Stan Gurney: 6-17-13 continued

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

6-17-13 continued

The day got better! When I got back from lunch they were just sitting him up in his chair. I sat next to him and held his hand as usual. He kept leaning towards me and seemed to be quite alert. I asked him if he wanted a hug. He shook his head no. After a few more times I noticed to was doing this with some aim. I asked him if he wanted a kiss. He vigorously nodded :) He still has the breathing tube in his mouth so I gave him a kind of corner kiss but he was happy with that. After that he leaned into me and wanted a hug. Such a sweet moment and such a peaceful memory for me to draw upon when things get tough as I'm sure they will from time to time.

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Steph KJune 18, 2013 at 10:31 AM
You don't know me but I've been checking your blog for updates several times a day. This post is sooooo sweet. Brought tears to my eyes. I hope he's well and home soon. Sounds like a GREAT guy!
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Stan's Story

Tuesday, May 28th, Stanley had a massive heart attack due to a 100% blockage of the main artery in his heart. He has received excellent medical care from Intermountain Medical Center.

The first night at the hospital, after placing a stent in the blocked artery, the doctors said his chances of survival were extremely slim. He had two complications: his heart was bruised and punctured by his broken sternum, caused by 50 minutes of CPR, and a section of the artery in his leg had to be replaced after being damaged by the catheter that had been placed in it. The first complication required open heart surgery, and the doctors put Stan on a heart-lung machine, allowing them to remove the pumping device they had threaded up the artery in his leg.

Stan is a fighter, and he has been blessed with many miracles. Initially, he beat the odds by making it through several surgeries. After a week of being on the heart-lung machine, Stanley had to have it removed due to a hemorrhage in his brain and due to a time limit for that type of life support. Because of the brain hemorrhage, he could no longer receive blood thinners; and without blood thinners, he could no longer be on the heart-lung machine. In what was literally a do-or-die situation, Stanley beat the odds again, as his own heart began to beat at about 35%.

Doctors and nurses continued to manage the many complex issues and ups and downs of his care, including kidney failure and intestinal bleeding. Faith and prayer have contributed to many miracles from above. At one point the doctors said his chance of survival was only 0-5%, but later they said it had risen to 45%. Now, we're quite confident that he is actually going to make it!

He was in the intensive care unit at the hospital for six weeks and then transferred to the University of Utah Physically Therapy unit and now is living with his sister. He continues to receive physically therapy and cardiac rehabilitation. Stan will continue to need physical therapy and medical care for at least the next 12 months.

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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

6-17-13 continued

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