The Best of Intentions...and an Update Concerning Ken's Recovery

As I read my last post, I had a little chuckle at my good intentions to post more frequently. Life happens, and between the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, it seems to be happening at record speed in our family.

My dear husband, Ken, recently had a heart attack. He's only 38 years old, and it came as quite a shock to all of us. He'd attended multiple fires that afternoon, and he was relaxing at home afterward. He and Alan had just finished watching a movie, and thankfully, he suspected exactly what was happening to him at the time. They immediately set out for our local fire station, about two blocks from our house, because Ken knew that help would be on hand there. Alan dialed 911 along the way, and Ken received immediate medical attention upon arrival.

Within a half hour or so of the onset of pain, Ken was in heart cath surgery, and a stent was being placed. Several days in the ICU were followed by a few in a regular room, and he's "resting" comfortably at home now. (I say "resting" because his definition of the word and mine often differ, and we've had to call the doctor to clarify the same. :-) )

Testing during this time confirmed that only a single artery was blocked, and the doctor not-so-fondly referred to this condition as a "widow-maker" because of its role of providing blood supply to the largest muscle in the heart. After early testing, the doctor was optimistic as to the extent of the damage to Ken's heart, and he credits this optimism to the speed with which he received treatment. We should have a more specific prognosis after Ken's follow-up appointment in mid-March, and we're hopeful that we'll continue to receive good news.

This entire experience has been a blessing in our lives, and it served as a wake-up call to us and to many of those we love. We're grateful for the immediate response of our 911 Personnel, Firefighters, Paramedics, other Public Safety Personnel, and their Families. We're grateful that Ken landed in the capable hands of the most amazing doctor in our county's heart center, which was just opened in February. And we're grateful for the friends, family, nurses, volunteers, and clergy who continue to surround us with their love, prayers, and concern.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, messages, and acts of kindness during this time. Thank you for loving us and for holding us close in your hearts. We're humbled, and "thank you" doesn't nearly begin to cover all that we'd like to say. Today I'm hoping to make progress on proper responses to each of you, and I appreciate your patience with my delayed responses.