My Story

• by Duke Heart Patient
• 2013-05-03 11:05:23
• General Posting
• 1467 views
• 3 comments

Laying in the ER of Wake Med wasn't what I planned on doing that Saturday night December 10, 2011. I started my day off as normal , got ready to call basketball with my buddy Chris Mitchell like we always do, 4 games at our local high school in Princeton, then coaching a game for Jaxson's 6under team at 3. After the 4th game I officiated that day I just felt a little wore out. Normally I can run about 7 or 8 games on a Saturday but this day was different. I just felt like I wanted to throw up. I couldn't feel a pulse. I was hot. Jaime showed up at the game and asked if I was ok and went on inside the gym. Jaxson sat out there with me while I was trying to rest. I remember him saying "Daddy if your gonna puke do it in that corner" ... After a few minutes my good friend Justin Willoughby came out to check on me. He wanted to check my pulse rate and well , he couldn't get one. He took me inside the student medical room and I laid on the table. He still tried to get a pulse , nothing. Finally , he called 911 and the Princeton Paramedics came to check on me. The hooked me up to the heart monitor machine and I had a heart beat , 236 beats per minute. The paramedic said I was in "A-Fib" which is an abnormal heart rate. Mine was abnormal so I was loaded up on the stretcher and off I went. Jaime had told the paramedics about my heart condition so we went straight to Wake Med in Raleigh. On the way they tried to get an IV started and nothing. I had no blood pressure. I was calm , alert and talking to them telling them my medical history , name , address , phone # , wife's name , dob , medicines I was currently taken and anything else I could think of. I think the 2 guys were just surprised at how calm and alert I was telling them this information. They were prepared for the worse I believe. I remember one telling me "Dude , you should be passed out by now" but I wasn't. I do remember getting a little car sick on the ride to Raleigh , laying down and looking out the back window can do that to you. Finally I arrived at Wake Med. Rushed into the ER and room # 8. It was a back corner room. When I went back there were 3 doctors and about 4 nurses waiting for me. Dr. McShane was the lead doctor and he took over. Asking me how I was , what happened , how I felt and so on. He told me I should be passed out with my rate like that now going on 2 hours and more at 236-240 beats per minute. Two rooms down from me a young girl from Clayton was fighting for her life after being in a car wreck and she didn't make it. I remember the nurse telling me that was there 2nd "code" of the day and she didn't want a 3rd and neither did I. This is where my story gets good. So, finally one of the nurses got an IV started. Dr. McShane told me to relax and they were going to shoot Epinephrine into the IV and he said "This will hurt and feel like a mule has kicked you in the chest" so I was thinking , ummm ok ? The way this medicine works is once injected , it stops your heart beat for about 7 seconds , then restarts it. Once the medicine hit my heart if felt like someone had hit me in the chest with a sledge hammer. I felt my heart stop beating , crushing and pain. It worked for 7 seconds and then my rate went right back up again , 236 strong. They tried it again , but my IV wasn't holding in and the medicine just went under my skin in my wrist , once more they tried and the IV wouldn't take. Finally Dr. McShane said we are going to have to shock you to get your heart back in a normal rhythm. Now "Shock" to me at the time was maybe like a little "buzz" like a bee sting. Well , I was already hooked up to the machine. The doctor set everyone clear, hit the charge button , I could hear the machine charging up , and then "shock" ... I went numb all over, say a bright orange light, was lifted off the bed 3 to 4 feet and I opened my eyes and my heart rate was 80. That fast it was over. Dr. McShane asked how I felt and I said "I feel like slapping you guys cause that hurt" , he told me he was sorry and he was sure it did hurt, most people with a rate of 236 are unconscious and passed out, I wasn't . I remember it all. He told the nurses that next time that happened, that maybe the should have the side rails up or strap me down 1st. After that , I took some meds and started to just feel wore out and tired, scared mostly. Seeing the "crash cart" at the end of your bed and not knowing if you were going to make it or not does a lot to you. I know where I stand with God, yes I have sinned and yes I have asked for forgiveness and I know he has forgiven me but still as a human we let our mind take over and the devil enters. I was scared to leave Jaime and the kids. I didn't want them to grow up alone , without me , I didn't want to miss the games , the dates , the fun and the fights we would have. I wasn't ready to go and God wasn't ready for me to go home. I think about that night at Wake everyday and how amazing God is and how he was and still is with me. He has a plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11) 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. And hope is what he gave me and a future is what I have. I don't know what he has planned for me but he knows. I don't know if writing this will inspire someone who is lost. I do hope and pray that someone will be touched by this story and know that God is amazing.
Once I was stable family could come back and see me. I was never so happy to see everyone. I spent about 8 hours at Wake Med then around midnight was transported to Duke. Once I arrived at Duke the doctors were ready to check me out and get me situated. That Sunday I had a bad experience at Duke. 2 rooms down from me someone coded and the master alarm went off and it was so loud. Doctors and nurses went running to that room and within 5 seconds they were there, did there job and saved that life. All the patients on the cardio 7th floor had to wear holter monitors 24/7 to record your heart beat and incase something happened to you they would be there to save you. That was a very scary time. That Monday I went down for a heart catherization. The test was do but not completed. Once they tried to insert the breathing tube into my lungs my adrenalin kicked in and my rate shot back up again so they stopped. Tuesday , Wednesday , Thursday passed , no changes , just meds , walking , resting and praying. Finally Friday arrived and I received a single lead pacemaker. So far everything is going good. I am watching what I eat. Checking my vitals daily. Praying more and trusting in God 100%.
While I was at Duke I met a older black man , Mr. Thompson. He and I became good friends. We would walk together and talk about life. How things change when you don't know if your heart is going to quit on you. I also met a man who was admitted 2 days before I left Duke. He was 37 years old , I never got his name but I did leave him a copy of "footprints" and told him my story and that he needed to trust God and have faith in him and the Duke people. He was in shock that someone could care for him and not know him. I hope he prayed that day and got his life straight with God if it wasn't already. Mr. Thompson was waiting on a new heart. He was 64 years old. Full of energy , laughing , talking and having a good time. I guess my story could be worse , I could need a new heart. I am so thankful for everyone that I met there at Duke. The doctors and staff there were all so amazing and caring. The staff at Wake Med was fantastic. I connected with some doctors and nurses at Duke and I plan on trying to somehow keep in touch with them. I know God needs me here for some reason , I don't know why , maybe it's to tell this story , maybe it's to witness to the sick , maybe it's to teach the youth , only he knows but whatever comes my way , God will be with me and I will follow his lead.
The title of this is "My 18 Laps". What that refers to is the 18 laps around the 7th floor at Duke I walked everyday. 18 laps = 1 mile and I would walk sometimes 2 miles a day. The staff and other patients would just smile and say hey as I continued to pass them over and over. They never told me to go rest , move , get out the way , just smiled and said keep up the good work , looking good.
December 1996 I was baptized. I have always prayed the sinners prayer and hoped God accepted me but I knew for sure in 1996. December 21, 1996 I married Jaime , what an amazing person God sent me. She and I have had some ups and downs together but just being together is what it is all about. 1999 and 2004 God sent us 2 angels. Sometimes they may not act like angels but Madi and Jaxson mean the world to me. A love for your own child is so strong. My mom spent 6 days and nights with me at Duke , never leaving my side except when I went to surgery. I can't thank her enough for being there for me. Sometimes I wanted he to leave because she worried me but that is time I will cherish forever.
My life isn't perfect , I am not perfect .... I struggle daily with avoiding sin ... The devil is alive and well today and with the power of God , we WILL DEFEAT HIM ...
To Jaime & Leigh , I am sorry I wasn't able to help or be there for you the day of your dad's funeral. I know you guys have been through a lot and I pray for you both everyday.
Thank you to everyone who came to see me at Wake and Duke. Thank you for all your prayers , calls , texts, emails and more ....... Thank you to ALL the doctors at Wake and Duke and ALL the nurses at both hospitals. And thank you to God , for never leaving me or forsaking me.