Wednesday, February 5, 2014

"Heavenly Storehouses Laden With Snow"

Anyone who knows me knows that I love SNOW!!!!!   As I sit here on my 8th SNOW day and looking out on 15"+ in my yard, I find Chris Tomlin's lyrics of "Indescribable" tumbling around my head.  But today it is more than just the line about heavenly storehouses of snow(which I can't wait to see)!


All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God


Yesterday was a destination on a very long, uncertain journey!   It was the last appointment with my mom's cardiac/thoracic surgeon.  As mom walked in on her own, this wonderful man was so happy that he was almost giddy.  In fact my first reaction was  "oh my, he has TOO MUCH espresso in that coffee".  To understand how incredibly funny his response was to seeing mom you would have had to been there for their first meeting! 


On October 26, 2013 my mother had a slight-moderate heart attack which was not detected right away but another great doctor kept her in the hospital until he figured out what exactly was going on.  They actually thought it might be gallbladder attack. When they did determine it was a heart issue they sent her to a bigger hospital where a stent could be placed in one of her veins.  Two-three days they were going to dismiss her but for one reason or another they did not.  Seven days later she was being dismissed.  As she was getting ready in her hospital room for my dad to pick her up, she went into cardiac arrest. Totally unforeseen by all the tests she had!  Minutes later I received a phone call from the hospital chaplain stating she "coded and they are working on her.  Get here now!".


November 1, 2013 she was rushed into an emergency open heart surgery.  No matter how well they communicated the situation at hand, it is extremely unnerving to have a respected surgeon and two other well respected cardiac doctors "report" to the family as they themselves seem to be in shock.  Her heart had torn.  Not just one but two tears!!!   With this complication it is a matter of seconds before the heart "bleeds out"! 


Other unique items to Mom's situation they were shocked about:
  • her heart clotted itself...even though she was on lots of blood thinner!  This is what saved her and allowed them time to patch the tears.
  • her heart was healthy enough for "good solid" patch to cover the tears
  • when she was brought back to life she could answer questions.....not only that but 'chatted' with her cardiac doctor all the way to the surgery suite.
  • brain, heart, and kidneys continued to function despite the trauma
  • she was responding to questions as took her off they bypass machine and bringing her out of surgery
  • that she survived!!!!
Nothing and no one but God saved my mother!!!!!  During the remaining 2 weeks of recovery in ICU all medical staff could not 'explain away' the miracles that we all saw continuously.  The whole  hospital(and it is a huge one!) referred to her as "the miracle lady".  Many of them would pop in to see her.  I will post of those later because it would take hours to recount!!!!!!!!




This journey to recovery has not been easy but it is still amazing!  Yesterday her surgeon explained how awe inducing her survival is.  "Heart tears occur usually 3-5 days after a heart attack.  They are very rare but typically there is only one tear...not two.  Only 1-2% of entire population who experience heart attack have a tear.....and actually that is on the high end of the stats. Heart tears are very rare.  95% of people who have a tear, do not survive...including those that are in a hospital(90% do not even make it to the surgery and only half that do get to surgery survive).  If you had been dismissed and downstairs on your way out, you would not have survived!  It is so rare that I maybe see one heart tear a year.  Most of them do not survive.  That is how serious your situation was......and how amazing sitting with you now is!" 




Now, I have been there to witness all of it AND even I still have to take a minute to reread and let his comments sink in!!!!  Why do we take God's power and grace for granted?  Even when it hits us in the face?   All I do know is.....




.....All powerful, untameable, awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, You are amazing God......    I hope the truth of Chris Tomlin's verse never leaves my heart and mind!

1 comment:

  1. Absolutely incredible! I love hearing this story. God is powerful! Had me in tears. Thanks for sharing.

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