November 15 – “Day Two: Post Attack”

Saturday.  Day Two: Post Attack.  I slept from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.  That’s eight and a half hours.  Can’t remember sleeping that long since I was a teenager.  Or maybe a college student cramming for an exam.  And Chris texted from the hospital that she had slept better as well.  We both needed it, for sure.  They moved her over to a “regular room” out of the “almost ICU” unit she had been in.  She said it was much quieter over in her new digs.  She also said her blood pressure had been running in the 120’s.  That’s amazing. 

 

The doctor team paid her a visit, and one of them who had been involved at some point told her that she was (For visual, hold your fingers barely apart and squint your eyes as if to see better the tiny little gap between them) “this close … literally hanging by a thread out there.”  That was pretty scary to hear, for sure. 

 

After I arrived, thanks to April, my limo driver for the day (since I’m not supposed to be driving until after my follow-up on Friday), Chris told me that all indications were that she would be going home.  However, she had been having some chest pains, and she even got really dizzy when she got up and walked around a bit.  They did another bedside EKG and a cardiogram.  All looked good operationally, so we were hopeful about going home, but still not completely sure. 

 

And about that time, I got a text from Randall’s pharmacy.  Seems all her discharge medications were already ready to be picked up.  Well, I guess if Randall’s says we’re going home … we must be going home.  Sure enough, the nurse came in soon after with discharge papers.  Chris will even have some nitro on hand.  That’s the under-the-tongue stuff they use on TV all the time. 

 

Oh, and Chris also finally gave the hospital her consent for treatment.  Yep.  Literally on our way out the door.  She never had a chance to sign anything up to that point.  But they still had to have all their i’s dotted and t’s crossed.  She finally got released around 2.  Our chariot awaited at the front door.  April was back with her limo.  We stopped at Randall’s to get those meds and made our way home.  Oh, and Freddy was really happy to see Chris. 

 

Last night Nathan and April and Cailyn came over and cooked us some supper. Great stuff.  And after they left, we settled on the couch and watched a new Netflix movie, “Jingle Jangle.”  It was kind of fun, but I dozed off a time or two, and Chris flat out fell asleep with her head in my lap.  It was great to be home.

 

Oh, and thank you to everybody who sent prayers and words of encouragement over the last few days.  We could really feel the presence and calmness of the Lord.

 

John 15:4 says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

 

Father, thank you for everyone who cared and sent us words to express their love over the last few days.  Bless them for that.  Amen.

November 14 – “Heart Attack Chronicles”

Well, it is as official as it can ever get.  Chris did have a heart attack.  She is still in the hospital right now.

 

Nathan took me up to the hospital so we could get there at 1:00 a.m., the official witching hour … er … visiting hour.  Hey, it was Friday the Thirteenth after all.  In the year 2020.  Way too scary for me.  Lauren from church was already there.  She works at UTMB.  She has a badge.  She can use her badge to go places.  Witching hours are meaningless to Lauren. 

 

Chris went to the heart cath lab at around 11:30.  As it turned out our friend Teri from church was working there, and she is a force to be reckoned with.  Speaking of forces of nature, by this time April had come up from the ER to be with us as well.  Must be something that in inherent with nurses.  Or maybe they teach it in nursing school.  She took over, introducing us to people and carefully explaining the procedure.  That was really helpful since the Fellow who was also doing some explaining never stopped pacing and never stopped to even look our way.  Not that I could hear him that well anyway.  He was wearing his faithful mask.  When they came and got Chris the three of us retired to the waiting area.  April found us some snacks for a light lunch, and we settled in for the long haul.  But it really didn’t take all that long.  Teri came out and told us she had heard through the grapevine that they were dealing with at least one significant blockage.  First step there was to put in a stent. 

 

After about forty minutes I was called back into the recovery area where I got to see Chris.  She was awake and alert, and she told me she had been throughout the whole surgery.  Seems they needed to talk to her while hey were doing the procedure.  Interesting stuff.  After just a few minutes the cardiologist took me to join him and Nathan and April and now Lauren in the conference room.  There he showed us the x-ray images of what Chris’ arteries looked like before and after the surgery.  She had a 30% blockage in one.  That one we will treat with medication.  But the other one was not so good.  She had a 95% blockage in the LAD.  That’s the artery that supplies more that half the blood to the heart.  Yep.  It was pretty much a miracle that she passed out on the treadmill at the doc’s office.  This one could have been a considerably worse scenario.  Her restrictions are pretty simple.  No driving for three days.  No lifting over five pounds for ten days.  Cardiac rehab is strongly recommended.  I really liked that guy.  Maybe she can get in with him now.

 

From there we were taken to a room on the cardiac floor, in the section that is technically a step down unit from ICU.  The nurse sat right outside the door.  And after April went back to work and Nathan left to check on Cailyn, things began to settle down some.  Then, suddenly, the nurse stuck her head in the door and called out, “Mr. Vaughan, could you come out here for a moment?”  OK.  We haven’t even been up here a whole day and I’m already in trouble?  It was still during visiting hours, so I knew it wasn’t that.  Oh, well?  I trudged out the door to take my punishment.  The nurse called me over to her desk.  In quite the conspiratorial manner she motioned for me to come closer.  This was really getting weird.  The she began whispering.  Well, kind of a stage whisper, because I did hear her, amazingly enough.  “There is a delivery at the front desk downstairs for Mrs. Vaughan.  But we have a problem.  There is no one available who can bring it up to the room.  Do you think you could go get it?”  Then, looking around, she added, “I called you out like that because I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”  Well, that was sweet.  I immediately set out on my journey, and before I could hit the elevator button Chris was texting me.  “What’s going on out there?”  I answered, “They are sending me on an errand,” and left it at that.  She answered back something along the lines of “Whaaaat?”  I let that one go.  The delivery was a really nice vase of flowers from the Galveston Fire Department guys.  Thanks so much, guys.  She really loved it. 

 

Nathan and April and Cailyn came back and picked me up when the witching hours ended.  They even brought me over a bowl of homemade beef stew.  I was in bed by 9:30 or so and slept until 6:00.  That’s pushing a new record for me.  Eight and a half hours.  Wow.  April is supposed to give me a ride up to the hospital today.  We are crossing our fingers that Chris gets to come home this afternoon.  Keep those prayers coming.

 

1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

 

Father, thank you for your oversight of all the madness that has happened in the last three days or so.  It helps to be reminded that you are ultimately in control.  Amen.

November 13 – “On burying the lead …”

It started off simple enough.  Chris was working on a quilt, so I ambled into the back yard and sat on the swing with a cup of coffee.  It was cool outside.  Just a really nice day.  It didn’t take long and Chris was out there with me on the swing, basking in the cool, crisp autumn air.  And then …

 

Freddy was out there with us, as is her usual routine.  She disappeared behind us for a while, and then pranced out from behind the swing.  Her head was held high, and she carried her little friend with her.  Oh, you haven’t met her little friend?  Well, Freddy has one toy she plays with.  Just one.  It’s a cute little stuffed creature.  I think the packaging said it was a hedgehog.  She carries it around with her everywhere.  Even in the mornings when I open the door to the room where her bed is.  She races out, completely ignoring me, until she can find her little friend and prance into the den with it between her little jowls.  Very cute stuff.  So back to the back yard.  She pranced out from behind the swing with her little friend held high.  Only it wasn’t her little friend.  Chris gasped.  Her feet instinctively pulled up into the chair.  Yep.  Freddy had a new friend.  It was a dead squirrel.  She saw me stand up, and proudly dropped it at my feet.  All attempts at protecting my back withered away as Chris demanded that I get rid of it … and fast.  I got the broom and dustpan (an industrial-type one that I could use and not bend over, so I’m still being good) and swept the critter up and disposed of it.  Sorry, Freddy.  As your parents it is our duty to protect you from bad friend choices.  Go back to your hedgehog. 

 

Now that was the really fun part of my day.  Little was I to know things would soon take a turn for the worse …

 

Chris had an appointment at 2:30 to do a stress echocardiogram (On a treadmill).  With all the problems she has been having regulating her blood pressure, and with her family history of heart issues, her doctor wanted to get a baseline reading, then refer her to a cardiologist.  The whole situation was kind of scary for me.  My Dad had a heart attack while on the treadmill at his doctor’s office.  She jokingly told me when she left that if anything happened, she would have them call April, “since she’s working today.”  I replied, “Ummm.  You better have them call me.”  On a normal day I would go with her, but this is 2020.  I was not allowed. 

 

Well … it happened.  She passed out on the treadmill.  Seems she has been having the classic symptoms of a heart attack in women for a while now, but she thought it was just a muscle spasm.  And what would I know?  Anyway, they admitted her to the hospital immediately.  I did call April.  She went right up and stayed with Chris until they got her into a room and she knew we were almost at the hospital.  Wading through the medical gobbledygook, she has a blockage of some kind, which as it was explained to me, is a secret way of saying she had a heart attack.  I know … way to bury the lead, right?  Nathan gave me a ride to the hospital (Technically I’m not supposed to be driving yet.  Back surgery restrictions) when she finally got into a room, and we took her some toiletries and a change of clothes and a book to read.  It was officially after visiting hours, but some fast talking got us past the front desk, pink shirt wearing police.  April came up after her shift was over.  We hung around until it became apparent that Nathan and April couldn’t keep their respective eyes open.  They had both worked a full day. 

 

The plan is for Chris to have a heart cath sometime today.  My buddy Josh Dorrell is filling in for me at the memorial service I was scheduled for.  Jim will also be there to open the doors and generally represent Seaside.  I still need to get someone to pick up the Koop’s barbecue for the fund raiser tomorrow.  And I need to get the poster there that introduces the Humphries Family as recipients of our receipts.  I’m sure it will eventually work out.  But in a nutshell, please do a little bit of praying for us today. 

 

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

 

Father, please take care of Chris.  She is way better off in your hands than anyone else’s.  Guide the minds and skills and especially hearts of the docs and nurses that will be taking care of her.  Amen.

November 12 – “Soups and Koop’s”

I managed to walk all the way around the block with Chris and Freddy yesterday.  Quite the milestone for me.  No big deal to you.  I was beginning to feel tightness in my right hip of all places, but we came to the end before it got too bad. 

 

That little jaunt gave me the courage to join Chris in a return engagement visit to WalMart.  One of the things we needed was a piece of poster board.  We have been tasked with making a poster showing who the recipients will be of the money we make at our fundraiser this Saturday.  Once again we have been asked to provide food for the craft fair at the Jamaica Beach Park (I think it’s from 9-3).  This year we’ll be serving Seaside Soups and Koop’s Barbecue pulled pork.  Soups and Koop’s.  kind of catchy, don’t you think?

 

Back to WalMart.  When we went the other day, they didn’t have any turkeys.  Well, they had some, but they were either 20-pounders or some kind of super-expensive gourmet types.  We needed 13-15 pounders.  As luck would have it, we located some that were just the right size for frying, so we grabbed ten of them.  Yep.  Ten.  We generally fry up ten or so every year.  We eat a few around Thanksgiving, give some away, and freeze the rest to use throughout the year in dishes requiring chicken.  So why buy now?  They need to have a week or so to thaw out in the fridge.  Unfortunately, Walmart didn’t have any of the big ol’ jugs of peanut oil.  Three or five gallons, I forget which it is.  Guess that will mean a separate trip, or maybe one to Academy.  They sold some there last year.  I felt really bad having to let Chris carry all ten of those turkeys into the house.  She found me a job, though.  I held open the refrigerator door.  Yay me.

 

I heard from Sam at church.  She saw the picture of my Dad that I posted on FaceBook.  It was from back when he served in the Coast Guard in World War II.  I know Veteran’s Day is for living vets, but I’m proud of my Dad.  Anyway, Same made the comment that she thinks I look just like him.  You know what, Sam?  I’ll take that as high praise.  See, he was known as a ladies’ man back then before my Mom nabbed him …

 

John 8:32 says, “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

 

Father, thank you for turkeys of all shapes and sizes.  And thanks for blessing us so we can in turn bless others with some of the fried version.  Amen.

November 11 – “Covid-ization required … again”

Chris went to the church yesterday.  She was determined to get it cleaned up - and smelling like it - before we start back to inside worship this Sunday.  And she wasn’t along.  Amber and Cathy both came up to join her in the efforts.  Sounds like the biggest culprit to be tackled was the residue from the tape that the election officials had used to mark where people could stand during the elections.  I understand the ladies were on their hands and knees even, doing some scrubbing.  Thanks, ladies.  Appreciate them on Sunday when you enter the building.

 

In the afternoon Chris had to go get Covid-ized again.  Yep.  Another swab crammed up her nose.  What great fun.  She is having an echocardiogram tomorrow, so the Covid-ization is required.  Her doctor is trying to figure out why her blood pressure is so out of whack, and Chris’ family history is not the greatest as far as heart stuff is concerned.  We’ll see …

 

While she was gone April came by to pick up the box our TV came in.  Her aunt needs it for something, so we have been saving it for her.  Since she was here anyway, I asked her to give me the flu shot I got from the hospital pharmacy.  Never felt a thing.

 

April also let us use their Venmo account to pay the deposit for the gigantic family photo session we have scheduled the Saturday after Thanksgiving (after the Turkey Bowl).  Yep … Venmo.  I didn’t know what that was.  Sounded like a cheap Italian wine to me.  I had heard of PayPal, though, so I thought it might be similar.  I figured April would know.  And she did.  Great to have a younger generation around that doesn’t mind being patient with the Boomers of the world.  Well, at least with this Boomer …

 

Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

 

Father, thank you for April’s patience and for her willingness to help us get that deposit taken care of.  It’s always good to have another box checked off.  Amen.

November 10 – “A real field test”

I tried to get back into the swing of work things again yesterday.  After all, it was Monday, and since the plan is for me to be back teaching again on Sunday, I have a lot to do this week.  In a nutshell, I found it difficult to stay comfortable sitting for a long time.  I suspected as much.  Chris suggested I put a pillow behind me to give my back a different level of support.  And guess what?  It pretty much worked.  That lady is so worth keeping around.  I still got tired and had to get up and walk around every so often, but I managed much longer stints.  Maybe it will only take me two or three days to finish Monday instead of all week. 

 

Then we did a real field test.  Not just a quick jaunt to Randall’s to pick up medicine.  Oh, no.  This one was a full-on grocery run to … WalMart.  Up and down all the grocery aisles.  And I made it the whole way.  Guess I may have looked a bit tired at times, though.  Chris regularly stopped and asked if I was OK.  I didn’t really feel any problem until we got back home.  I tried to get some more work done, but my back kind of tightened up again.  Maybe today will be a little better. 

 

Big topic of discussion this morning … Chris’ phone has just about seen all of its better days.  She couldn’t get onto the internet at all today.  In fact her Words With Friends screen was just completely blank.  Guess she will be receiving her Christmas present a month or so early this year.  Now we just have to figure out when we can go get one …

 

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

 

Father, thank you for the amazing things you have allowed folks to discover over the years.  Help us to remember, though, that all we really need is you.  Amen.

November 9 – “Write it up, Little Scientist”

Chris went on to church yesterday.  I decided to stay home one more Sunday, since it is still sometimes difficult to find a comfortable position to … well, to be in.  I’m still nursing that pain in my side a bit when I stand or walk, so I’ve been taking Tylenol during the day.  From the looks of things online there were quite a few people in attendance at church.  Chris counted 62, but she thinks there may have been more she couldn’t see from her vantage point.  A pretty big contingent from Missouri spilled out into the parking lot sunshine.  I could occasionally hear the motorcycles from Galveston’s “non-existent” motorcycle rally weekend.  And Kel did a good job preaching.  It was kind of his swan song before his foot surgery this Wednesday.  Thanks for the fill-in, Kel. 

 

Speaking of Kel, he and his family came over for the afternoon.  They brought the fixin’s for chicken fajitas.  Kel grilled the chicken and Christina and Chris and Noa put everything else together in the kitchen.  Micah and Jachin and Josiah and I watched TV back and forth between Texans football and … ready for this? … a Hallmark movie.  I always get a kick out of watching those movies with the boys.  Between the “fabulous” acting and the ever-predictable story lines, we always find something about them to laugh at.  And in yesterday’s case, there was a lot to laugh about in the football game, too.   The boys are doing a fantasy football league, so we also watched whatever game it was that came on after the Texans.  Sorry.  If it’s not the Texans, Cowboys, or Broncos, I don’t even recognize the team names.

 

About the only other excitement of the afternoon came when Noa, ever the little doctor-in-waiting, wanted to see the staples in my back.  Of course I complied.  Her big brothers, however, were not as excited about the opportunity.  I heard more than a few groans of “gross” and “cover it up.”  But Noa took things to a whole new level.  She grabbed one of the little magnets off the refrigerator and wanted to see if it would stick to the staples.  I was a little wary of direct contact, but we compromised.  I pulled my shirt back over the site and she tried the magnet through the cloth.  End result?  No stickage.  Probably needed a stronger magnet.  Or maybe more surface area of staple.  Write it up, Little Scientist, and it will count as a science lesson.

 

Isaiah 60:3 says, “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

 

Father, thank you for all the folks who came to worship yesterday.  Bless their week ahead.  Amen.