If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

D is for Hero

Have I ever told you the story of my greatest hero?

No not this guy



This guy



Him and I have been chums for as long as I can remember.

We have been all over the continent together on many adventures.

I don't recall too many adventures without him being a part.

He has been my fishing partner


My hunting partner


My Oyster Eating Partner






He has always been there to talk to, to cheer me up, to mentor me and support me.
I can't imagine a life without him.

Which is what almost just happened.

Just a week ago last Wednesday he suffered a major heart attack.
He was walking out of the Clearwater Aquarium where he was with his wife, my brother and his wife and his beloved grandson when it hit.

He went about ten minutes without a pulse.  A wonderful ensemble of people helped out during the crisis.  One which was a retired firefighter/paramedic who administered CPR until the ambulance got there.  I believe that man was my father's guardian angel.

While on the way to the hospital they continued CPR and delivered 4 shocks to his heart and a few of those adrenaline shots to the chest.  He regained a pulse on the ride.

Once at the hospital, the doctors put him on an Arctic Ice machine which essentially puts him into a hypothermic state.  This is a new technology they are using to help prevent brain/organ damage in patients during this type of duress.  His core temperature was lowered several degrees.

At this point, I was in a plane touching down at the Tampa bay International Airport.
My Aunt picked me up at the airport.  It was not looking good.  She only told me that she would drive as fast as she could because he was fading and she wasn't sure she could get me there in time.

His BP was crashing and his heart was not beating well as I was on my way to the hospital.  Doctors stopped the cooling process and raised his core temp up just a tiny bit.  He stabilized moments before I walked in the door.

I grabbed his ice cold hand and told him to hang on and that I loved him.  I told him to fight.  Fight for what he loved.  His wife, his children, and grandchildren and to fight so he could hold his soon to be born granddaughter.

Guess what he did?

Your damn right he did.

The doctors turned the cold machine to warm after 24-36 hours of cooling ( It's kind of a blur) and as his body warmed up to 98.6 degrees and as they started to reduce the paralytic, coma inducing medicine, he began to wake up.

I remember calling his name and he turned his head and opened his eyes about half way and looked at me.  It was one of the greatest moments of my life.  Not many people get to watch their father being born!  When he was awake a bit further we asked him questions.  He would shake his head yes and no and wiggle his toes and fingers.  

Somehow, someway he fought through and he came back to us.

Within 3 days he was sitting up in a chair and reading the newspaper.  Strong and stubborn!



He is home now after having a defibrillator implanted and is recuperating.  I can't wait to see him again!

He is my rock, my hero, my friend, he is my:

Dad

I love you!




9 comments:

  1. I cried reading this. I really did. You and your dad are so lucky to have the kind of love and respect for each other. I've read it in other posts, like that last fishing trip and the one where you and Angel and your dad and his wife went to Mexico… and now here… you are a wonderful son, to a wonderful dad.

    I want to thank you also, Bushman, for not being a macho guy and being able to share the real feeling you have for your dad… and by extension all your family. You're one lucky bunch.

    Please let your dad know I'm keeping him in my talks with the Universe and sending him wishes for a speedy recovery. I'm so glad he'll be here to see Corabella… it's their destiny to meet.

    Sent with smiles and warm hugs to all… Jenny

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  2. Thank God for the right people being there! There were angels watching out for him. Prayers for a full recovery and many more fishing trips with your father.

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  3. Oh wow! So glad to hear a happy ending to this story! Amazing what they can do these days in situations like this and so glad the right people were there at the right time! Here's hoping and praying your dad makes a continual good speedy recovery (and that he follows the doctors' orders :)

    betty

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  4. Beautiful story - I hope you dad continues to fight and inspires your family and everyone in his life to better health and a long, long life together!

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  5. I have loved all the post so far but I truly love this one!! POPS is a hero

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  6. Good to hear your hero is doing better. Good to hear he survived! Glad this was a "second chance" ending not the other way around...

    Lost my father 18 years ago. Heart attack. No one was around. My mom found him, dead. You are lucky, he survived. I know i miss my father. Every day.

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  7. This is my favorite post so far. My dad is definitely my hero as he has been so influential in many of the life decisions I've made. Both of my parents are getting older so any time I'm able to spend with them is precious.

    Dan Miller
    http://www.impressionevergreen.com

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