Friday, July 13, 2012

And this

So here's the most real news. My cousin's husband collapsed three nights ago. Turns out he has a very weak heart. Today they catheterize him to see exactly what's going on. They suspect a blockage in the vessels feeding the heart. If it's extensive, they may have to do open heart surgery right away. My cousin thinks the doctors are trying to prepare them. Her husband is a muscular fit guy who goes to the gym every day and doesn't drink or smoke. I hesitate to write this because I haven't asked permission, and this might be violating their privacy. But my heart is in my throat, waiting for news. I feel as if I should be there, with my cousin in Virginia. She is the closest thing I have to a sister, and we both know this is how our mothers would have done it, teleporting themselves to the sister facing trouble at a moment's notice. My cousin is preternaturally calm. She is a woman of deep faith. We're all praying. And yes, it does seem that this sort of medical crisis has been happening a lot lately. But I refuse to add one to the other or draw any larger conclusions, except to note that life is just like this sometimes, especially when you have a large family and large numbers of them have reached a certain age. When there are a lot of people you love, your heart is bound to clutch and ache now and then. Sometimes more now than then.

Update at 4 PM: "No blockage. Pacemaker needed." That is the text I just got from my cousin. In the scheme of things, this is very good news, even though her husband doesn't quite understand all the jubilation. "I have to get a piece of metal implanted in my chest," he says. And since he feels well again, after a week of resting in the hospital, the averted alternative, open heart surgery, is a mere figment to him. The doctors don't actually know why his heart should be so weak. Could be he was just born that way. Now my cousin's worried about how she will convince him not to lift anything for four weeks while things settle with the pacemaker. This is a much better worry than she had two days ago.

11 comments:

  1. i think many of us are clutched, right along with you. i know it's a cliche....but, life is so damn fragile. courage, my friend. sending waves of hope to all your family....

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  2. This is very good news indeed. My Bobby had a triple bypass in April, 1997. Since then he has had a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted. He is still doing well enough to drive me crazy several times a week. Consider this event as a means to make your cousin better.

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  3. Yes. Very good news.
    And you're right about our ages and the large families. Sadly, this is normal.

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  4. Sending prayers your way for continued strength through this tough period.I am glad to hear of the updated good news.

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  5. IN the scheme of things - this is good news indeed!

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  6. The cliches abound -- I was just thinking the other day that tragedy and illness and shocking changes just seem to be happening all the time, and then I realized that it's because we're all getting older. Who knew?

    I'm relieved to hear that your cousin will be all right -- sending good and healing thoughts to all of you.

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  7. It is always so scary to hear that there are problems with the heart. Amazingly, it is often something that doctors are able to fix. I am so glad this is the case! Pacemakers are very common and work very well. Keep us posted on how he is doing.
    xo
    ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

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  8. Thank you, sweet friends. I heart you.

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  9. Glad to hear open heart surgery wasn't needed. I'm sure the fact that he was fit and healthy helped a lot. I hope everything is going better for them now, and for you all.

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