First, I want to say that you may have not seen any new posts from me lately. Last week, I traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, for the “2016 Artsfest Midwest: the Other Art Show”, which was held this past weekend. When I drove up to Des Moines, I had multiple images prepared for blog posts. The problem was my hotel had super undependable internet service, so I was unable to post for the couple of days leading up to the art show. And with the following information, I want to let you know that I will not be posting new posts for a little while, as I’m sure you will understand.
Yesterday (Sunday, June 26), my wife Karen had an unfortunate event at the art show, with her heart getting into a “frenzied” beating, causing blood to not be pumped to her brain. Subsequently, she passed out and had multiple cardiac arrests. After receiving several shocks from an AED (automated electronic defibrillator) that was available at the show auditorium, she was transported to a local hospital, receiving two additional shocks on the way. In the emergency room, breathing stopped and CPR was administered for a short time, before she regained her breathing.
Following emergency care there, she was moved to a Critical Care Unit where she is now on a ventillator, with tubes down here throat and nose, and is being sedated with both paralytic drugs (to prevent muscle contractions/movements) and sedation (to prevent awakening). She also was introduced to hypothermic cooling, via a “cooling vest”, to lower her body core and brain temperatures.
What happens next? She undergoes hypothermic cooling for 24 hours (which ended today at 12:00 noon) and her body temperature is now being very slowly raised back to normal temperature. This process will take several hours … well into this evening, and maybe into the morning. Once her body temperature is back to normal, the paralytic drugs will be slowly eliminated from her system, followed by elimination of the sedatives. At that point, we will begin to know more about her condition … can she breathe on her own? can she respond to external stimuli? is her brain activity ok? Lots of questions to get answered! And the doctors are telling me it could be 24-72 hours before we really know the answers.
As this is being published, her body temperature has risen a bit, but still many hours of warming to go, before the drugs can be weened. In the meantime, I ask for your prayers for Karen. She is a strong-willed person, but a little divine help is strongly encouraged! I am doing ok … not a lot of sleep and cramped in the hospital. But my focus is on getting Karen well again. If you have it in your heart, please say a little prayer for Karen! Thanks much :o)
I also want to publicly thank all the EMT’s, art show volunteers, the art show sponsors, and all the wonderful hospital personnel (we’re in Mercy Hospital, with everyone doing a wonderful job with Karen). And all the wonderful artists at the show who not only ran my booth for me while I was at the hospital, but who also took up a collection to help cover associated hospital costs, and so graciously assisted with the teardown and loadup of my booth displays after the show. And for all the “best wishes” directly communicated to me. And all the prayers that have already been sent for Karen’s health. I think my experiences with so many wonderful people at the show/hospital have given me a new, positive outlook on how wonderful people can be to each other! Thank you, to all my friends and followers!