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
Lee,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings. It’s a great reminder how far Sheri has come (woo hoo!) and how happy we are that day has passed. As we know, Sheri has had a rough road many of us wouldn’t want to journey – I admire her courage. Your thoughts are also a great reminder how lucky each of us really are, we get so tied up in the daily grind that we forget how lucky we are to have our friends, family, health and support network. We’ve all had tough roads to travel down at some part in our life, but it’s great to know people are out there you can reply on. Thanks for taking us out of our daily lives to reflect upon that and remembering that being cut off on the way to work really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Here’s to decades more of celebrating life with Sheri and being thankful we’re all here to be a part of it!
Hi Lee ,,, just looking at your blog and photoblog for the first time .
Very impressive Photoblog .
Happy Double Day Sheri ! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Thanks for sharing such a great story Lee . Stories like this are so inspiring .
Your image conveys the love that both of you have for one and other . Its great to see smiles and laughter .
Sudden illness or disease can put so much strain on our day to day lives and without love and support it can make the journey that much more difficult . Im glad that you have family to assist you Lee during the difficult times .
I have just put my 83 yr old Mom into a nursing home 2 weeks ago and its one of the hardest things Ive have ever had to do . Its never a easy choice or the right time.
In Moms case , there was no option . I just hope she can adjust to her new surroundings sooner rather than later . Mom is starting to show a little of her Irish Temper . Lets hope the nurses understand .
Keep Strong and Stay well Sheri .
Lovely Shots on your Gallerys Lee .
Best Wishes
John Piercy
http://www.fotoshift.com
Eloquently stated Lee. As the husband of our daughter we, Mom, Dad, and her brother Brydon, couldn’t be more proud of you through those terrifying days. You are truly a “keeper” to go through that time as you did and a special thanks from us to your family and friends who stood by you.
From Calgary, being over 1200 miles away when that surgery went wrong, was the most helpless and devastating feeling we have experienced as I am sure it was for you. Tears and prayers abounded and the hours seemed to go on and on. We are forever grateful for the almost hourly contact you kept with us keeping us aware of Sheris condition. Corkie, having gone through the skull, the cancer, and the heart surgeries was especially upset. Her little girl was just too young for all of this.
From a personal point of view I profess being a tough old coot but late in the evening of that day I was driving over to the local mall for something or other and as I turned the corner by that park at the top of our street I was looking straight at Sheri’s elementary school. Lee, I lost it and had to pull over to the curb for a while. The greatest memory was when Sheri had responded with a head-shake to your offer to speak to her brother on the phone and I swear just seconds later Brydon called and shouted, “Sheri is going to be OK! She didn’t want to talk to me”.
Sometimes one wonders if events are meant to be. Sheri is now being called upon to make significant contributions to the war on heart disease. No one could have been more proud than Mom and Dad Foote were, being able to join with you in that walk.
Here’s to many decades of health and happiness for you both.
Dad
Lee, this is so touching and inspiring to read. Most of us take our health for granted and /or treat minor ailments like disasters. It’s wonderful what you and Sheri are doing to make others aware both of how serious illness can affect people and of how the support of family and friends is crucial.
I’d say Sheri has enough fighting spirit and vivacity in her for at least three “normal” people. She really is a great inspiration and it’s great to know that she has such a supportive and loving husband
Love to you both,
Rebecca
Lee,
I can’t think of any other words apart from inspirational. What you guys have had to go through these past few years, and come out smiling on the other end is a credit to you both, and your families. Not only to cope with the surgery, but all the work Sheri is doing for Go Red For Women, you have my absolute respect.
Happy Birthday Sheri, here’s to many many more in the future.
Ian
Happy Double Day, Sheri! Lee, your story was an amazing read. It’s apparent from the moment-to-moment rendering how burned into your memory the day and the journey you both went on that day is. I don’t think you’ll mind, but I feel like sharing this with our students (who perform the heart-lung function of patients undergoing bypass surgery) will be an aspect of learning that they won’t get in the classroom. Hearing your perspective is so powerful. Thank you so much for sharing it. Love to you both! Tracy
[...] off I want to thank all who commented on my This is Double Day blog, it meant a lot to Sheri and I. We will never be able to repay everyone for their kindness and [...]
[...] My Wife Sheri is a Heart Disease Survivor and volunteers her time to spread the message about how Heart Disease has affected her, how it affects others and what you can do to help prevent it. See more about her story on my post about Double Day. [...]
[...] post about his wife Sheri, a heart disease activist powerhouse, and how heart disease became such an important issue to them the day after her 39th [...]
As I read this, I looked back at my experience and it is hard to think about sometimes. My girlfriend, Lily, had a stroke right in front of me and I was lucky enough to recognize it for what it was and get her to the hospital right away. Several months later, she had open heart surgery to close a hole in her heart. We were both lucky that things have turned out well and she is recovered. Since then, we have been working with the AHA on awareness and education. We are going to Washington in April to be a part of the ‘You’re the Cure on the Hill Lobby Day’. Good luck with everything.
HHH