First post:
Feb 20, 2020 Latest post:
Jun 10, 2022
On Christmas Day morning, 2019, my husband Derek went to the ER “not feeling right”. They ended up admitted him for a heart issue.
Since Christmas, he hasn’t returned home from the hospital. After various tests and meetings with top Seattle cardiologists, Derek was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and was scheduled for a single bypass surgery on January 9, 2020.
That single bypass surgery turned into a triple bypass surgery and in the end his heart wasn't strong enough to pump on it's own. So 5 days later he had another open heart surgery to put in an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) to help Derek's heart pump the blood its supposed to.
A week after that surgery they found that Derek contracted an E-Coli infection in his chest surrounding his heart and lungs. He had 8 more surgeries to "wash out" his chest cavity from the infection over the next two weeks. And the doctors were able to finally gain control of the infection and wire his chest bone back together on February 3.
He's had 3 more surgeries to close his chest muscles and skin - bringing his total surgery count to 13 to date.
It's been a time of extremes for our family - hearing updates full of doubt and the unknown and leaning in to our God who brings us peace and hope.
Please pray for Derek, the kids and I for peace and strength during Derek’s time in the hospital and during his recovery. Please pray for our church (Philadelphia Church) during Derek’s absence especially for the leadership team. This is a time for God to shine in and through us. We believe in the power of prayer. Thank you for partnering with us. 🙏 God is good!
Krista, Derek, Sydney & Jesse (& Adam), Gunnar, Annika, and Aksel Forseth
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