Howard and Ann Crabtree

Hello,

I was asked by some of our neighbors to start this page, because Mom and Dad are so far away, and people want to help. That really warms my heart, and my family has felt all the love and support. I just got to have a one-sided talk with Dad, he can't speak because of the ventilator tube in his throat, but I told him how everyone was asking about him and praying for him. I said, "I bet you can feel all those prayers." and he shook his head yes. So, the greatest thing you can do for us is keep praying. We love you all and your thoughts and prayers are felt and appreciated.

On Wednesday January 17, 2024, dad was in Oklahoma when he decided to finally go to the ER for stomach and chest pain that he had been experiencing off and on. Through a CT scan they could tell that he had a significant size hole in his stomach that was bleeding and dumping into his abdominal cavity. He was life flighted to the Medical City in Plano Texas.

Thanks be to God; we have family in Plano about 20 minutes from the hospital. Mom drove the truck from Oklahoma to Texas, which was about a two-hour drive. Lisa, my cousin, met her at the hospital.

They knew that he was having heart complications but the hole that was bleeding was the priority, so he went into surgery immediately to fix that. While in surgery he had multiple heart attacks. The hole was the size of a silver dollar, and they were able to repair it. The stomach acids and what not had caused damage to his liver but they are sure that it will regenerate and heal.

When he was out of surgery and in the recovery area, he was awake and talking to the doctors and mom when his heart stopped. Mom watched as they quickly started chest compressions and used the defibrillator. They revived him but he continued to flatline be revived and then flatline again, so they put him on life support with a mechanism that takes his blood out filters it and pumps it back in and the ventilator.

They have been able to wake him and when they do, he can follow directions like move your toes or squeeze my hand. Then they put him back into his comatose state because of the stress it puts on him.

Today they told us that his heart is working at only 5%. They said that they had to leave him on life support to let him rest and recover from the surgery. Then he will likely have a second surgery to do something about his heart (bypass, defibrillator, or something) no decision has been made yet.

My Brother Thomas and I came down to be with Mom and we will be staying here for a while. I will need to travel back home for work after this week, but Thomas will be able to stay. Dad cannot be transported home or should not nor could we afford to move him anyway. So, I do not know how long they will be in Texas.

My Cousin Lisa and her husband John have been awesome. I cannot thank them enough. They have been so supportive and have opened their home up to us, which is such a blessing. Lisa has barely left moms’ side and has been right there with her throughout Dad’s time in Texas. John has been taking care of mom and dad’s Dog Daisy, which if you know my mom you will understand why that is such a huge deal.

Please pray for my dad, his wonderful nurses, his doctors, and my mom. It is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Marsha Moser