Wanna Be a Steader!

NOT the Way to Start the Week...

This was NOT the way we wanted to start our week...

Monday morning, 7:10a.m.  My hubby called me to tell me that he pulled over in the parking lot of a Meijers store (about 20 miles away) because for the 2nd time that morning (the 1st time being while he was driving in the middle lane of BUSY I-75) he had to pull over for about 20 minutes because he would SUDDENLY get terrible chest pains, break out into a cold sweat, feel nauseous, and START PASSING OUT!!  Gee...I guess after the SECOND TIME he finally thought better of trying to go to work!  Sheesh...  So, that's when he called me...but...he wouldn't let me call an ambulance, nor would he allow me to wake up our oldest dd, have her drive me to him, then I could drive him to the ER.  OH, NO...he just HAD to drive himself home first!  So...what could I do?  I simply PRAYED him home!

So, I was ready to go as he pulled into the driveway, he switched seats and I drove him to the ER.  Thankfully, they ushered us right in (NOTE:  If you MUST go the a hospital's busy ER in the Dayton area, do it on a Monday a.m., it's nearly empty!).  Of course, every symptem screamed "heart attack!"  And, with his family history of heart problems (mom died of heart disease, dad has heart problems, brother has heart problems, maternal grpa died of a heart attack at 52, uncle died of a heart attack at 61, etc...) we, and the ER personel, were taking no chances! 

While we were in the ER from 8a.m. to 5p.m. (before they finally had a room for him) I have to say that they were efficient, compassionate and caring.  They performed every test they needed and even a couple that we requested.  One by one all of his tests were coming back normal and great...although there was only one that was of "border-line" concern.  But, as "good" reports CAN happen in a mild heart attack, they thankfully were taking every precaution.  

After we were moved into his room (at 5p.m. and he could FINALLY eat!), then we had to make the choice of whether or not to go for an induced stress test - which is 85% accurate and would leave that lingering 15% question of "what did we miss?" - or the 100% accurate heart cath.  Immediately, I chose the heart cath...I want to know it ALL - NOW!  I don't want to feel that there is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off and I and my girls will be left w/out him!  And, of course, even though he loves the Lord, he isn't in any huge hurry to leave us!  :-)  We are, of course, mortal!  ;-)  But now, one of the "funny" things (I love how the Lord will put a little humor in the most stressful of circumstances!)...once this big, strapping, former-farmboy found out that the cath would have to go through his groin area (in our household we call that a "groan area"), he wasn't too sure he necessarily HAD to know about that lingering 15% after all!!  HA!  ESPECIALLY when he found out that he would be AWAKE for the procedure!  HA HA! 

Well, after some discussion - with him clearly getting more and more uncomfortable w/the idea of the cath - I finally said, "Look, if it were me, I would go for the cath.  First, the girls and I do NOT want to have this lingering over our heads and I wouldn't think you would, either.  Second, you should just do it and get it over with; there may be something that comes up and they'll MAKE you do it later, anyway.  Third, I've had THREE C-sections and a colonoscopy!  For Pete's sake...YOU can do THIS!!"  Thankfully....shame can be a wonderful tool!  lol!

So, bright and early yesterday morning (Tuesday) he had his heart cath - which the Dr. later showed me the video of the whole thing while he was in recovery (it would have been a great homeschool lesson!) - and it all looked beautiful!!  We are SO thankful and are continually praising the Lord!!!

Now, they're not letting him completely off the hook, heart-wise, because of his family history; but this is still such awesome news.  The thing now, especially since he is still having the chest pains, though not as badly, is to go at a different way...now they are saying that this could be anything from gall bladder...to severe reflux...to an ulcer.  So now we'll head down that road.

So, today, we are rejoicing that not only do we STILL have the light of our home, but that he got to come home late last night and we get to spoil him and take care of him today before he goes back to work tomorrow!!

ALSO...I want to thank our pastor, our dear friends Marcy, Barry, Bob and Tom for loving us so much and for coming in to sit with us during those scary hours in the ER.  You guys are angels on earth and we don't know how we would have passed the time w/o your prayers and humor.  Thanks to Balinda for the amazing lazagna!  I also want to thank our families, our church family and the local homeschool community for all the prayers, concern, phone calls and e-mails.  I am so honored to be a part of this homeschool community!  You guys are the BEST!  

I also want to thank the boys' Jr/Sr high homeschool basketball team, the Saints, for taking the time out of your practice to pray for your biggest fan!!  You will never know how much it meant to Mr. Wolf (and I) when we heard that you all had prayed for him.  As the dad of all girls, he really enjoys rooting you on and teasing w/you after the games.  Knowing that you cared enough to pray for him really meant alot.  Love you!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><