How I cheated death...

Brian noticed that his legs had started bothering him in the past few months. They were tingling and going numb at times and he went to a chiropractor to see what was wrong. They determined that it was a pinched nerve, but Brian was intending to go to see a medical doctor as well. On Wednesday, August 29, Brian was at work and complaining that he didn’t feel well. Around 10:15am, Brian was found passed out and one of his coworkers started CPR. He was transported to Mercy Fairfield and they determined that he had suffered a massive heart attack. Although they were able to revive him and restart his heart, they were not able to wake him. In addition, they found that he has Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.), which is where arteries, usually in the legs, are blocked; often due to smoking. Brian’s left leg was 99% blocked and his right was 100%. The doctors were able to open up the left leg but the blockage in the right was too severe. As the days passed, the doctors expressed concern for the right leg because prolonged lack of blood flow causes limbs to die.

The first few days were the hardest because the doctors didn’t give us much hope at all. We were told everything from he won’t ever wake up to he might wake up but he will likely have severe brain damage. On Friday, August 31st, Brian opened his eyes for the first time. It was brief and he wasn’t able to focus on any of us, but he responded to our voices by turning his head towards us. By Saturday, September 1, he opened his eyes and squeezed our hands when asked! Since then, every day has gotten better. He is well on his way to a full recovery. Due to the fact that he went so long with the 100% blockage in the right leg, he is going to lose some of it. But it’s a small price to pay for having him back!

We praise God for every single miracle! Brian didn’t just wake up, he defied all of the odds. He is strong, brave, and has never lost his sense of humor. The cardiologist told us that 99% of people that have a heart attack of the magnitude that Brian had do not make it. The neurologist told us that even if he “woke up” that it was not likely that he would have any viable brain activity. Brian has been breathing on his own, his heart is beating on its own, and he has absolutely no brain damage! The Cardio Vascular Unit at Mercy Fairfield has an excellent staff but we know that the only reason that Brian is with us today is because GOD has a plan for his life and we are so thankful!