Today is the day after my Wife’s Birthday…
Two years ago my Wife had Cardiac Bypass Surgery. She is now a survivor of heart disease, the number one killer of Women in the US.
We arrived at the hospital around 5:30 for a check in, nervous and sleep deprived from a fitful night. After filling out the paperwork we were brought into the surgery prep room, small and white with to doors; one to the waiting room and the other to surgery. She got undressed, put one of those ultra sexy backless hospital gowns on 
and let the nurse take her vitals. My Mother Nancy was with us for moral support while Sheri’s Mother wasn’t scheduled to fly down from Calgary until later in the week. Not long after she was prepped her anesthesiologist Dr. Pedersen came in to introduce himself and meet Sheri.
The time had come. I put on a brave face as we said our good byes, kissed and hugged. They wheeled her out past line of sight and the tears started to well up fast. Nothing left to do here, we went into the waiting room in an attempt to relax. It was approaching seven in the morning, the wait was on.
As the morning grew my Aunt Irene and Cousin Phillis arrived…more moral support. With my Mother they kept me active and talking making sure I was ok…I’m so glad they were there with me. The hours past and I ate or drank something…I really don’t recall much around this time other than waiting and hoping things were going well with my Wife.
A Nurse finally came out and said he surgery went well and that Sheri should be in the recovery room and I could see her in about 45 minute; it was about 1:30pm.
The time came and past and I began to get very nervous…thoughts racing through my head. An hour or two later Sheri’s Cardiologis, Dr. Miklin came in and asked me to go with him into a patient briefing room. I had no idea what he was going to tell me next. He told me there were complications but not with the surgery itself. Things had gone well and the Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Brantz was about to close her up and she had a massive heart attack. “Oh god nooo.” Two of the mammary arteries that they used had a spasm and shut blood off to her heart. My mind raced and I thought of the “Five Wishes” paperwork we did the night before…this can’t be happening.
For the most part she died that day on the table. The nurses hadn’t told us that until days later during our long stay in the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU). Luckily she was still open and wasn’t in recovery when she had the heart attack. They shocked her with those small surgery paddles (like you see on tv) directly to the heart and she came back.
Shortly after the Cardiologist left, the news got out and my Family started pouring in. I think we had 20 people waiting for new on my Wife in the waiting room that evening. I was distraught. We didn’t hear anything until after 8pm that evening when her Surgeon Dr. Brantz came back in to tell us the news. He brought in a diagram of the heart and explained to everyone what happened. He was patient and calm as people fired off question after question about her condition and what it all meant.
She was alive but had a rough go of it. Once she was stable, they had to harvest two more veins from her legs to replace the now suspect arteries that had spasmed and caused the heart attack. This had taken a lot longer than was normal. By this time she was stable and I could see her now…something I choose to do only myself not knowing what she looked like and her condition. It was a tough sight to see.
I left her a small white polar bear for luck and love, kissing her and wishing her well and went back out in to the waiting room to be with my Family. They had been through a lot and we all needed sleep. Just as we were leaving a great Friend of mine Jeff C. came in with blankets, water and snacks for everyone in the event we were going to have to camp for the night.
After much crying and countless calls to Sheri’s Parents and Brother the stress of the day hit me like a ton of bricks. I gave my thanks to all those who waited with me and headed home for some much needed sleep.
This is the story of Double Day, my Wife’s Second Birthday.
I don’t write this to make you sad or for sympathy. I only write this for two reasons, one to tell my Wife I love her and two to get the word out about Women and Heart Disease and what can happen. Heart Disease is very different for for Women than it is Men. The signs of a problem are not the same.
Thanks to all my Family and Friends who supported us through that horrible time in our lives and who continue to support us to this day.
I love you Sheri. Happy Double Day.
Lee
