My Thankful Heart

It was not the Valentine's Day that any of us were planning on. I had been working round the clock all week and Valentines was the biggest day of the year at the flower shop. My Mom and Dad had also planned to lunch at their favorite Mexican restaurant, Mom was going to make her traditional heart shaped sugar cookies with each of our names written on them and of course Dad had set plans to watch the BYU game. Everyone else had plans of their own too, I'm sure. Its amazing how quickly things change when someone you love needs you. My mom called on Friday night with word that my Dad had been having a few chest pains, had gone to the doctor, done a stress test and they were concerned that he had a blockage and wanted him in early Saturday morning for an angioplasty. This was a relatively minor, minimally invasive surgery to open things up and they expected him to be home later that day or Sunday.

We're talking about my DAD. My Dad that even in his 70's he goes to the gym and works out almost every single day (he was working out on Wednesday when he first noticed chest pain and blew it off as heartburn...he was also back at the gym on Thursday afternoon working out before finally deciding he better check in with his doctor). This is my Dad who was a college athlete and has been a runner his whole life. My Dad who cliff dives at Lake Powell, waterskis, parasails, golfs and is always up for an adventure. My Dad that hiked to the top of Mt Sinai only 8 months ago...

This is my Dad that was out snorkeling with us all day in Cozumel less than 2 short weeks ago, my Dad who on the cruise, when there is a ridiculous amount of food available to eat almost around the clock, ordered grilled salmon almost every single night and ate big green salads for lunch. (Sure he ate plenty of desserts throughout the week...we all did) This is my adored Dad who takes better care of himself than most 30 year olds I know and has always been in great health.

Saturday morning turned from routine and minor into shock and fear as we learned that he would need open heart surgery with at least a quadruple, maybe even quintuple bypass. The main artery in his heart was 100% blocked and 3 to 4 others are partially blocked. The doctor essentially told him that he should be dead and that his healthy lifestyle and probably divine intervention are what has kept him here with such minimal heart function. Isn't it appropriate that the medical intervention he needed to fix his heart and continue to keep him here came on Valentine's Day? A day that is all about hearts and loved ones. My mom and sister have joked that he has been so active with apparently very little proper function in his heart...we better watch out once they get him fully functioning again. Now, we really won't be able to keep up.

Dad was in the hospital all weekend where he was monitored and kept stable and feeling good. My family spent Saturday afternoon in the waiting room making big glittery posters and giant cards with the little kids to help brighten his Valentines Day and cheer up his room. I stayed at work pumping out those Valentine arrangements, even though I wanted to be with him. I got to see him on Sunday and then again Monday before they wheeled him off to surgery.

My Dad has made it through surgery and did great. He ended up having a quintuple (yes...5) bypass and the doctor said that his left ventricle artery, one of the most important, was indeed 100% blocked. The doctor continued to say that his great health and active lifestyle saved his life and will also help him and serve him well during the recovery process. He didn't finally get out of surgery until a little after 7pm Monday so it was a very long day. It was nearly 8:30 pm when we finally got to see him. Although he was still on the ventilator and not yet "awake"... I'm confident he knew we were there and felt of our love and gratitude. Truly, prayers were answered...the angels that my mom had dreamed about were with him and also with us.

It is now Wednesday and he continues to amaze us with his recovery. He is doing awesome and all the doctors and nurses keep telling him so. It has been a hard few days with many similarities to the days and hours leading up to Kadence's heart surgery. Briana and I have shed a few extra tears as it has reminded us over and over of those dark days. How grateful I am that all has turned out so well for my dad. I am so grateful for him and for the shining example of a life well lived. I'm so grateful we will get lots more years to spend with him. I love you dad!


Dad just a few weeks ago on our cruise (Mayan ruins in Belize)



My parents on their 50th Wedding anniversary last year