I'm Surprised, I'm still here
For quite some time, every once in a while, I'd noticed an odd feeling in my chest. The only description of this feeling was like something was fluttering in the upper area of my chest, at the base of my throat.
No real pain had been involved. I usually just ignored it until it passed.
Short version of my story
In May of 2021 I was draining a California King size waterbed mattress. We had purchased the antique waterbed and transported it to Dumas. I hadn't slept on a waterbed in years. It was nice!
The usual procedure to drain a waterbed mattress was to use a garden hose attached to the mattress and let it drain either in the bathtub or out of an exterior window or door . However, I got impatient and decided, even though it still had about two or three inches of water in it, I could get the mattress to the bathtub to drain the rest of the water more quickly.
The battle was on. A waterbed mattress that size with two or three inches of water is unbelievably heavy. No way I could just pick it up. My wife jumped in, trying to help me get this giant water bladder into the bathroom. We eventually tried to roll it in that direction.
We managed to get the mattress to the tub and halfway over the side. I was pinned in the corner with the mattress on one leg, while my wife fought to push and pull the monster into the tub.
Finally, it was in the bathtub. I was breathing like an old freight train pulling up a hill. I was light headed, nauseated and wanted to lay down. I fought off just laying on the floor and went outside to get some fresh air. My heavy breathing just would not stop. Then light chest pains began along with that old fluttering feeling.
I made it back inside and into my recliner and passed out.
With slight chest pains, shortness of breath and that fluttering thing going on I went to the ER. They immediately rushed me to an examination room. Listened to my heart and hooked up leads. They got very excited when my heart fluttered. And eventually caught the fluttering on an EKG strip. While there, I was tested for COVID-19, due to a slight fever. Results came back negative
The ER doctor insisted I be sent, by ambulance, to another hospital where heart specialist could examine me.
While admitted at this hospital, I believe they ran every test known to man. The lab drew blood every thirty minutes it seemed. They began administering blood thinner shots, in my stomach of all places. Bag after bag of IV solutions.
The heart specialist explained that part of my heart was beating much faster than the other parts, causing what's called heart flutter. He said one option was to stop my heart and restart it again. I was not interested in doing that. He immediately wanted to do a heart catheter, run a wire in my wrist down the length of my arm to my heart. I refused The doctor got mad. They did EKG's electrocardiogram, and other heart examination procedures. He said I'd had a heart attach and may have a blockage. For two days they tried to talk me into the procedure. But I would have nothing to do with that. So the heart doctor released me.
However, my fever began to rise that day and the respiratory doctor would not release me. One more day he kept saying. They again tested me for COVID-19. Test came back negative.
That night, I woke up and couldn't breath. I could only breath deep enough to whisper. I reached over and pushed the button to alert the nurses station. They responded over the speaker, but I could not speak.
I closed me eyes, thinking maybe this is how it all ends. You could say I was delirious or I was dreaming, but I was not alone in that room. I know what I saw. I've always been a spiritual man. I've been a pastor at multiple locations around the state over the last 46 years. I'm telling you, I was not alone. I was not afraid but had an overwhelming peace in perhaps the biggest storm I'd faced in my life.
Suddenly the overhead lights in the room came on and there were nurses and doctors at my side. They put an oxygen mask on me and ordered more blood tests and so forth. They again tested me for COVID-19. It came back negative.
For several days I fought to breath. I was tested for COVID-19 at least eight total times. It always came back negative. I lost 34 pounds. I was asked if I had a will? They asked me if I had family I wanted to say goodbye to. They did not think I was going home.
We serve a Mighty God. I looked toward heaven and knew I was ready to go, if it were my time. I thought of what Jesus said to those on crosses with Him that day, “Today, you shall be with Me in paradise.”
But despite the doctor's reports, it was not my time. Finally, I began to breath better, my fever left and they honored my request, reluctantly, and let me go home with follow up appointments with heart specialist, and respiratory specialist and my regular doctor.
After I had been home a day or two, I received a call from the Health Department. They wanted to know if I'd been around any contaminated water, or in a Hot Springs type spa anywhere.? I responded, “No, never have been.” They told me, according to lab results I had somehow gotten Legionnaires Pneumonia, besides having a heart attack.
To this moment, I'm surprised I'm still here!
