my truck and began to administer CPR. Within a minute or two, a DPS trooper arrived to assist.

The DPS trooper assumed CPR duties because Shelley was hysterical (her words, not mine). A nurse showed up shortly after the trooper, and they began alternating CPR. An EMS ambulance arrived shortly after the nurse, and the EMS technicians began CPR and use of an electronic defibrillator

The EMS techs shocked me into a normal sinus rhythm, and I was transported to the hospital in Henderson. I remained in the Henderson hospital for three hours then was transferred to Longview Regional via Life-Flight helicopter. The doctors, nurses, and techs in Henderson, on the Life-Flight, and in Longview thought my odds were less than 10% that I’d actually make it all the way back.

I have absolutely NO memory of anything late Saturday evening, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and almost all of Wednesday.

But, here is the good news…
• I AM ALIVE
• I DID NOT have a heart attack
• I STILL DO NOT have any coronary artery issues

The problem I have was fixed with a 45-minute surgery late Monday (8/2) afternoon to install a small auto-defibrillator just under the skin of my chest. I was released from the hospital early Tuesday (8/3) afternoon and I am convalescing well at home. Still sore as can be, but starting to realize that most of the soreness is from lying around so long. Been up some today, and I am starting to feel better.

This is two summers in a row that a cardiac emergency cancelled my Sturgis vacation. Maybe someone is trying to tell me something.

Thanks to the DOZENS who came to visit me, and the HUNDREDS who sent (and continue to send) well wishes via e-mail, Facebook, and text message.

Love you all,
Michael