I could stay young and chipper
And I’d lock it with a zipper
If I only had a heart
If I Only Had A Heart sung by Jack Haley
I know some of you may have noticed that I have slowed down posting here and on Facebook.
I thought I’d let you know my situation.
In Need of a Heart
On May 5th of this year, my husband, my daughters’ dad, had a sudden cardiac arrest at work. He works at the Oakland Airport for Southwest Airlines.
When this happened, he was walking down a hallway going to the break room when he fell to the ground. His co-worker saw him out of the corner of his eye and called 911.
But here’s the good part he just happened to fall outside of a classroom where a CPR class was in session. He became the class! CPR was initiated immediately, and the paramedics were within minutes.
They brought him back to us. Yeah CPR!
He was rushed to Highland Hospital where he was put into a medically induced coma. He came out of it two days later with no memory of the previous days.
Teff was discharged from Highland Hospital on May 13th after having a defibrillator inserted and an ok’d to go back to work on June 1st.
He went back to work on June 4th and did fine, just a little slower than usual. He went back to work on June 7th; he left early because he wasn’t feeling well. I took him to the VA clinic in downtown Oakland, and they determined he needed to be rushed back to the ER at Highland Hospital. He went via an ambulance, and I went via our car.
Long story short, the doctors at Highland (shout out to them) determined that he needed to be transferred to California Pacific Medical Center(CPMC) in San Francisco for them to evaluate him for either a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or a heart transplant.
He was transferred to CPMC on June 11th.
On June 18th, they determined he was a good candidate for a transplant and added him to the UNOS list.
Today, July 4th, he is still in the hospital, attached to many machines waiting for a heart.
My heart is breaking having him so far away from us.
He has been very supportive of me writing this blog and all the research I do for the various groups on Facebook. But the little I do make is not be enough to cover our living expenses, the cost of going back and forth to SF, and the mounting medical bill (our share.)
My daughter set up this is June.
Thank you, everyone, for all the excellent comments you have left or have told me in person about how much you love my blog.
Thank you, Dorothy
More info:
- Defibrillator – Medline Plus
- Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
- CPMC – Heart Transplant
- CPR Training Kiosk – OAK
Dorothy, I’m so sorry that your husband has fallen so gravely ill, but so glad the angels were watching over him. I will certainly contribute to the fund. I wish I could do more. Thankfully, your husband will survive, and CPMC is a great hospital with lousy parking!
I wish him God’s speed and I wish you strength…I’ve walked in your shoes with this, so I understand.
Best wishes, Linda Feldman
Thank you for your kind words. Lousy and expensive parking. It costs us about $28.00 to park each time we go. Dorothy
Thank you so much for your donation. It is much appreciated.
Thank you for sharing this information so beautifully. I was actually just realizing today that I had not seen your blog for a while, and am so sorry to hear the reason! Hoping the wait is not too long, and wishing you and your family the best in such a challenging time.
Deborah Bullock
Thank you so much for your kind words and donation. They are much appreciated. Dorothy
Dorothy, I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I am wishing the very best for you and your family.
Dorothy, I forgot to sign my comment above – Jean Hassard Hall
Jean, thank you so much. We are hoping for the best. Dorothy
Dear Dorothy. I’m so sorry to hear about difficult situation you are in due to your husband’s heart problems. I left a donation on the GoFundMe page and send my heartfelt hope that he will receive a heart donation and his condition will improve. Keep your family in my prayers. Warmest wishes. Bob Blesse
Bob, Thank you so much for your kind words and donation. I am hoping for the best.
Dorothy
Oh my
I am so very sorry for your husband and family. I have enjoyed your posts about Oakland history I was born there in 1949 an lived there til the early 70s . It was a wonderful place to grow up ! I was indeed curious to see you hadn’t posted for awhile. Now I see why !
I hope a donor will soon be found for your husband …he looks so young and it must be so difficult to wait . I am happy to contribute a bit to your fund. Best to you all. I am thinking of you . Thanks for letting us know what you are facing ❤️👍🤗
Thank you.
Dots,
I am sending you the best thoughts, wishes and many prayers for recovery to you and your family. Takes care of yourselves.
Thank you!
Dorothy, your posting very deeply touched my heart. You have given do much to each of us and now it’s our time to give back. Please know your husband and your family will be in our prayers and we pray for a good outcome. You are an extraordinary lady and writer with incredible talent.
I will figure out “Go Fund Me”
All my best wishes to Teddy.
Nan Greig
Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate it.
Dear Dorothy,
I’m so sorry to hear of your family crisis. I made a donation, am sending you warmest and hopeful wishes, and you will be in my thoughts.
Warm regards,
Ken Hood
Thank you so much!