My 74 year old father-in-law was volunteering at the food bank and he had a heart attack last night

[underpants]

we just found out this morning.

This is his third heart attack. The first one was when he was 36 years old (2 packs a day and walking across coal trains). He is one of the longest surviving open heart surgery survivors from that period from Duke Medical. He had his last smoke on the way to the hospital that night.

Great solid "from the holler" guy who saw the Navy (didn't get in -too young- literally pulled out of the line) or the railroad as his way out. Tarred roofs in Baltimore to save money to buy a suit so he could go to the kind of dances where he could meet a good woman. My mother-in-law married "Across the tracks". Celebrated their 50th anniversary a month ago. Both of his kids have college degrees - my wife has two. He looks like Andrew Jackson and has remained very active - hunting, fishing, construction contracting. He was in Colorado in April at high altitude on a hunt.


So he is shucking corn at the food bank. Literally feeding the poor and he goes pale and has incredible pain.

The EMT's got there in two minutes. If he had been at home, the doctors say, he would have died last night. The EMT's worked their tails off on him all the way to the hospital. They saved a life last night. They put a stint in today, no need for full open surgery. He is ICU but doing well. Giving the nurses fits. We are making the 3 hour drive tomorrow night or early Friday.


How many great things can you count in that short story?

[redwitch]

1. Sounds like a great guy.

And God bless emergency crews!

[underpants]

5. Oh and

he is one of us.

True blue Dem. His friends give him fits over it but he knows the deal.

Great guy. Not great at Scrabble since we think he quit going to school when he was 12 or 13 - family has to eat.

[awoke_in_2003]

26. after reading what you said about him...

it seemed a given that he was a Democrat. Glad he is doing well.

[awoke_in_2003]

27. after reading what you said of him...

it seemed a given that he was a Democrat. Glad he is doing well.

on edit- I used the capital "D" for a reason- what passes as a democrat these days is saddening.

[Moondog]

2. He sounds like quite a guy. One deserving of that

good fortune. Hopefully he'll keep plugging along for a long time to come.

[malaise]

3. Glad he's recovering

He's a good man :grouphug:

4. I hope your pa-in-law recovers well...

sounds like a good guy. And a two minute response. WOW... those EMTs are to be commended.

[underpants]

6. Welcome to DU

:hi:

12. Thanks, underpants...

long time lurker of the General Discussion and Latest Breaking News forums... finally signed up after reading a post that just infuriated me, about the guy whose gay cousin was snubbed the the small-town church.

[cilla4progress]

20. That was a beautiful, if infuriating post,

wasn't it?

Welcome! :hi:

29. It was.

I do my best not to hate people, but the result was that I felt a grand bit of hatred for that church and others like it.

Thanks for the welcome. :hi:

[awoke_in_2003]

welcome to DU...

that post pissed me off, too. It is sad what "christian folk" are capable of. I am sure if just ONE of them had brought something it would have made a world of difference. Just a small glimmer of humanity to restore the faith in mankind. But NOBODY? Almost seems like it was planned. Fuck all of those people.

30. Yes, I thought it was planned, too.

I was raised in a church, but am no longer involved with that church--walked away when I was 18 and able to make my own choices. Still, I live in the small town where I was raised, and for some reason people talk to me, so I am privy to hearing the gossip and such, and I have no doubt that it was planned.

Wish I were in that community... I would have prepared a heavily laden table for the cousin, though it might have been Rice A Roni and Stoeffers Lasagna.

People always show you who they are if you give them a chance, and I've found that many of the church folk in my small-town community are anything but what Jesus advocated in his Sermon on the Mount.


(Today I am 100% atheist.)

[awoke_in_2003]

31. I, too, am an atheist...

but have known plenty of good christian people. They believed in things like the Sermon on the Mount, and endeavored to live up to it. To paraphrase Ghandi, I wish more christians were Christ-like.

32. I've seen most of the bigoted hatred...

emanating from the Christians in this small-town.

The truly Christ-like Christians that I have met are usually openminded, love to listen, and don't put forth a holier-than-thou persona. Those are few and far between, compared to the Sunday Morning Christians around here. Ha.

[awoke_in_2003]

28. welcome to DU...

that post pissed me off, too. It is sad what "christian folk" are capable of. I am sure if just ONE of them had brought something it would have made a world of difference. Just a small glimmer of humanity to restore the faith in mankind. But NOBODY? Almost seems like it was planned. Fuck all of those people.

[bigwillq]

70. Hello

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[MedicalAdmin]

78. They are to be commended.

If the repubs have their way, then EMT response times WILL go up drastically. Currently there is enough money to have the squads spread out but if budgets force consolidation, then they will centralize locations and some places (carry to guess which part of the gerrymandered map those will be?) will get much longer response time = more death and disablement.

It is getting to the point where I seriously just am starting to hate some people and I hate that I am becoming that way ....

Welcome to DU. :bounce:

[Dappleganger]

7. Positive vibes for your father-in-law...

he is indeed very fortunate!

My father-in-law had his first heart attack while sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. The EMT's were waiting for him when they pulled into the slip and were able to save his life. He had 3 stents inserted and until just last year was doing great. He had the stents replaced and one more put in place, but he is doing fine now. Thank god for trained professionals!

[tnlefty]

8. I'm not counting,

I'm just hoping that he'll be okay. :hug:

[NNN0LHI]

9. Hoping for a smooth recovery for your father-in-law

:hi:

[dana_b]

10. oh wow - good thoughts for him today

We need more people like him and I guess someone up there decided that was the case too.

[Snoutport]

11. GOod health to a good man!

He sounds like a good man. I hope his recovery is speedy!

[snagglepuss]

13. All the best to your father In law he sounds like a wonderful man.

Thanks for posting.

:woohoo:

[livetohike]

14. Wishing your f-i-l a complete and speedy recovery

He's feisty, that's for sure :-).

[Paka]

15. I count at least five!

story
guy
activity
response
conclusion

my enjoyment of the post. Oops, that's six. Time's up. :silly:

[applegrove]

16. He sounds like a good egg. Hope he is well.

[Rex]

17. I am glad to hear he is alive and recovering.

What a wonderful man, hope everything turns out for the best and he can one day get back to helping the poor.

You have some awesome relatives underpants! :hi:

[kwassa]

18. I had a heart attack and stent last year ....

now I run four miles three times a week.

I am 59, BTW. Also, I had no known risk factors for heart attack.

A single stent is the lowest level of intervention. I went through cardiac rehab, basically a workout program at a medically supervised gym, and your father-in-law should do the same.

Workout, diet, and medication, and his chances are very good.

[chill_wind]

19. K & R.

I love how you told this.

How many great things can you count in that short story?

Beautiful. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[AverageJoe90]

21. I do hope he recovers.

My sincere condolences. :-(

[lonestarnot]

22. I'm so sorry underpants.

:hug: I hope he's going to be ok. Heart tissue regenerates.

[EFerrari]

23. I hope he continues to improve.

What great stories. :)

[Solly Mack]

24. Wishing him a full recovery and many more years. He sounds like a wonderful person.

[Honeycombe8]

25. He sounds like a great, interesting man. Man, I wish I could meet an available man..

like that. Only younger.

[Withywindle]

33. I can't count the great things, I'm math-impaired

and your FIL alone must be at least 10,000 of them!


Thanks so much for posting this, and I'll keep your FIL in my thoughts for a quick full recovery! The world needs many more of him.

[pacalo]

34. I wish your father-in-law the best in his recovery. Sounds like a very good man.

How wonderful it is that open-heart surgery was unnecessary.

Be safe on your trip to see him; take care!

[Stinky The Clown]

35. Your Father-in-Law sounds like a guy I would like to know. Lots of good things in your story

If all they did was one stent, he'll be just fine. The downside is, he'll feel great immediately and start doing "bad" things again. :)

Seriously, I wish him the very best. And pat yourself on the back for being a good kid-in-law.

[myrna minx]

36. He sounds like a magnificent man.

All of my best to your family and I wish him a speedy recovery.

[MrScorpio]

37. May he be around for 74 more years

Great story about your Pops.

[demgurl]

38. Glad he is ok.

Hope he has many many more years.

[Hubert Flottz]

39. Heart attacks hurt pretty bad...

I'm glad he's okay for now.

[barbtries]

40. glad he was where help could get to him in time.

sounds like a good guy, your fil.

[Greybnk48]

41. I'll be sending good vibes his way!

Here's hoping for a strong and swift recovery.

[Enthusiast]

42. What a story!

Many good things!

I sure hope he gets better.

[Richardo]

43. Excellent news, and a great tribute to a fine man.

Best wishes to your F-I-L and your entire family. :hug:

[democrank]

44. Someone else can be good at Scrabble....

Your father-in-law is good at setting a superb example. Bless him.

[joeybee12]

45. Glad he's doing ok...best luck to him...knr

[sudopod]

46. *e-hug* nt

[Firebrand Gary]

47. What a great story! So glad that he is pulling thru.

[Turbineguy]

48. All the Best

To him and you and your family!

[joanbarnes]

49. A life well lived and well worth saving!

[SteveM]

50. Hang in there, he's living a good life. We should all do that...

I volunteer to weed, spread much, plant trees and rehabilitate parks in Austin, Texas on Saturday mornings (before the temp hits 100+). At my age (63) I wonder how long I should do this. But it needs to be done.

[avebury]

51. K&R

[Duppers]

52. If he's in Baltimore, he has good care.

Best of wishes for his recovery, B.


-d

[Call Me Wesley]

53. Good vibes for your dad!

Here's to a speedy recovery.

[FailureToCommunicate]

54. Uplifting story. You are lucky my friend. Your dad sounds like

the kind of guy that may not be easy to confide in, but let me be bold as to strongly suggest that you say the things you've wanted to say to him...before any more time passes. Trust me, you'll be glad you did, and so will he.

Life is our only time to work things out. If you two are square and close as can be, then bless you. If not...

maybe don't wait till Friday to see him.

Best of luck!

[a2liberal]

55. Great story but I'm curious

why it would have been so much slower if he was at home. Is it just a matter of physical proximity or something else?

[cate94]

56. Can't count all the good things in that story.

Sounds like your f-i-l is a great guy. Hope he gets well soon!

[a kennedy]

57. This just made me cry....but so happy he's doing good.

Give him a hug from me. What a life......a real hero. :hug: :applause: :patriot:

[Bendra]

58. It's not his time...

And the stars aligned just perfectly for his heart attack.

[CBHagman]

59. Go, F-I-L Underpants!

Go, EMTs! Go, nurses! Especially nurses. Cardiology nurses are THE BEST. :loveya:

[Taverner]

60. LOTS. And the one that got me was a 2 min response to a food bank

:thumbsup:

[MarianJack]

61. He Sounds Like a Great Man Who...

...lives and acts on his beliefs. Please accept my best wishes for a complete, quick and LONG recovery.

PEACE!

[southernyankeebelle]

62. That is one reason I'm afraid to volunteer. I have A-Feb. I didn't even

know I was having a heart attack. I was home and I thought I was just having a hard time to breath. I thought I was having an upset stomach. Before my husband went to work I finally told him maybe I should go the the ER and we went. They took me immediately and I ended up in the ICU for a week.

[Lifelong Protester]

63. A hearty K & R for a great story and a great ending. I hope all

continues to go well. I think it is fantastic he is volunteering at the food Bank, and I will say that one of my reactions was to be a bit ashamed that I don't do more of that kind of thing. I donate $$ but I really think we all could (or at least I could) give a little more of 'self'.

Thanks for the inspiration.

[roguevalley]

64. what a good man he is. Doing good saved him. Moral: Always do

good. :) I am so happy for your family.

[SaveAmerica]

65. His holler is in which state? Reminds me of my neighbor, in his 80's and has had 12 lives

From a holler in West Virginia, Air force Vet, served in 2 wars and has the life-threatening stories that go with them and his active duty experience taking care of and flying in all kinds of airplanes over the years. We thought we lost him several times over the past 5 years but you can't keep a good man down.

It sounds like you appreciate your FiL very much, thanks for sharing.

[Vinca]

66. Your father-in-law sounds like a great person. Hope he's home soon.

[XanaDUer]

67. Let's send healing thoughts for a speedy recovery

thank goodness he was around other ppl is right!

[Liberalynn]

68. My thoughts and prayers are with him

and you. :hug:

[MrMickeysMom]

69. Good for the EMTs and long live your FIL!

I'm thinking he will be around for more stories after that stent placement, just cause he's giving the staff shit. Good for him.

I've lately come to appreciate all the hard work people do to help other people. One of the best things you can do is help feed others, in body and in mind.

Thanks and my best to your FIL! :loveya:

[bigwillq]

71. All the best to your FIL

:hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

72. Great work by those medics

and good for your dad.

Folks if you suspect you have a heart attack... please call 911... Time is muscle.

Oh and good luck to you and your dad..

[11 Bravo]

73. Sending good thoughts down from NOVA, underpants.

[Octafish]

74. Infinite number...

...when it comes to a human being.

[Shining Jack]

75. Oh!

I'm so sorry, but also glad that he was saved.

[underpants]

76. ***My wife would very much like to thank all of you for your thoughts ***

:hi:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

77. Sending positive vibes and prayers your way, Underpants.

[woo me with science]

79. Oh my gosh, what a story.

I am grateful he is recovering but so sorry this happened.

My very best hopes and thoughts for all of you...

[Uncle Joe]

80. Strength and healing to your father in law and your family.

It sounds like he has already lived a full life.

Thanks for sharing, underpants.