Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
This past Sunday our lives were forever changed...
Late morning, Mark started doing the yard work and mowing the grass while I was working in the house. While I was upstairs he called to me to tell me he wasn't feeling very well and to grab his o2 sensor and blood pressure cuff. (Yes, we have these items since Mark is a first responder) By the time I got downstairs he was on his knees in pain and told me that we needed to go to the hospital and that he didn't want me to call 911 but to drive him. He went out to the car parked in the driveway and got in, I grabbed my purse and locked up the house . When I went to shut the garage door, it would only come down a few inches and go back up. It did this a few times and I couldn't see anything in the way of the sensors preventing it from coming down. Mark got out of the car to take a look to see what was wrong, and took a few steps and collapsed. As his ICU Cardio doctor told me, "Mark had a widow maker heart attack and died" when he collapsed. I was not going to let him die on me! Damn it! I immediately ran to my neighbors house to get help and they started CPR on him while I called 911. The EMT's arrived in a matter of minutes and used the portable AED to get his heart beating normally again. Mark was conscious in the ambulance and in the ER at Regions which is unbelievable. I was able to see Mark for 2 minutes before he was whisked off to surgery to place 2 stents in his arteries. During the procedure Mark went into V-fib several times and the surgeon had to shock him repeatedly. According to the doctor, after each shock, Mark would look at her and ask, "how many joules did you give me?" She's never had anyone ask her that on the table and she said she will never forget it! (Those who know Mark won't be surprise by that. He's a good Medtronic Engineer) But, due to the difficulty the doctors were having during surgery the decision was made to have a team from the U of M ECMO team come place Mark on an ECMO machine to do the work of his lungs and heart. Once the stents were able to be placed he was transferred to the U of M hospital to be put on a larger ECMO machine. Mark continues to be sedated and on life support to allow his heart to rest and heal.
Because it take time away from us being with Mark to answer all texts and phone calls, please look at Mark's CaringBridge page daily for updates on his progress.
**If it hadn't been for our angels stopping the garage door from coming down, it is completely possible that Mark would have had his heart attack in the car while I was driving and help wouldn't have gotten to him in time. He is truly one blessed man, and so is his family!
Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Mark Stay Connected to Family and Friends
A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Mark's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?
