We were doing just fine on Tuesday. There was a heat wave with sunshine and temperatures in the high thirties. I drove into town for feed and to mail a bag of seed orders then drove home. In the drive, I met Will on the big bulldozer. He’d told me he was going to widen the driveway’s snowbanks and cut a couple dead trees next to the drive, so they didn’t fall across it in a windstorm. He moved over and I went on home, another 3/4 mile.

I was doing housework when he came in, looking terrible! He was as pale as a ghost and kind of staggering. I quick looked for blood and there was none. He was sweating and said his chest was giving him awful pain. Oh oh; heart attack! I asked him if he could get to the car or if I should call an ambulance. Meanwhile, I gave him an aspirin to chew, which is first aid for a heart attack. He said he could make the car, which was parked right outside the door. I helped him in and headed for town 13 miles away. Stop reading now if you’re a police officer! (I was doing 80 and made the hospital in 10 minutes.) Yes, I did drive safely, other than speeding. I knew an ambulance would take at least half an hour to get together and get to our house, so I chose the fastest way to get him help.

The doctor agreed with my diagnosis and the crew started installing IVs and an EEG. They tried to order a helicopter life flight but freezing rain was forecast and the choppers wouldn’t fly. He needed to get to Duluth, to the big hospital as soon as possible. Finally, an ambulance loaded him up and headed south with sirens and lights flashing. Whew!

I’ll admit I was scared; I remembered losing my late husband, Bob, 16 years ago to a brain aneurysm. But I had things to do before going to Duluth. I drove home (at the speed limit), stuffed wood in the fire, did minimal chores, let the dogs out to potty and headed for Duluth.

When I got there, they looked his name up on the computer and couldn’t find him! Boy, was I really getting scared. But finally, they did, and he had already had a heart cath and was in his room. One artery was completely blocked, and he has 30% blockage on another. But the good news is that he is fine and able to do what he wants to, except for lifting more than 50 pounds for a while. He’s scheduled to get the second blockage taken care of in a month. I’m pretty relieved!

Will after his stent was put in, his artery cleaned out, feeling much better. Thank you God!

The one downside is his blood sugar was elevated so the doctors want him to cut down on the sugar intake (as in 6 cans of Pepsi a day!). And he’s such a Pepsi addict! But he’s being a good boy and is switching to water, instead. And I’m no longer leaving out cookies, bars, and other sweet goodies for him to snack on all day.

So, we’re home and pretty normal. But it sure made us remember to count our blessings and value every single day. — Jackie

146 COMMENTS

  1. Jackie, you will have to watch your husband. I had to watch my husband or he would be outside doing things he was told not to do. God Bless you both.

    • I watch him like a hawk. Luckily, I was there when he was told what he could and couldn’t do. So far, he’s obeying. Thank you for your blessings.

  2. Aren’t you just SO thankful for having a God to lean on and depend on Jackie?? I know I sure am. I can’t imagine doing this life without his help. Thanking God that Will is ok…and that you didn’t get a ticket!! ❤

    • I certainly am! I can’t imagine going through life without His help. I was thinking about getting pulled over but thought, what the heck; a police escort to the hospital!

  3. Oh Jackie! So glad you knew to give Will the aspirin and that he is doing ok. I’m sure it’s going to be hard for him to take it easy. Prayers for you both.

    • He’s lucky in many ways. It’s winter so there’s not so much hard, outside work like in the spring, summer and fall. And his limitations are modest so even he can follow them. Thank you for your prayers.

  4. Adding you and Will to my prayer list. So thankful his outcome has been good so far and pray it continues. Getting the blood sugar under control should improve his general well being immensely.

    • Yes, we think it will, too. (He’s not happy about losing his Pepsi fix but he’s not too crabby.)

  5. All my love and prayers to you. My grandmother has had several heart attacks over the last 10 years, and my mother died at 46 of a heart attack a few years ago. So I am very glad that Will was able to get to the hospital and that everything is going to be okay.

    • I am too, Melissa! That was sure a scary day. The outlook looks good, and he goes for a check-up on Thursday, and the second stent next month. That one will go much easier on him!

  6. So close, so close! I either recall following u 16 years ago or just read your info. Take care of each other! Losing my husband to lung cancer 3 years ago filled me with so many regrets for the plans we had but life somehow goes on, prayers for you both!

    • Thanks so much, Ginger. Having so many BHM family members keeping us in their prayers really helps a lot.

  7. So thankful Will is doing ok. You certainly made the difference with your quick actions! I am a registered nurse and just retired in January. I worked at a small hospital and cardiac events are transferred to larger facilities. We had been having difficulty getting beds for our patients and had to call multiple other facilities and occasionally sending patients out of state. This makes patients have extended waits in the ER and delays treatment at times. So thankful Will was able to get a bed and appropriate treatment. Prayers for you all for a speedy recovery.

    • Thank you so much for your prayers! I, too, am very happy he was able to get quick treatment and will have a great outcome, over all.

  8. Holy cow, you did all the right things. He is very lucky. I too experienced this with an MI in 2001. The ambulance ride was the worst (weather too poor for heliocopter). I’ve been thankful everyday since. He will need cardiac rehab – they will need to be educated in how active he is and what he does. Health and good local care can never be taken for granted. My wife has had leukemia for some time and we try to stay vigilant. I am thankful he is doing well and has the opportunity to regain his busy, fruitful, normal lifeand return home to you. God Bless

    • Thanks Everett! Yeah, he about froze in the ambulance. His hands and arms were like ice when he got to his room, following the stent (which he said only took like 10 minutes!!!) They were very good and fast. He’s scheduled for cardiac rehab at our local hospital. I didn’t know about your wife so will add her to my prayer list!

  9. Praying for Will that his health remains good and for you Jackie. I’m glad you were able to get him to tge hospital in time and get it taken care of

    • Me too! I was afraid he’d argue with me about going to the ER. But he didn’t when I threatened to call the ambulance. Thanks for your prayers!

  11. Oh Jackie!! My heart goes out to you. I have been in that same situation several times. My husband has had 2 heart attacks with open heart and many stents. Almost 4 years ago I had a heart attack and got the high sugar lecture too.

    You can do this. Look at all of the fresh veggies and meat you have that your grow.

    I will pray for you and for Will’s recovery! I thank God it wasn’t worse and I thank Him for stents!!!

    • Boy, Cindy, we do too!! We’re luckier than most; we are active and eat lots of what we grow (except the Pepsi!!). But Will is doing great about cutting it out of his life. Thank you for your prayers. You and your husband stay well too.

  12. Praise God. We just never know what can happen one minute to the next. Enjoy life , love Jesus and each other. God bless you both

  13. One never knows what a day will bring. All of us are truly rejoicing that Will is recovering so well. God’s inbox must be jammed with all the prayers being sent up but fortunately for us, there’s no limit to His capacity. Strength and health to you both as you get past this!

  16. Blessings to you both! I am so grateful for your quick action! Thanking God it was not a snowed in day this happened!

  17. My husband and I have both had heart attacks and stents and he had open heart surgery in 2018. I had a blockage in one artery that was not even enough to stent. Doctor said a piece of plaque broke away. Never had any pain just suddenly couldn’t breathe. This in 2019. So I know how terrifying this is and am so glad that he got help in time.

    We are now struggling with another health problem. After Thanksgiving we had a trespasser and my husband asked him to leave. We are on a private road & not many can comprehend that we actually own the road. Anyway, this young man hit my husband in the face and ran away. Police came and took a report–of course the guy was long gone. Anyway, my husband had a horrible black eye any was cut with his glasses frame. Later he began to have headaches–finally so severe we went to the ER. He has a subdural hematoma from that blow. He was taken to Vanderbilt by ambulance and examined by a neurosurgeon. They were hopeful it would be absorbed. He had the worst headaches I’ve ever seen. I called 911 one night because I really thought he might die. That has mostly passed but his vision is affected–hopefully as swelling decreases it will improve. We are going back to see the surgeon Monday. They will do a cat scan before we see the doctor.

    I’m sorry to write such a long post but I appreciate the relief of telling this story to someone who will understand. I hope Will will be cooperative in taking care of himself. They are so used to doing so much that it’s hard for them to slow down.

    • I’ll add your husband to my prayer list right away. That really sucks! It seems everyone is SO angry and violent these days. So far, Will’s being a good boy and following doctor’s orders. Whew!

  19. Prayers go out to you and Will here from Maine……..I follow your blog religiously and was not expecting to hear this from you….am so glad he made it to hospital in time and that he is in the mend……

    Hugs!

    • Thanks Liz. We’re so glad he got quick treatment and came out of it so very well. He’s doing great, now he’s home again.

  20. Sending so much love and prayers and healing to Will and to you, Jackie! He’s lucky to have his own race car driver/paramedic to take such good care of him. So glad he’s on the mend. Sorry about the sweets too! Praying for a full recovery soon.

  21. What a scary moment..I went in for a stent and ended up with open heart surgery ..I am lucky to still be here..I hope all goes well with Will..I also lost my husband 15 years ago to a brain aneurysm very suddenly.. every day is a blessing for sure..thinking and praying for both of you

    • Wow, Roswitha, I’ll bet that was scary to all of a sudden needing open heart surgery. I’m so glad you made it through well. And I’m so sorry you also lost your husband to a brain aneurysm, as I did Bob. It’s so shocking that one minute they’re fine and the next, really in trouble. Every single day is a blessing.

  22. God certainly made a way for you two, when He had you home for Will to have help. I praise God for that! My husband went in for a stint at age 42. I, too, had driven my husband to the hospital! After friends came and prayed, the procedure could no longer locate any blockage or plaque whatsoever. Another praise to the Lord! We are 65 now. I’m fond of you and your family through daily prayer. The Lord, after all, is our Caretaker.

    • That’s so. My dad, at 85, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and given about 3 months to live. We all prayed, as did our friends, and the next routine lung x-ray showed NO trace of lung cancer! He lived to 94 and died of basically old age. A coincidence? I think not.

  23. I’m definitely saying prayers for you both. My doc says that high blood sugar puts a strain on your heart as sugar makes your blood thick. As a diabetic, I have never had heart trouble or a heart attack, but he said that many of the medical field considers/treats a diabetic as someone that has already had a heart attack. Also beware sugar free items as the substitutes affect people differently and some “bodies” still see it as a sugar. Only strip testing will tell you. I know you will take good care of him. I am praying for God to watch over you both.

    • Thank you! I’m a huge label and am watching the “sugar-free” stuff. Yeah, sugar free but contains fructose, sucrose, etc. Water is truly sugar free!

    • Aww, I’m sorry Cathie. Will’s doing great and the doctor said he can resume any activities he wants except heavy lifting for awhile.

  26. So glad you were able to stay on point as it were and get Will to the hospital in time. Prayers for both of you!

    • I’m pretty good in an emergency but crash and burn after it’s all said and done. Both of us are still very tired but also grateful.

  27. OMGosh Jackie! My first thought was ‘oh no, this poor woman can’t lose another husband!’ I’m very thankful that you kept your wits and drove him AND knew about the aspirin! You’re such a smart lady! Thank God he’s going to be okay!

    • I was kind of having the same thoughts, especially after the hospital couldn’t find Will in their system!!! I thank God every day he made it and came out of it with few after effects.

  28. Glad to hear Will is doing well
    He will be back to normal in no time at all
    That is definitely one scary part of being as far from town as you are
    Lol especially that long driveway of yours

  29. Joining everyone in sending my prayer for you both, Jackie. Been there and hope you can slow down just a touch. You are dear to many of us

    • Aww, so sweet, Jen. We are trying a bit to slow down a little. But we’re both pretty type A personalities, it’s hard. Thank you.

  30. My thoughts & prayers are with you & Will as he continues to recover. I’m so thankful you were able to keep your wits about you to know what to do with the baby aspirin to lessen any damage that could have happened.
    We are all (even here in coastal AL) are praying for relief from the cold we have been having this year, AGAIN! We have been on a roller coaster ride of spring like temps then plunge back into the deep freezer, then back to spring temps so much that my garden/fruit trees/bushes don’t know whether to GO TO SLEEP FOR WINTER or WAKE UP BECAUSE IT IS SPRING! My blueberry & wild huckleberry bushes have already bloomed and some even have baby berries, fruit trees are budding out, spring bulbs already blooming as are the spring blooming shrubs. My garlic/onions are already a foot tall, when they are supposed to still be ASLEEP for the winter. Who knows what kind of harvest I will have this year if anything. We were 75(F) high temp yesterday & day before but high today is 47(F) with low of 27(F). About the same for tomorrow then warm back up into the 70’s for a few days and plunge back down to freezing (or below) next weekend. Crazy weather for our area where our winter coats are usually a hoodie or sweatshirts. Go figure, eh? Hang in there, Jackie…SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER…we hope!! Blessings to you & yours for the 2022 growing season & harvest!

    • Thanks Bonnie. Sounds like you’re having quite a ride with the carzy weather. Here’s hoping it levels out for all of us soon. Last night we had -40 and that’s getting kind of old, even for us. But, like you said, spring is just around the corner. I hope your 2022 gardens are wonderful.

  32. Oh, wow. I’m glad you have him home for Valentine’s Day (even if it is just a commercial gimmick…). Good for you on recognizing the problem and acting quickly. High blood sugar is a key factor in cardiopulmonary problems – increases inflammation, which leads to plaque sticking to the inflamed areas, and all sorts of other bad things. Good luck to you both in the coming weeks and months.

  33. Thank God from whom all blessings flow!!! I too was afraid to read to the end!!!!
    I am so thankful for good results…..take great care. Thank you for sharing this with all of us.

    Roxanne

  34. So sorry to hear this Jackie. I empathize. My husband had a cardiac event on Oct. 27th. Going to our local ER was useless, they did not diagnose him. On the 30th, he had another event and this time I called the ambulance. He had a faulty valve, which caused fluid to back up into his lungs and trouble breathing. He was intubated for four days while they drained the fluid from his chest cavity after surgery. He is physically better, but not as mentally sharp as he was before.
    I am very glad to hear that Will really has so few limitations and side effects. Your lifestyle needs you both to be in tip-top shape. I hope you can “pick up the slack” the best you can.

    Prayers for you both.

    • Thanks so much Sue. Isn’t it frustrating when the ER fouls up? We had that with Mom. I knew she had a bladder infection, which caused her to hallucinate badly but they said she just had dementia. I took her to our local clinic, and they listened to me, prescribed an antibiotic and the next day she quit seeing little boys sitting up on her bedroom wall and seeing cats coming through the wall.
      We’re doing great. While he was in the hospital, David came and helped and I managed to do our normal chores, inbetween running to the hospital.

  36. Oh, my! Ever so thankful that you are both strong and resilient. To do everything right, quickly, and have everything come together reflects on all your strengths and also divine intervention.
    Will, prayers for you for quick healing and for both of you for many happy days ahead. Take care!

    • We’re pretty thankful too, Peggy! It could have been much worse. Thank God everything worked out so well. Thanks for your prayers!

  37. Omg my heart skipped some beats as I read your message. Hod certainly had his hand on Will as he even made it back home! Just think how it may have gone !! No don’t think.. you guys take care and maybe David is going to have to do more . When is he going to move into his home? Love you guys! ???

    • Yes, I certainly thanked God for letting Will make it back home on the dozer! He could have passed out in the snow, in the woods somewhere. Whew!! No, I don’t want to think!
      The doctor said Will is good to resume anything he wants to do but for heavy lifting for a while.
      David won’t be moving in for a while; he’s still got plumbing, sheetrock and a lot of finish work to do. But the weather’s bound to get warmer and he’ll be working on it soon. It’s hard when they live 1 1/2 hrs away and he works 40 plus hours a week on heavy equipment.

  40. Oh no, what a scary time. I feel so bad and am sending prayers to Will from New Hampshire for a full and fast recovery! Wish we were your neighbors, and we’d all stop in to help with the chores. Have followed your blog since the beginning of the pandemic, and found your everyday display of hard work and family life kept me relaxed and helped me focus on the the simple things in life that are important. Your everyday strength, creativity and determination is admirable and will get you and your family through this. Take care.

  41. Holy cow!!! I can only imagine what you both must have felt. So very sorry this has happened. I am praying for a total and speedy return to health. Hang in there and know that everyone is pulling for you. Pyro

    • I was terrified but Will said he hurt so bad he wasn’t afraid. Thanks for your prayers and love.

  42. Jackie! My heart jumped right into my throat and I had to skip to the end to make sure Will was okay. I’m so glad he got the help he needed in time.

    • Yeah, I know what you mean. Mine was sure jumping when he staggered into the house, clutching his chest! Whew! Don’t need another episode like that anytime soon.

  44. So happy to hear all is well, considering what Will went through! I bet your adrenaline was going a mile a minute as you tried to get things in order at home before running to the hospital. Thinking of you both and wishing him a complete recovery.

    • Yes, I was so adrenalined up I couldn’t sleep for two nights!! On the way from the ER, I was plotting out what I had to do before leaving for Duluth. Dogs, chores, wood, shut damper on wood stove…. Whew! Thanks for your good wishes.

  45. OMGosh I panicked just reading this. Been there, done that, gone through three life flights and numerous ambulance rides for my husband. Thank you God for taking care of both of you in your time of need.

    • Yeah, inwardly, I was panicked. My late husband was life-flighted and then, after falling off the barn roof, so was I, plus all the other serious things, ranging from David’s bout with flesh eating bacteria in his arm, cancer and bleeding ulcers. David and I survived, obviously, but Bob died. Yep, I was scared! But now he’s home and feeling so much better. We are so thankful!!

  46. So glad for Will’s recovery. Scary to say the least, but at least he was smart enough to come to the house and tell someone! My husband is the type to think “ignore it and it will go away”. Will and you both work too hard. We love all your adventures and chores but please take more breaks. Your readers consider you guys family, and are loved. I’m about to cry.

    • Yeah, Will’s the “ignore it and it will go away” kind of guy. But there was absolutely NO ignoring that pain. Aww, I don’t think we work too hard; it was just that 100% blocked artery. He would have had trouble if he was a couch potato; probably more. The doctor said his heart was in excellent shape, even after the heart attack. Don’t you cry, Sue! We’re just fine now.

  48. Goodness, that had to be a scary time. I’m so glad they were able to get Will the treatment he needed, and that he’s back home and doing well. Hopefully, the scare will help him make the needed changes without much trouble. You two take care.

    • He’s doing very well. The sugar has been nearly eliminated and he’s not suffering from no Pepsi. (Much!) Thanks for your kindness.

    • Boy, Mike, I’m so glad he made it back too. I asked him WHY he didn’t just call me on his cell phone that we always carry when working away from the house, for emergencies. He said he hurt so bad he couldn’t even think.
      He’s doing great now.

  50. My blessings to Will and to you too Jackie. Modern medicine is sure great when it’s needed! I know, from surviving cancer due to wonderful treatment and care three years ago. Take good care!

    • Yep, Robyn, I also survived a bad cancer 15 years ago, due to great doctors and treatment. I’m a believer in good science and medical advances!! Thank you for your blessings.

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