A Few Lessons Learned from a Heart Attack and Bypass Surgery

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by Bud Clarkson

On Wednesday morning, July 22, I completed a Crossfit workout and started to cool down. However, I did not recover as I normally do but began feeling worse.

I decided to drive home anyway. In retrospect, not the correct decision. However, before even leaving the gym parking lot I changed my mind and made my way to a Little Clinic inside a Kroger grocery store about 2 minutes away.

GOD CAN MAKE A "LESS THAN OPTIMUM DECISION" STILL WORK OUT TO OUR BENEFIT

Walked in and they informed me that they were calling ER ASAP. Here's the first cool thing about that day: the EMT crew sent to get me were ACTUALLY IN THE KROGER at the time they got the call. They just went to their truck, got their stuff, and were taking care of me in less than 5 minutes.

They took me to St. Ann's ER and those folks did their thing, including starting some blood work. They told me my "number" (whatever the marker is that indicates heart damage) was 55. Enough to be concerned and stay overnight but not high enough to say for sure what was going on.

EVEN IF GOD DOES NOT SAVE US FROM ALL TROUBLE AND CONSEQUENCES, HE SOMETIMES STILL TWEAKS CIRCUMSTANCES TO OUR BENEFIT

The next morning, more blood work. A Physician's Assistant came immediately to my room and said, "Do you remember your number - 55 - from yesterday? Well, today it is 888."

I said, "Did you say 88.8?"

He said, "No, 888. And you're going for a heart catheterization right now."

So apparently, while in the hospital on blood thinners, I had the actual heart attack. Could not have occurred under better circumstances! (The exact sequence of what happened to me during this "cardiac event" is still unclear to me, so don't hold me to exact details.)

They immediately took me in for a catheterization procedure.

Upon recovery, they informed me one blocked artery could not be opened with a stent and that another - the LAD, aka "The Widow Maker" - was in terrible condition. I had been walking toward eventually just dropping dead. The cardiologist recommended open-heart surgery but wanted to move me to St. Vincent's. If they could get me moved soon enough, there was a spot open the very next morning. Otherwise, I'd have to wait four or five days.

ONE OF THE WAYS THAT GOD BLESSES US IS BY PROVIDING DIVINE FAVOR; PUTTING THE THOUGHT INTO PEOPLE'S MINDS TO HELP US OUT

The young man assigned to get me transferred took it upon himself to rate my situation as an "emergency". With that, I got the transfer Thursday evening and they scheduled surgery for Friday morning. Just another blessing that I did not ask for but received anyway.

GUIDING THE SURGEON'S HANDS

I want to make it clear that expressing my faith in Jesus in no way detracts from my awe, appreciation of, and thankfulness for the incredibly skilled surgeons and other healthcare professionals. They split my sternum in half, kept me alive via machines, stripped veins from my legs and made new arteries for my heart, then started up my heart again, wired me up, sealed me shut, and began a process of intensive care that now gives me the opportunity to continue my life in better health than I was before.

An absolutely astounding accomplishment of science and humanity.

My sincere thanks to the scores of dedicated professionals who make it all work.

Yet even in all that, in my view, no human is infallible and I still thank God for "guiding the physician's hands".

FINALLY, WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?

I could ask endless "why questions". Why didn't God prevent this heart attack? Or, why did he let me have so many near misses when I could have just as easily keeled over dead right on the gym floor? I don't know. I have no idea.

But as long as I am here, I've got to keep on living and fulfilling the calling Jesus has for me.

And I suspect this. I met a person in the hospital that possibly - maybe - I can help in some way in their life. And would God allow (or arrange) all this just for that one connection?

I don't know exactly. But I think it is possible.

Be that as it may, I've learned once again that God is gracious. He has His own plans for our lives. Nothing can kill us until he allows it. It is up to me to make the most of the additional years I've been given.

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