Real Miracles, Healing Stories
Richard Pew—He did not fit the mold of a typical heart attack victim
Richard Pew did not fit the mold of the typical heart attack victim. Richard
(Rick), a 46 year old construction worker, was an avid outdoorsman with a busy
family life. He didn’t spend time in the gym, but his lifestyle kept
him active. Even though Rick was a long time smoker he looked healthy and felt
fine. But on January 20, 2007 his life would change.
WIDOW-MAKER
It
was a late January afternoon when Rick was helping remodel his son’s
home. Rick laid down his hammer to grab some pizza while his son, Brandon,
pounded in a few more nails. When Brandon came to join Rick a few minutes later,
he found his father motionless on the floor.
Brandon instantly called 911 and within four minutes the EMS unit was on the scene. Rick was having a massive heart attack which was complicated by a cardiac arrest. Rick had been struck by a ‘widow-maker’ heart attack: named by cardiologists for its efficiency at doing just that. But within three minutes of arriving on scene the emergency medical personnel had restarted Rick’s heart and then placed a tube to assist his breathing.
Alive, but unresponsive, Rick was rushed to Saint Alphonsus Emergency Department where cardiologist Dr. Oakes was called in. He was then taken to the Cardiac Cath Lab where a procedure was performed to open up the blocked artery that was causing the heart attack. A stent was placed in the artery to assist in keeping the vessel open.
Dr. Oakes informed Ricks’ wife, Lori, of the one in 10 chance of survival for ‘widow-maker’ victims. But he also offered words of hope that she would cling to. “I feel good about this guy.”
MEDICAL BATTLES
Following a cardiac arrest like Rick suffered;
sometimes patients do not wake up. Injury to the brain can continue for
hours to days after the heart starts beating again. To minimize the neurological
damage and improve chances of lessening long-term negative neurologic outcomes,
a "hypothermic" or cold rapidly following Rick's arrest was performed. This
type of procedure increases the chance of returning to previous functional
levels. Initially, Rick did well, but developed another complication,
internal bleeding.
All of this was proving to be too much for the young grandfather, Rick. Throughout the night, Rick's situation was very fragile. He became unstable and needed intensive efforts from the medical team to stabilize his heart.
As morning approached it appeared Rick had won his nightlong battle. The attending nurse summed up the previous night’s drama when he turned to Lori and remarked, “It’s a miracle…it’s a miracle.”
After 24 hours all cooling was stopped and Rick's body temperature was allowed to return to normal. His sedating medications were decreased, but he was not ready to wake up. Each morning, the medications were decreased again; each attempt had similar results.
THE HARDEST PART
For the next week family and friends kept
a 24 hour vigil waiting, praying and hoping Rick would awaken. Lori reflects, “It
was really hard for us all to leave while he was unresponsive because we were
struggling with the unknown.” Recalling the agony of waiting and
not knowing if Rick would ever wake up, Lori admits, “That was the hardest
part.”
But the medical team “never took away our hope,” Lori says thankfully.
She recalls how the doctors, nurses and therapists expected Rick to beat the
odds and wake up. Lori remembers how each health care worker would talk to
Rick as though he could hear them. “That helped our family a lot. I’m
going to cry again.” She continued, “They were an incredible
staff.”
AN AWAKENING
A full week of waiting and praying had passed.
Then one Saturday morning Rick came back to them.
Lori recounts the first visit with Rick after he awoke. “He just laid there with tears streaming down the sides of his face. We cried too. So many thoughts and emotions bottled up after the longest week of our life, words seemed empty.”
Lori now admits that one uncertainty had been replaced with another. “We had no idea what to expect when Rick woke up.” The family had been warned that even if Rick did awaken he might suffer lasting neurological damage. “They thought he might have to have speech therapy or occupational therapy.” The family was prepared for the worst. But Rick surprised everyone when he emerged seemingly unaffected by the ordeal.
Lori describes Dr. Oakes first reaction as being “amazed” when Rick turned to him and asked “How you doing?” Lori also recalls the nurse’s words, “I can’t believe it…I can’t believe it.”
RECOVERY ON HIS TERMS
There were still highs and lows, but
each day saw improvement. There was a minor set back with pneumonia, not uncommon
in such cases. But Rick inexplicably contracted an unusual strain of pneumonia
which proved much easier to treat.
As the medication was cut back Rick became “very independent” according to Lori. Upon leaving the Coronary Care Unit Rick insisted on walking to the elevator to go to the fifth floor for recovery. The reluctant nurses agreed and were so touched by his display of determination, a nurse spontaneously broke into song "He's walking on sunshine," others joined in! After arriving on the fifth floor, against the nurses' protests, Rick would fetch his own coffee while still connected to wires and tubes.
Rick’s stay in the hospital lasted only two weeks. At home his recovery continued at near miraculous pace. Against the advice of his doctors, Rick had even returned to part-time work after only two weeks at home; then full time work after only a month.
REFLECTIONS
When asked how this event has changed his life;
Rick admits that he has “little more patience…a little more peace.” Rick
adds, “All these things that get you really fired up are not that important.” He
is also quick to point out that he has quit smoking. Reflecting on the
traumatic ordeal from the family perspective; Lori praises the medical team, “Those
people did an incredible job of just caring.”
Lori also credits her Christian faith as the source of strength during the crisis. While describing their beliefs Lori says of Rick, “He knows he’s going home with Jesus some day,” she hastens to add, “...I was exceptionally glad it wasn’t now.”