(Some of the discription of the events have been taken from my sister-in-law Kimberly... as well as the picture - thanks!)
On Monday two weeks ago we almost lost my Mom … Mom-mom. She suffered from an aortic dissection. Luckily she was waiting for a family member at the surgery center. A nurse noticed she was having trouble and called Shauna to take her home. Shauna took her to JP to have him evaluate her symptoms. He took her to the ER and through some major blessings, the right doctors happened to be involved in diagnosing her situation. They life flighted her to a cardiac center in Fort Worth. Before leaving, JP gave her blessing and she was told she would live to see another day. Before going into surgery, JP gave her another blessing and this time he was inspired to tell her that her mission was not yet accomplished and she would be healed. As a Doctor himself this was a real test of faith because of the very small margin of survival. The Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgeon said this surgery is the most difficult and riskiest that he performs. It is more difficult than heart and lung transplants. Dave my brother-in-law drew me a diagram of the surgery so that I could have a visual understanding of exactly what happened, and what they were going to do to try and save my mom. I have since researched this myself on the Web and have discovered that Mom is a one in a million survivor. I read information from The Cleveland Clinic, The Mayo Clinic, The American Heart Assoc., and The National Institute of Health. In review, 24 per million in the USA get this a year, and less the 1 survive. The hospital said they see about 3-4 a year in the region. Mom had all odds against her, and she lives. She truly is a miracle.
The other thing we have been told is that this is a dominate trait passed on through our genes. This is not something that any of us knew before. Even with all the doctors in the family. This surgeon wanted us to all be aware of this dominate trait. He explained that each child has a 50/50 chance of carrying the gene and having this occur. My mothers father died from this, but no one knew it was because of a genetic problem, we always thought it was a complication from an accident that he had.
After Mom went into surgery, 6 of the 7 children and spouses were there together for the long 7 hour wait. Howard arrived by plane the next morning--as quickly as could be arranged. The surgery went as perfectly as could be imagined. She was on bypass for 3 hours and then circulatory arrest for 19 minutes. They had to cool her body, blood, and brain to 18 degrees before they could put her into circulatory arrest. The surgeon said it was a perfect surgery. He said my mother was in great shape and that helped her surgery run perfectly. Around midnight she came out of surgery and we were able to go in and see her an hour later.
It was nice to sit with all the siblings (in-laws included). We talked a lot, shared stories, smiled. I sat there looking at this marvelous family. So accomplished, so in unison, and so loving. Each child biological or not are part of the oneness we have. What a legacy, a miraculous family, with miraculous events… I know of no other family that causes me such pause, a wonder of awe. The friendship among us is a gift that few in the world ever get to experience. I looked at each one and thought it is so pure and glorious, the legacy of Mom and Dad… But Mom… I am so thankful you are still here to be a mother and a grandmother; there is nothing more beautiful to me than you.
The other thing we have been told is that this is a dominate trait passed on through our genes. This is not something that any of us knew before. Even with all the doctors in the family. This surgeon wanted us to all be aware of this dominate trait. He explained that each child has a 50/50 chance of carrying the gene and having this occur. My mothers father died from this, but no one knew it was because of a genetic problem, we always thought it was a complication from an accident that he had.
After Mom went into surgery, 6 of the 7 children and spouses were there together for the long 7 hour wait. Howard arrived by plane the next morning--as quickly as could be arranged. The surgery went as perfectly as could be imagined. She was on bypass for 3 hours and then circulatory arrest for 19 minutes. They had to cool her body, blood, and brain to 18 degrees before they could put her into circulatory arrest. The surgeon said it was a perfect surgery. He said my mother was in great shape and that helped her surgery run perfectly. Around midnight she came out of surgery and we were able to go in and see her an hour later.
It was nice to sit with all the siblings (in-laws included). We talked a lot, shared stories, smiled. I sat there looking at this marvelous family. So accomplished, so in unison, and so loving. Each child biological or not are part of the oneness we have. What a legacy, a miraculous family, with miraculous events… I know of no other family that causes me such pause, a wonder of awe. The friendship among us is a gift that few in the world ever get to experience. I looked at each one and thought it is so pure and glorious, the legacy of Mom and Dad… But Mom… I am so thankful you are still here to be a mother and a grandmother; there is nothing more beautiful to me than you.
No comments:
Post a Comment