Heart Attack and Miracles - July 2023

July 4, 2023 began as a regular Tuesday with a District mtg. in the morning (usually followed by taking the elders to lunch, but Grandpa had a bit of heartburn still from the day before and also needed to finish preparations for his Elder's Quorum mtg. which was at 2 pm), so we did take-out for the elders and went back to our apartment.  After the Elder's Quorum meeting, we went to the Pharmacy to buy some anti-acids.  When we went back home that evening, Grandpa went in to lay down for a bit while I started to prepare a light dinner.  It was unusual that he was laying down on the bed in the day.  Sometimes he takes a quick nap on a chair in the frontroom after a long day so I went to check on him.  He thought outloud, "Maybe we should call Dr. Ramsey".(our mission doctor).  Very unusual.  (So we did.  We called. That was the first miracle.)  Dr. Ramsey mentioned that he could send a stronger prescription that should help the heartburn better than the over-the-counter kind.  Then we visited briefly and he paused...

"No, I feel that you should go to the hospital." (Miracle 2: His calling includes Revelation.)

 The Doctor worked quickly and soon ran an EKG.  She had blood work drawn and came back to tell us that the numbers were very high and that they may want to run another EKG to make sure the results were correct?  "At least we want to keep him overnight to make sure" she said.  She was kind & thorough.  He was admitted. 

Another Tender Mercy: No long lines that evening. We got right in. We remember waiting for 4 hours one night until past midnight with a young elder to be checked and were sent home to return the next day because of the lines.  But this night, there were no lines!?!  The hallways were empty and quiet.  

The decision was made to redo the EKG.  We went across the hall and they had Grandpa get on the gurney.   When they began to hook up the sensors, Grandpa had a heart attack. I was sitting on the chair just outside the room and all at once people were yelling and a couple of medical people were running into the room.  The door was left open in the rush and of course I looked in.  I saw Grandpa's arm hanging off the gurney and it was a non-color and the medical team was pushing, almost pounding on his chest. Grandpa's heart stopped for 10 minutes the tests show.  They could not get it started with CPR and I watched them bring the big paddles (Defibrillators) to shock/start his heart.  When a nurse standing by, saw me in the doorway, she ran at the door shouting "nao, Nao, NAO!" (no, No, NO!) and slammed the door in front of me. 
A Miracle of timing: we were in the hospital, and Grandpa was on the table with medical help when it happened. I know Heavenly Father is in charge and I was blessed with that 'peace that surpasseth understanding'.'.          

     

Sister Barcellos, and Dr. Ramsey were on the phone with me, so concerned, loving, and saying prayers  800 miles away in Portugal... and we felt all of your prayers in America!   President Barcellos asked all of the 180 missionaries serving in Portugal to include Grandpa in their prayers and he also called our Sao Miguel Branch President to go to the hospital to give Grandpa a blessing. 

The reason everyone was yelling for an ambulance after Grandpa's heart started again was because he needed a surgery quickly and they hurried to put him in the ambulance.  A kind nurse put the GPS for the other hospital in Grandpa's phone for me.  I hurried to get in our car, but the ambulance took off so quickly.  My heart sunk to watch it speed away.

Grandpa and I are always together and Grandpa enjoys driving with the narrow roads and challenges of the round abouts, so I had not driven on these roads. I rarely drive in the dark at home. Oftimes, when we put the GPS in, when looking for members, we have to do it over and over again before it engages.  

  The night-sky was so dark and it made it difficult to see.  I fumbled to get the GPS in the right plug in?

"Heavenly Father", I prayed...  "I don't know where I am.  

I don't know where the other Hospital is.  Please help me."    

The doors to the empty ambulance were still open when I arrived at the other hospital.  

               

President Resendes and Arnaldo came immediately (about 1 in the morning now) to give Grandpa a blessing.  The hospital would not let them come in, but we know they came and so does Heavenly Father.  We all know that prayers and blessings are miracles. Anytime, we visit with our perfect Father in Heaven... it is such an amazing gift that we have been given.  

The surgery went well.  They threaded a stint from Grandpa's wrist up his arm and through to his heart.  I got to whisper 'I love you' as they wheeled the gurney down the hallway to the ICU.  I sat back on the bench in the dim hallway.  A nurse came after some time and told me that I could visit the next afternoon at 1 pm for 1/2 hour. What?

1/2 hour?  Tomorrow? 

I couldn't stay, but, I couldn't leave. My husband was in there.

  

At length, I found where I had left the car.  It was very dark, but the car seat was comfortable and I stayed until the welcome sun started to peek through the shadows to embrace the new morning.

I typed in Aeoroporto Sao Miguel and arrived (by the GPS which worked instantly again and kept working until I parked) to wait for Amy, Jason, Elisa, and Bruce to gather me in hugs and it was then that my tears ran freely as I realized that their coming exactly at this time was another miracle.   

 Grandpa was in the Intensive Care Unit for 4 days.  This photo was taken on my first visit.  I was allowed 1/2 hour twice a day for those 4 days. No one else was allowed.  On the 5th day he was moved to a Cardiologia room down the hall and the visiting hours increased by one hour twice a day.  

Even in Intensive care, Grandpa was giving me instructions about how to find an address of a family for me to go visit.  He loves Missionary work so much.  He showed The 'First Vision' video to his room-mates when he was moved to the Cardiologist room.  When a nurse came in to check his blood pressure, she told him that she would need him to get back on his bed...but he asked if she could bring the machine closer so they could finish seeing the movie.  She said no!  So he paused the video aand after his check up, he opened his tablet again and they completed the movie.

Some of the Branch members sending their love to him in this photo.

(This post is to document the many miracles that blessed us during the week of July 4 until Grandpa left the hospital on the evening of July 11th.  The day our Amy/Jes/Elisa/Bruce were supposed to fly home...but another tender mercy had their plane canceled and they were able to see him at our apartment and know he was ok before the morning of 12th of July when they did fly home.)