Bonnie and I have much to be thankful for! We have talked about what took place 9 years ago today. We cannot think of anything more appropriate than sharing our experience those 9 years ago. Please note that I don't remember all of what happened as it was such a trying time so if I have forgotten someone (and I'm sure I have!) please forgive me.
All of you who helped us over that trial in any way we cannot thank you enough! ~
The story . . .
Craig’s Arm story, November 2006
Back in 2006 I started having difficulty breathing. It wasn’t a problem at first as I thought it was allergies or asthma. I figured it would go away. It didn’t. As it continued to worsen it got to the point I couldn’t walk ten steps without being so winded I nearly passed out. At that point Bonnie said, we need to take you to the hospital.
When I arrived in the emergency room the nurse put a blood oxygen meter on my finger, it read 75%. Normal readings run near 100%. The nurse said the meter must be wrong as people with that low an oxygen level usually pass out. They took a blood draw from my artery and discovered it was that low!
Later they did a Cat-scan to find the problem. It turned out to be a pulmonary embolism (Blood clot on the lungs) roughly 5” long.
The first doctor to come into the room said they would need to operate and they would try to save one of my lungs! Then another doctor came into the room and suggested we try blood thinners first. We chose the blood thinners. However, during the procedure, I developed a complication called Compartment Syndrome. My arm exploded with internal bleeding and I lost 7 pints of blood in my arm. I went from a serious problem to a critical problem. How do they stop the internal bleeding and save my life? Next problem, how do they save my arm as the lost blood works as a tourniquet. They gave me blood transfusions to keep me alive and stopped the blood thinners. Then another doctor came in (Dr. Gosney) to tell me the risk to my arm. He said, “in all likelihood you will lose your arm! We can’t do any operations to save your arm until all the thinners are gone from your system or you will bleed to death.” If we don’t operate soon the tourniquet effect of the blood restricting the flow to the arm will deaden the arm. They had to wait.
The next day they did the surgery. Pictures found in the folder with this document.
The biggest blessings are the people who came to our rescue!
Funny Stories during this
Cat-Scan
While waiting in the hospital hallway for the Cat-Scan, in a horribly small and exposed gown and on the coldest gurney with the thinnest bedsheet ever made, I decided to have a little fun. Seeing my blue skin from the lack of blood and the cold, I put the sheet over my head and pretended to be dead, which wasn’t far from the truth. Then when an unsuspecting passerby came, I would moan. I waited for what seemed like hours but was only 45 minutes in the hallway. After some commotion followed, the tech finally came out, scolded me, then took me in for the test. I laughed as it had the desired results, I got in!
Sacrament
The Bishop came one Sunday to give me the Sacrament. A complainer patient in the next bed couldn’t hear well and had his TV on “boom box” volume. It was plain with the noise and the complaints going on the Sacrament was not going to be a good experience. I politely told him what the Bishop had come for and asked if he would turn the volume down until he was through. I did not know what would happen, he kindly obliged and we had a nice spirit attend us that afternoon.
Nurse who thought I was famous, and wouldn’t believe I wasn’t
One night a nurse or LVN came in to check on me and saw all the cards on the counter. She looked at me real hard, then looked again at the cards, then again back at me. When I partially hid under the covers she asked, “Who are you?” I said, “no one in particular,” and she said again, “No, who are you!?” “I said my name this time and said again I’m no one special.” She said, “I have never seen so many cards for a patient before! Even for famous patients who I’ve cared for.” You have to be someone famous! I said, when you belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you have many friends.
Gratitude
As one would expect in a hospital, the nights were long and tedious: noises, nurses and nerves are all one has to think about in those late hours. As I tried to sleep, all I could think of was Thanksgiving, Christmas and the problems my illness were causing. Then the movie “White Christmas” and the song “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” came into my thoughts. As I started counting them worries eased and sleep came. I can never forget the kindness of those who helped us in so many ways. I will ever be grateful for all the friends, neighbors and costumers who were so kind and gracious during those trying days.
"Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep"
IRVING BERLIN
"Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep"
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep
Counting your blessings
GRATITUDE
November 2006
VISITORS
1. Ted Lofgren
2. Bob Pratt
3. Todd and Laura Jueschke
4. Bishop David and Sherrie Broadbent
5. Richard Gause
6. Dennis Tannen
7. Hilmers
8. Haghighat
9. Mom
10. Troy Holmes
11. Richard, Julie, Kathleen, Daniel and Rachel Miles
12. TJ Shelby
13. Ralph and Lori Roberts
14. Paula Monnich
15. Bob Allen
16. Jean Christensen
17. Terry Shelby
18. Mr. Feer
19. Erik, Jill, Andrew and Jennifer Holmes
20. Carl Miller
21. Dale and Karen Low
22. Brian Wait
23. Bryan Terrill
24. Sheryl Burnell
25. Jason and April Burnell
26. Paul Ebbs
27. Steve Hendrickson
28. Lynn Reeder
29. Don, Janeal, Evelyn and James West
30. President. Mark and Sister Paula Chase
31. The Garcia Family (Neighbors 4)
32. Gary and Linda Noland
33. The Sharp’s
Calls
1. Bryan Hooper
2. Mike Summerhays
3. Wanda Green
4. Eric Jensen
5. The Alvords
DINNERS:
Wednesday. – Paula Leal and Vicki Erhardt
Thursday. – Steve and Paula Monnich
Friday- Jack and Jean Christensen
Tray for a week – Robyn Shelby
Help with Work:
Oscar Garzon – two weeks during vacation – in the truck
Bob Allen – Every Monday his day off
Janeal West – four weeks in the van
Ralph Roberts
Steve Monnich
Lynn Reeder
Daniel Miles
Brandon Stephenson
Ehrhardt boys
YARD:
Todd Jueschke –mow lawn
Ralph Roberts – mow and trash
Blessings:
Bishop Broadbent
Todd Jueschke & Richard Gause
Bob Allen and the Missionaries
All of you who helped us over that trial in any way we cannot thank you enough! ~
The story . . .
Craig’s Arm story, November 2006
Back in 2006 I started having difficulty breathing. It wasn’t a problem at first as I thought it was allergies or asthma. I figured it would go away. It didn’t. As it continued to worsen it got to the point I couldn’t walk ten steps without being so winded I nearly passed out. At that point Bonnie said, we need to take you to the hospital.
When I arrived in the emergency room the nurse put a blood oxygen meter on my finger, it read 75%. Normal readings run near 100%. The nurse said the meter must be wrong as people with that low an oxygen level usually pass out. They took a blood draw from my artery and discovered it was that low!
Later they did a Cat-scan to find the problem. It turned out to be a pulmonary embolism (Blood clot on the lungs) roughly 5” long.
The first doctor to come into the room said they would need to operate and they would try to save one of my lungs! Then another doctor came into the room and suggested we try blood thinners first. We chose the blood thinners. However, during the procedure, I developed a complication called Compartment Syndrome. My arm exploded with internal bleeding and I lost 7 pints of blood in my arm. I went from a serious problem to a critical problem. How do they stop the internal bleeding and save my life? Next problem, how do they save my arm as the lost blood works as a tourniquet. They gave me blood transfusions to keep me alive and stopped the blood thinners. Then another doctor came in (Dr. Gosney) to tell me the risk to my arm. He said, “in all likelihood you will lose your arm! We can’t do any operations to save your arm until all the thinners are gone from your system or you will bleed to death.” If we don’t operate soon the tourniquet effect of the blood restricting the flow to the arm will deaden the arm. They had to wait.
The next day they did the surgery. Pictures found in the folder with this document.
The biggest blessings are the people who came to our rescue!
Funny Stories during this
Cat-Scan
While waiting in the hospital hallway for the Cat-Scan, in a horribly small and exposed gown and on the coldest gurney with the thinnest bedsheet ever made, I decided to have a little fun. Seeing my blue skin from the lack of blood and the cold, I put the sheet over my head and pretended to be dead, which wasn’t far from the truth. Then when an unsuspecting passerby came, I would moan. I waited for what seemed like hours but was only 45 minutes in the hallway. After some commotion followed, the tech finally came out, scolded me, then took me in for the test. I laughed as it had the desired results, I got in!
Sacrament
The Bishop came one Sunday to give me the Sacrament. A complainer patient in the next bed couldn’t hear well and had his TV on “boom box” volume. It was plain with the noise and the complaints going on the Sacrament was not going to be a good experience. I politely told him what the Bishop had come for and asked if he would turn the volume down until he was through. I did not know what would happen, he kindly obliged and we had a nice spirit attend us that afternoon.
Nurse who thought I was famous, and wouldn’t believe I wasn’t
One night a nurse or LVN came in to check on me and saw all the cards on the counter. She looked at me real hard, then looked again at the cards, then again back at me. When I partially hid under the covers she asked, “Who are you?” I said, “no one in particular,” and she said again, “No, who are you!?” “I said my name this time and said again I’m no one special.” She said, “I have never seen so many cards for a patient before! Even for famous patients who I’ve cared for.” You have to be someone famous! I said, when you belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you have many friends.
Gratitude
As one would expect in a hospital, the nights were long and tedious: noises, nurses and nerves are all one has to think about in those late hours. As I tried to sleep, all I could think of was Thanksgiving, Christmas and the problems my illness were causing. Then the movie “White Christmas” and the song “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” came into my thoughts. As I started counting them worries eased and sleep came. I can never forget the kindness of those who helped us in so many ways. I will ever be grateful for all the friends, neighbors and costumers who were so kind and gracious during those trying days.
"Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep"
IRVING BERLIN
"Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep"
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep
Counting your blessings
GRATITUDE
November 2006
VISITORS
1. Ted Lofgren
2. Bob Pratt
3. Todd and Laura Jueschke
4. Bishop David and Sherrie Broadbent
5. Richard Gause
6. Dennis Tannen
7. Hilmers
8. Haghighat
9. Mom
10. Troy Holmes
11. Richard, Julie, Kathleen, Daniel and Rachel Miles
12. TJ Shelby
13. Ralph and Lori Roberts
14. Paula Monnich
15. Bob Allen
16. Jean Christensen
17. Terry Shelby
18. Mr. Feer
19. Erik, Jill, Andrew and Jennifer Holmes
20. Carl Miller
21. Dale and Karen Low
22. Brian Wait
23. Bryan Terrill
24. Sheryl Burnell
25. Jason and April Burnell
26. Paul Ebbs
27. Steve Hendrickson
28. Lynn Reeder
29. Don, Janeal, Evelyn and James West
30. President. Mark and Sister Paula Chase
31. The Garcia Family (Neighbors 4)
32. Gary and Linda Noland
33. The Sharp’s
Calls
1. Bryan Hooper
2. Mike Summerhays
3. Wanda Green
4. Eric Jensen
5. The Alvords
DINNERS:
Wednesday. – Paula Leal and Vicki Erhardt
Thursday. – Steve and Paula Monnich
Friday- Jack and Jean Christensen
Tray for a week – Robyn Shelby
Help with Work:
Oscar Garzon – two weeks during vacation – in the truck
Bob Allen – Every Monday his day off
Janeal West – four weeks in the van
Ralph Roberts
Steve Monnich
Lynn Reeder
Daniel Miles
Brandon Stephenson
Ehrhardt boys
YARD:
Todd Jueschke –mow lawn
Ralph Roberts – mow and trash
Blessings:
Bishop Broadbent
Todd Jueschke & Richard Gause
Bob Allen and the Missionaries
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