The Prayer List

[Sherry B.]

Ann, so glad you are okay!

[Lotti D.]

So glad you're fine.

[ANNE E.]

Please say a prayer for my husband who was admitted to hospital yesterday after having a stroke, we don't yet know how severe.
To all of you if you have the faintest feeling that some one is having a stroke get the emergency services IMMEDIATLY! every second counts.
I didn't and I will never forgive myself for waiting because my husband kept saying.....I'm OK ....well he wasn't.
Anne

[ANNE E.]

Anne, don't be too hard on yourself. Men are that way. But I will be praying for both of you. Please keep us posted.

[ANNE E.]

Oh Ann, it is so hard when your own instinct is overridden by another's insistance that they are ok. Don't keep beating yourself up for listening to his words instead of to his body language. You have more important things to do with your time now with sorting out what happens next. Thoughts & prayers coming your way.

[Robin G.]

Anne, many prayers for you and your husband! And please don't be hard on yourself—you will need all your strength for helping your husband recover! Big hugs, Robin

[Catherine S.]

Anne, so sorry to hear about your husband. I will pray for both of you and for your family. May you both have the strength needed to work for recovery. We are here if you need a sounding board. Please don't feel guilty. We have been trusting their decisions for years, so when they say they are OK, we tend to believe them.

[E.M. T.]

Sorry to hear of you troubles ! Those fellas can be mighty stubborn trying to be strong !! I'm sure you did
the best you could...don't "what if" yourself.....sending love and positivity....recovery ahead !

[Geneva C.]

Ann, hugs and good thoughts are coming your way. Take care,

Geneva

[karen f.]

I'm praying Anne.

[Lotti D.]

Sending strength and healing to you and your DH, Anne.

Don't beat yourself up over it. You are not alone!

Too many people still do not appreciate the importance of speedy treatment in cases of a stroke, heart attack or cardiac arrest. Most often they are the patients themselves, but in case of stroke or heart attack it needs checking by a qualified professional, as quickly as possible.


The American Stroke Association, the American Heart Association (and many other such organizations) have great info material. The more often one reads these and makes oneself familiar with the symptoms and proper responses, the higher the chance for recovery. The quicker the turn-around time, the better the chance for full and quick recovery!
Here a couple of links:
http://strokeassociation.org/STROKEO...ubHomePage.jsp
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Condit...04_Article.jsp

And many people still don't appreciate that today these health issues are just as prevalent in women as in men, and the ages of the persons struck are also coming down at an alarming rate.

In the case of a sudden cardiac arrest, calling for immediate medical help and then giving CPR (if available also the use of a defibrillator) is vital... Chances of survival depreciate very very quickly. CPR keeps the oxygen already available in the body circulating - oxygenation is vital for the brain cells to keep functioning! AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) are now available in many public places, they are very easy to use and most of them talk to you and tell you exactly what you have to do.
I know of a case where a little boy hopped up and down on his daddy's chest because he had seen the chest compressions done on TV. He saved his daddy's life with full brain function! The only thing you can do wrong, is to do nothing at all!

Sorry about this long add-on, but this is very close to my heart, and in my job I read, hear and see too much about deaths or invalids resulting from these conditions.

[Lotti D.]

Anne--please let me tell you a few stories. This will probably be long so others can just skip it if they want. My husband let me know he was having chest pains and I took him to the hospital. The doctor asked him if he had had any tightness in his chest or difficulty breathing and he said yes. The doctor asked for how long and he said a year. I wanted to beat him over the head. He hadn't told me about the tightness in his chest or the difficulty breathing. They sent him home because he said he was having heart burn and the doctors assumed that was what the problem was(never mind that while he was on nitroglycerin the problem went away). Anyway, they sent him home and told him he could go back to his normal activities. It was the middle of January and below freezing outside and he wanted to take his walk--I had a fit and said I didn't care what the doctor said, if there was something wrong with his heart walking in the frigid weather could make it worse and I didn't want to have to go out looking for him and find him on the side of the road dead. He stayed home and that night I took him back to the hospital with chest pains. They did quadruple bypass surgery on him.

The next time he was taking antacids for his stomach, he kept telling me it was just heartburn. I told him to go to the doctor--we argued, I let him have his way. He loves to eat and we had gone, with friends, out to eat. I noticed he didn't eat much and asked if he was alright. He said yes. On the way home he said he thought we should go to the hospital. This time it was his gall bladder. It was gangrenous and had infected his liver. No small incision surgery for him.

On the way out the door to go to work on a Friday he tells me he has a tooth ache. I told him call the dentist and get something for it so he doesn't have to deal with it pain all weekend. He get medicine and when I get home from work he tells me his stomach hurts. I didn't think that particular medicine would cause stomach problems but told him to call the dentist and tell them and maybe they could give him something else. Stomach pain and more antacids and he tells me he is fine. I keep watching him and soon he can't walk upright(for 24 hours I had told him I think you need to go to the doctors). When he could no longer stand the pain, and I had reminded him that I thought he still had his appendix, he let me take him to the emergency room. They told us if he had waited any longer it would have ruptured. So, after having the appendix removed they sent him home, he had oral surgery for the tooth the next day and the day after that he was back in the hospital because he had a severe infection at the sight of the appendix surgery.

When he was fully recovered from this one I told him the next time he had indigestion and was taking antacids I was immediately taking him to the hospital. Three major surgeries and him telling me it was heartburn was enough.

I tell you all this to say--he is an adult. I shouldn't have to tell him it is time to go to the doctor. He should be grown up enough that he doesn't need a mommy. But he does. Sometimes, we just have to put our foot down and say "enough". Unfortunately, you didn't know how serious the situation was with your husband. You can only do what he allows you to do. I agree, no more beating yourself up, look to what is to be done next and know that we are here for you with prayers and an ear to listen(and we understand).

[Susan B.]

Praying for you both, Anne.

[Susan B.]

Oh the men in our lives and how they cause us to pray!!! Many of us have stories about our hard-headed men (fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, sons etc.) when it comes to going to the doctor.

Anne -I'm glad he's okay now, and will pray for a full recovery and a guilty-free conscience for you! Keep writing on this forum if it does you good and know that we are here for you and support you in our thoughts, hearts, and prayers.

[Pam D.]

Dear friends,

I have just spoken to Anne1 on the phone. She thanks you all for your private messages, prayers and good wishes.

The stroke has affected Wolf's right side although he can move his arm and hand, he can't hold a pen. His brain seems to be functioning well, although his speech is slghtly affected. He is difficult to understand at times as his pronounciation isn't too good, but he was able to give his daughter instructions on emails to send re cancelling meetings etc. He is cheerful but very tired. He is due to have an MRI scan today.

Their daughter lives nearby, which is a blessing to both Ann and Wolf. I live half an hour away from them and will keep in touch.

God bless you all for your love prayers and good wishes