Friday, January 29, 2010

Thankful.

As many of you know, my dad had a heart attack around 2 am on Tuesday. He was in Denver on business and was staying in a hotel. He felt fine all day, but when he laid down to go to bed, he started feeling pain in his arms and chest. The pain was increasing, and he decided to go downstairs to get some air. The events that followed are nothing short of a miracle. Here are a few things that I am thankful for:

-My dad for following his prompting to go to the hotel's front desk, rather than go outside for air.
-Hotel Teatro's night manager Jim Loyd, for having extensive EMT training and being able to recognize that something was very wrong. He immediately called 911.
-Hotel Teatro's employee Kyle, who ran as fast as he could to get water and asprin for my dad and then woke up my dad's boss and drove him to the hospital to be with my dad.
-There just happened to be an ambulance and EMT's around from the corner from the hotel, and were able to get to my dad in less than a minute.
-St. Joseph's hospital for being a mile away from the hospital.
-My dad's heart, which did not have an attack until already in the ER.
-The cardiologists who were able to shock my dad  back to life with the defibrulator after he coded twice. Also, for so skillfully placing a stint in my dad's heart and removing the blockage from his artery.
-My dad's work Waterpik, for putting me and my mom in an amazing hotel room so we could be close to the hospital.
-All the doctors and nurses who helped to care for my dad so he could be released from the hospital only 3 days after his heart attack.
-My dad's coworker and his son who came down from Ft. Collins to give my dad an amazing blessing.
- My brothers-in-law Ryan, Joel, and Tom for visiting my dad, hanging out with us, and Joel for being my taxi and buddy on Wednesday.
- The dozens of family members and friends who have prayed on our family's behalf and sent kind messages.
- Most of all, my Heavenly Father- for guiding all those involved with this whole week, and for allowing my dad to survive a heart attack with absolutely no heart damage. My faith is renewed and my heart is full.

9 comments:

stacey said...

Oh Chrissi. That made me cry. I can't even imagine what your family has gone through this week. The extreme of every emotion for sure. I'm so happy that things turned out the way they did. A loving Heavenly Father indeed. :)

Angela and Mike said...

Wow, what a miracle. He was definitely in the Lord's hand. I'm so sorry you and your family went through all that, and I'm so glad everything is okay. What a week for you. Thinking of you!

Taylor Kowallis said...

really, nothing short of a miracle!! We love you guys and we are so glad he is doing well!!

{lizzythebotanist} said...

ah, man. i had no idea. so sorry you had to go through all this. glad things are better now. i can't even imagine and am dreading the day...hang in there. let me know if i can help in any way.

Rachael said...

This made me cry also. I am so happy that your Dad survived this heart attack. Thanks for this post, I do believe in miracles and love to see other witness of the miracles they are seeing in their lives daily. Again, I am so happy for your family that your Dad pulled through.

Unknown said...

so incredible.

Suzie Soda said...

I am so glad he is ok. Lindsay emailled me and asked us to pray for all of you..which I did. What a scary thing. xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

christine, i know how close you are with your dad. i am so glad that things are ok. life is so precious, your story reminded me of that. i can't wait to see you. i have been thinking about you all week and have been praying for your family in my own little way :)

Unknown said...

Chrissi, we have been praying for your dad since we heard last week. I'm so happy that he is doing well. We are thinking of your family!