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Hello Friends and Family!
We created this blog to share what happened to Matt/our family March 27, 2011 and to share our praises with the friends and family who have been instrumental in our lives, who have supported us, given encouragement and lifted us up in prayers. Whenever we think back to this week we think how crazy it all was-yet awesome how it all worked out...so, here is our one time blog post of "one crazy awesome week!" There are three sections to this blog: one is a very brief summary of Matt's health, the second is a very detailed account of Matt's events and the third details the Lord's Provisions. We are thrilled to share with each of you what transpired....
Brief Summary of Matt's health
(times are approximate) March 27th-April 2nd
- Sunday, 3/27/11 @ 4pm: While driving, Matt passed out and was involved in a car accident
- Sunday, 3/27/11 @ 5pm: 2nd episode of passing out, inability to get oxygen, 911 called and taken to ER
- Sunday 3/27/11 @ 11:45pm: Matt transferred to ICU
- Matt goes into complete heart block/Cardiac Arrest- within 20 minutes of being admitted to the ICU, Matt "flat lined," went into cardiac arrest/complete heart block. Around 3am a Cardiac Team performed a heart catheterization and inserted a temporary pacemaker
- Monday, 3/28/11: Transferred to another hospital, specializing in Cardiac Intensive Care
- Friday, 4/1/11: Permanent Pacemaker implanted
- Saturday, 4/2/11: Discharged- return home! Recovery!
A Very Detailed Account of our lives beginning Saturday, 3/26/11
Saturday, 3/26/11
- 3pm: It's March Madness time- and Matt was enjoying some college basketball coverage on TV. Our only plan for the day was to attend a PTA basketball fundraiser at Matt's work and support his school. At 3pm Matt gets off the couch and mentions he feels a little light headed and "not quite right." I thought it was orthostatic hypotension (a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. Orthostatic hypotension can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and maybe even faint). {mayoclinic definition} --but that light headed feeling didn't go away--then I thought it was mild vertigo caused by a possible inner ear infection (Friday night Matt was doing Canon Balls off the diving board at Ida Lee with Grant). Either way, Matt kept telling me he felt fine and headed to his school's PTA fundraiser. The school where he works was playing a nearby school.
- 5pm: He went to the PTA function, played in the basketball game (making foul shots and a crazy long distance 3 pointer). The kids and I had so much fun at the game! After the game we hung out with Matt's coworkers and allowed the kids to play in the gym. Drew was obsessed with chasing every ball and following a boy who had a balloon. Ruthie and Grant joined some other kids running around the gym and shooting some hoops.
- 8pm: It was past the kids bedtime so I drove them home and Matt met friends at a restaurant. On the way home I surprised the kids with ice cream cones from the McDonald's drive thru. When we pulled into our one car garage I asked the kids to gather all their belongings as I got Drew inside for bed (a light was left on in the van). Matt came home and we watched a movie (Life as we Know It)-then-off to bed!
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| This photo was taken minutes before Matt fainted and was in a car accident. Grant & Ruthie are proud of their "log cabin" |
Sunday, 3/27/11
- 8am: Matt slept well that night, however when he woke up he said he still didn't "feel right." I was going to take the kids to church, but decided to stay home with Matt. He didn't feel well and I asked if he should go to the Urgent Care. He declined, saying he "wasn't that bad." Matt agreed that if he felt poorly on Monday he would see his Primary Care Physician.
- 1pm: Matt felt light headed and slightly nauseated. I was curious as to whether he was experiencing side effects of a migraine, but Matt said he had no headache. At this time, Matt and I kept thinking he was coming down with a stomach flu or some other virus. To give him some rest at home I decided to take the 3 kids outside-for a long bike ride/excursion. After all, how is he to get rest on the couch when the kids are in/out of the house and causing the usual commotion? In order to get the bikes and bike trailer out of the garage I have to back out the van. The van's battery was dead (remember-I had accidentally left it on the night before!). We were unable to get it into neutral and put a call into our Auto Insurance for road side assistance.
- 3pm: Roadside Assistance came and jumped the Van- the Mechanic said the battery didn't look good and he recommended we drive the vehicle to Advanced Auto to purchase a new battery. He was concerned that the battery wouldn't turn on once we turned off the car.
- 4pm: So, Matt decided to drive the vehicle just over one mile down the road. He reassured me he was fine...and off he drove. Meanwhile, 2 neighbor children came over to play. Within minutes Matt was calling my cell phone letting me know he got in an accident and needed me. I was able to have Grant and Ruthie go to the neighbor's home and I drove Drew and myself to the accident scene just up the road. Matt said he remembers turning into the parking lot and the next thing he knew was he was crashed into a parked vehicle and a bystander saying, "Dude! You okay?" After we handled the police report I drove Matt home. He agreed to allow me to take him to urgent care to find out what was going on. We drove the 1 mile home in order to get someone to take care of Drew.
- 5pm: As we drove down our street approaching our driveway Matt said, "Court, I feel it again!" I looked over and Matt was slumped over in the passenger seat. He was passed out- and within seconds he was having seizure-like activity-his body was tonic and tight. Matt's head was flexed backward and he was vomiting. I knew I had to get his airway open. He was unable to get oxygen. I felt no pulse. My cell phone was in the car-called 911. I unbuckled him and threw Matt out of the car, onto the driveway. He began coughing and was able to get oxygen. Turning him on his side- he continued to vomit. The ambulance came and took him to the ER.
- 5:30pm: Matt went thru triage and hung out in the ER. They were testing him for the flu, loading him up with fluids and trying to determine what happened. CT of the brain, EKG strips.
- 7pm: Matt was doing "fine" and no one at this time had much concern- it seemed we were just hanging out. Matt wanted to know the kids were home and in bed because they would have school the next day. I came home and got the children ready for bed
- 8pm: As I was gathering my keys my cell phone rang. The nurse said, "do not be alarmed, but for precautionary reasons, we want to have Matt transferred to the ICU. His blood pressure is lower than it was." Matt's blood pressure was in the range of 90/45. We live only 2 blocks from the ER-so within minutes I was back at the ER with Matt.
- Matt remained in the ER for 3 1/2 hours -waiting for a room to be ready for him in the ICU. At approximately 11:30pm, ICU had a bed ready for Matt so they begin the ambulance transport.
- 11:45pm: Matt arrives at the ICU. Within 20 minutes Matt looks at me and says, "I feel it again!" As soon as he muttered that to me he began having seizure-like activity and unable to get oxygen-He was already hooked up to the EKG monitor and he flat lined (a slight blip in the P wave was seen). Complete heart block/cardiac arrest. The ICU Doctor was by his side, a "Code" was called and the ICU staff was there, crash cart ready. I had to leave the room and stand at his doorway. They began chest compressions on Matt. After 30 seconds of a "flat line" Matt's heart was revived! (They did not have to use the defibrillator) As soon as Matt regained consciousness he saw me outside the door and signed "I Love You!" He had no idea the severity of what had just occurred.
Monday 3/28/11
- 3am: Cardiac emergency team called to the hospital to perform a heart catheterization. The heart cath showed no blockage, no clot, no heart disease (which is good-but we still had no answers on "why?" this happened) They gave Matt a transitional (temporary) pacemaker to keep his heart rate from dropping.
- Sometime later that day: Infectious Disease trying to rule out Lyme's or some form of microplasm. Cardiac team trying to determine the cause. They transferred Matt to another hospital specializing in Critical Cardiac Care.
- Tuesday thru Thursday: Doctors performed multiple tests to determine Matt's diagnosis and treatment plan--blood tests/x-rays/heart echo cardiogram...Multiple consultations with physicians from varying specialties. Internists, Infectious Disease, Cardiology and Electrophysiology. After all these tests we know every system in Matt's body is in perfect working order...except the electrical workings of his heart.
- Diagnosis/Treatment Plan: They determined the diagnosis: Malignant Vasovagal Syncope. Matt's episodes of losing consciousness and complete heart block were caused by a cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), known as Bradycardia (low heart rate). Matt's vasovagal response is extreme (malignant) and the slow heart rate caused insufficient blood flow to the brain, and consciousness could no longer be maintained. In Matt's situation, his heart rate plummeted and not only did he lose consciousness, but the electrical workings of the heart were impaired. Implanting a pacemaker can easily treat this problem. Matt's treatment plan: permanent pacemaker. In order to install the pacemaker Matt had to remain on IV antibiotics and have no signs of infection (he developed pneumonia secondary to aspiration).
Thursday, 3/31/11 the day before Matt's permanent pacemaker was installed |
Friday, 4/01/11
- 8am: Matt was given a dual chamber permanent pacemaker
Friday, 4/1/11 6 hours post-op: Matt was able to get up and move around for the first time in 5 days. |
Saturday, 4/02/11
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| Homecoming! Matt wore a sling to keep his left arm movements to a minimum |
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| Ruthie proudly shows Dad her "welcome home" sign |
Life since coming home:
- Monday, 4/04/11 (3 days post-op) Court drove Matt to his last college class- He completed his Master's Certificate in Administration. He now has a Master's Degree in Reading and a Master's Certificate in Administration.
- Matt returned to work 6 days after his pacemaker was put in. He was happy to get life back to normal.
- Matt has returned to jogging and is working on getting his lungs stronger (they were weakened due to the pneumonia). And, of course, Matt plans on playing basketball soon (we'll be waiting for his physician's approval)!
How the Lord provided Peace during this time:
- We want to back up a little bit...a few weeks prior to March 27th....we were in Sunday School class, and our discussion was on the Sovereignty of God. During this discussion we read Jeremiah 29:11 which states, "For I know the plan I have for you”, declares the Lord, plans to “prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We were discussing how we often feel our lives should be seamless (based on "plans to prosper you") -but in the end, we believe God is sovereign and our lives don't play out perfectly, like we want them to-but, ultimately, how the Lord wants them to. An excerpt of Jerry Bridges book, "Trusting God" was provided to us. In it Bridges states, "What we need to do is learn to trust Him (God) to guide us. So no one can act and no circumstances can occur outside the bounds of God’s sovereign will."
- Matt and I do not think each of these circumstances were by ‘chance’ or ‘luck.’ Doctor after doctor came in and said, “you’re lucky!" We believe the Lord provided each and every way. We praise the Lord how he orchestrated these events to spare Matt's life. We are committed to continue to serve the Lord, in all circumstances.
- Matt and I are unable to describe the amazing peace we felt during this entire crisis. We felt the Holy Spirit's presence-even in the moments as we watched the ICU monitors Alarm. There were 3 hours between Matt's cardiac arrest and the arrival of the cardiac team when each moment was critical. His heart rate and blood pressure were well below normal limits and we had to wait for the cardiac catheterization. These were medically stressful hours-and we were covered in amazing peace-peace like it states in Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Isaiah 9:6 states, "And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
How the Lord provided, again and again!:
Saturday, 3/26/11
- Praise! these episodes did not occur in front of 1,300 students/families that were at the PTA Basketball function
Sunday 3/27/11
- Praise! the van's battery died or Courtney and the kids would have been on a biking excursion-leaving Matt home along. If he had experienced the seizuring alone, he would most likely have aspirated and died.
- Praise! Matt passed out at the perfect time-after crossing 2 lanes of oncoming traffic and a high pedestrian area-perfect place. Praise no one else was injured.
- Praise! Matt drove the van to get the battery. If Courtney had driven the van-Matt’s episode would have occurred while he was at home with the kids. Provision that the children did not witness this and praise they were kept safe.
- Praise ! Courtney drove him home from the accident site and was there for the 2nd passing out episode- able to call 911, quick response
- Praise! for neighbors to help! Provision that Grant and Ruthie were spared seeing their Dad in this state of poor health- kept their innocence and spared them the anguish of experiencing this emergency
- Praise! that Matt’s parents were not at the ICU to witness their son in cardiac arrest-and undergoing emergency medical interventions
- Praise! for a neighbor being willing to walk and enter our home in the middle of the night to inform Matt’s parents that they needed to get to the hospital (ICU)
- Praise! for the many friends and family to help with our children (getting them to school, playdates, transportation to birthday parties, providing "normalcy," purchasing groceries, making meals)
- Praise! for the otoscope! Okay, we'll have to explain this one: Matt was admitted into the ICU for a drop in blood pressure while he was in the ER. When he was first admitted to the ICU, the doctor kept asking me about Matt's symptoms and how his health had been days prior to this incidence. I mentioned how a few days before Matt had gone swimming. I asked him if his initial vertigo may have been caused by swimmer's ear (or inner ear infection)? The nurse told the ICU doctor to get the otoscope (medical instrument to look into one's ears) to appease me--within seconds of the physician and nurse returning to Matt's bedside with the otoscope, Matt went into complete heart block! If the physician hadn't come back with the otoscope, the medical staff would not have been in Matt's room at that moment that he needed emergency chest compressions to reset his heart. So, that's our "Praise the Lord for the otoscope" moment!
- Praise! that Matt was already in the ICU when he went into complete heart block! If he had 'coded' any other place (such as home, car, ambulance, ER) the outcome would have been different. Perfect place, perfect time.
- Praise! Matt says Courtney had the perfect calming words to share: Court kept saying, “Your heart is not happy. We have to get your heart happy.”
- Praise! for cardiac team-promptness, the Lord stabilizing Matt in the interim
- Praise! for the best cardiac care hospital around- Praise for safe transport
- Praise! that when we needed attentive nursing care the most-we were given the best nurse we have ever experienced- an amazing nurse came in and took control, helping get Matt’s extreme back pain under control
- Praise! for our family friend who is a Physician in the area! Although Matt's medical condition was not within his specialty, he was willing to provide his expertise-and gave us an electrophysicist’s name for a 2nd opinion….his opinion matched up with the treating doctor in the hospital. Helped confirm diagnosis/treatment for Matt.
- Praise! the Physician we liked the most adjusted his schedule in order to implant the pacemaker.
- Praise! The Cardiac Nurse who was part of the emergency catheterization team also took care of Matt for the implantation of his permanent pacemaker. She was able to witness the miracle that unfolded that week.
We are so thankful for:
- Neighbors (we’ve only been on our street for 8 months): Our neighbors jumped in to help. They took care of the children, stayed in our home overnight, provided meals and groceries, ran errands to help out.
- Family: We are grateful for how quickly Matt's parents were able to travel. We are so thankful for both Matt's and my sister-for traveling, visiting, supporting and providing a wonderful distraction for the kids. We are grateful for safe travels as my parents altered their vacation schedule and returned from Florida.
- Friends: Amazing support! My best friend since Junior High, Dani worked hard the entire week as my COO. While I stayed with Matt in the hospital, Dani was my one point contact. I would put a call into her with updates, needs, information on the children's schedules and Dani saw to it that it all happened. She was amazing and allowed me to focus solely on Matt and his medical care. Thank you, Dani. I love you! "Dani's Matt" (her husband) was helpful in coordinating our van's body shop repairs, installation of children's car seats and he installed a handrail which, for safety, was important for Matt's return home. Thank you, Kathleen for using your organizational skills to make a lot happen. Thank you for communicating via email to our friends/family. Thank you for coordinating and delegating! What a blessing you have been. We are thankful for those friends who invited our children over for play dates, driving them to/from birthday parties, purchasing b-day gifts and wrapping them so they had something to give---all these blessings created normalcy. Thank you! A special thanks to my friend, Jennifer G-for the use of her home (located near the hospital). What a treat it was to have a shower and fresh clothes. She joked it was a“bath and dash” spa. She went out of her way to provide me new, clean clothes. Thank you! Thank you to my dear childhood friend, Amy for driving up from NC to be with me during Matt’s pacemaker operation. It was a welcomed distraction and we enjoyed our time together. We are truly grateful for each call/email/visit/card. Thank you! We received an abundance of financial support. We have enjoyed the freedom of paying our automobile deductible in cash and copay visits with that cash. Thank you!
- Past and Present Co-Workers, Families Matt has taught: Thanks for the cards and gifts! Matt was so encouraged receiving all the get well wishes and letters. He was touched receiving former student's letters and letters from families he has worked with during his teaching career.
- PBC, Our church family: We felt your prayers, we felt the love and support. Thank you for visiting and praying over Matt while he was in the hospital. Thank you Jon and Jason for picking up our Van, getting a new battery installed and delivering the vehicle to our home so that caregivers could transport our children. What a great help! Thank you for coordinating meals and all your generosity. We are appreciating the landscaping and other jobs around the house. Thank you for willingly serving our family! We love you!
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| Easter Sunday (4 weeks post Cardiac Arrest) |
