Dave’s Story

Site created on November 14, 2010

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We've created it to keep friends and family updated about Dave. Get started by reading the introduction to our website, My Story.

Visit often to read the latest journal entries, visit the photo gallery, and write us a note in our guestbook.

Thank you all for your love, support, and most of all, your prayers.

 



Briefly, Dave began to feel ill in early October. We all thought it was bronchitis, and so did his doctor. There was nothing else to indicate anything different. After a week of antibiotics, we added prednisone and breathing treatments to the mix and we went for a chest x-ray. It showed no pneumonia or anything else suspicious.

A week or so later, he was no better. His feet and ankles began to swell and he was short of breath all the time. He would fall asleep sitting up and the meds weren't helping. Back to the doctor, as I already suspected something to do with the heart. (Sending thanks to my daddy for all those years of heart problems that educated me.)

The EKG showed atrial fibrillation and we were sent immediately to the ER. They confirmed it and started him on meds to slow down the heart rate. It was racing along at 155 while his blood pressure was a whopping 93/70. A CT Scan was performed and it showed a small blood clot in the right lung, but it wasn't an issue. Too far out in left field to bother with other than a blood thinner to start dissolving it.

This was last Monday, November 8th. Tuesday evening after my son and daughter and I left for the night, he coded. Respiratory failure and we were called back as they were intubating him.

The next day (Wednesday) they explained that it was a "perfect storm" scenario. One thing alone wouldn't have been so dire, but he had several things at once working against him. The fibrillation of the upper half of the heart, the lung issues (compounded by the heart's inability to circulate properly), and the low blood pressure, also from the heart of course.

We've spent all week at his bedside and learning about DNR forms, and other things no one ever wants to talk about.

Other tests we've had: echocardiagram (twice), CT scan (twice), cardiac catheterization. (No blockages, just a slightly leaky valve which he is too ill to attempt to repair.)

Today is Sunday, November 14, and he is still dependent on a respirator although he is semi-conscious. There are lots more details, but let me say that God is good and we are seeing baby steps and tiny imporvements.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Becky Olsen

A reminder that the Celebration of Life for Dave will be this coming Saturday at 1pm CDT. So many of you have apologized for not being able to come, mostly because of Covid and please, I totally understand. Dave wouldn't want anyone to put themselves at risk for him. In fact, he really didn't want a service unless it was something I needed to do for me. Which I do. I have that in writing, in a long list of instructions he gave me several years ago. Well, okay, there was that thing about a Viking funeral pyre set afloat on Percy Priest ... but no, we're not doing that. Neither will we be listening to the entirety of Mozart's Requiem in D minor, but it's okay, too.

The service will be streamed live on my Face Book page, and I will make it public for those friends of Dave and church friends who are not mutual friends. Afterward, in a day or so, I will upload it to our family web site and will come back and share the link.

My friends, you are all amazing and we will never be able to thank you all enough for the cards, donations, phone calls, and prayers. He's been gone four weeks today and it just doesn't seem possible. But we move on and learn new ways of doing things. We don't like it, but we do.

https://www.facebook.com/becky.olsen

Much Love,
Becky and family

Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Dave Stay Connected to Family and Friends

A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Dave's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?

Comments Hide comments

Show Your Support

See the Ways to Help page to get even more involved.

SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top