Today was truly a miracle. Kent woke up late this morning c/o a tight chest. The tightness extended into his L arm. He told Aaron he would lie down a little longer. It alarmed Aaron and me. Aaron encouraged him to get dressed and we'd go to the hospital. Kent did as he said. We also had him take a baby aspirin. We arrived @ American Fork Hospital just before 10 am. Luckily, there was no one in the ER. They took him back immediately. Due to Covid-19, they only allowed one of us to accompany him. Aaron wasn't feeling well, so I went with him. Aaron sent the family a text to let them know what was going on.
The staff did an EKG and asked about Kent's history. Kent seemed great. He was joking with everone. He told the nurses he was "dear" hunting. When questioned about it, he replied, " Not deer, the other dear." 😊 After they finished the EKG, all the staff except Julie left the room. I asked her what they found? She replied that she wasn't able to read it, but it looked like there was something on the left side.
Grandpa became quiet. Julie asked him how he was. I looked up at the monitor. All of the sudden his HR jumped from 74 to 88 to 110 to 144 to 155...
Kent took a breath and made a snort sound. Julie stated, "He just coded!" Julie immediately started CPR. Everyone rushed back into the room. I stood back and panicked. They moved Kent's bed out of the room and rushed him to a crash cart. I returned to the lobby and cried to Aaron, "He just coded!"
Aaron rushed inside. The staff at the front desk allowed me to return with him. The staff had moved Kent back to the far room of the ER. Aaron and I rushed over there. A member of staff informed us that they had shocked Kent's heart and they were able to get a normal sinus rhythm. A staff member said loudly, "Kent?" Kent responded, "What?" He was back! "Are you feeling okay?" "Yes I am fine." At this point they allowed us to go into the room. Aaron sent a quick text to the family.
The staff gave Kent an aspirin suppository and some heparin.
The staff informed us that they would be transferring Kent over to Utah Valley. He was going straight to their cath lab. There they would put in a stent. The ambulance team arrived that fast. They transferred Kent off the bed. Kent was having quite a bit of pain from the broken ribs in his chest. I asked if Aaron could ride along with him, but again due to covid, no passengers were allowed to accompany patients on the ambulance.
We were only able to follow the ambulance for a block. We met LouAnn and Mark and the Jacobson's @ the hospital. We waited in the lobby on the second floor.
At 12:30 we finally got some news. Kent's left anterior descending artery, (aka the widow maker) was completely blocked. He had had a massive heart attack! Kent was lucky to be alive!
They were able to put a stent in. They started him on some new medication called Plavix. The Plavix will make his blood slippery so it won't clot around the stent site and form another blockage. A lot of unknowns for now. They will keep him for at least a few days.
