The Jason Lewison Fundraiser

My older (41) brother Jason Lewison, a newly retired Master Sergeant in the Air Force of 22 years, husband, and father of 4, had a massive heart attack, otherwise known as a “widow-maker” last August in his home. On the day of the heart attack he was complaining of back pains to his wife, which he was misinterpreting as he does have chronic pain from a previous back injury. On this day the pain was so bad in his upper back it was taking his breath away. It was a normal Sunday night he had just put his kids down for the night and his wife, Kirsten was in the dining room finishing her exam. Kirsten had just started her medical career to become a nurse, a lifelong dream. My brother stated his back paid was pretty bad and he was going to lay down in their bedroom for the night. Kirsten had over an hour left of her exam on the computer, shortly after he laid down he came back out to into the kitchen, Kirsten asked “How are you doing?” he replied “Actually I am feeling better” and then Kirsten heard him drop to the floor. She came running in and he was on the floor and stated she watched him take his last breath and had no pulse. She called 911 put in on speaker and began to explain to dispatch the situation. They were routing all the nearest first responders and were trying to assess the situation. Meanwhile Kristen was administering CPR on my brother lifeless body. His wife had just started her nursing career weeks prior and just received her CPR certification. She administered CPR for about 7 minutes and then the Police Officer showed up and took over and then the EMT’s they had to shock him a few times on the way to hospital and the outcome looked very grim. After arrival to the hospital they discovered he had 100% blockage and put in a stint. He did not regain consciousness. They entered him into therapeutic hypothermia in which they sedate you, paralyze you and lower your body temperature so it reduces brain damage and allows for your body to recover. It was so hard to see my big brother in the bed lifeless hooked up to all those machines doing all the work for him. We stayed by his side and played his wedding songs quietly in his ear and talked to him. He was very sick and in ICU, I started to feel the general attitude from the medical personnel was truly grim. No one would talk about him getting better. The neurologist told us his body is stable, but he couldn’t fix his brain and only time would tell. Time seemed to stand still while we waited … On Tuesday September 1st, they started to allow his body to warm up and wake up…if he would wake up. They would looking for him to follow simple commands. If that is successful they continue to allow him to wake up. If not then restart the cooling process over again to allow more time. On Wednesday September 2nd he was warmed and normal temperature and started showing signs of movement. The Dr came in and asked Jason to squeeze his hand and he did and the Dr asked Jason to give a thumbs up and he did! It was so surreal and we had so much to be thankful for …. The Dr. explained to us the this was very serious and most people don’t survive and he was not out of the woods, since his heart was only functioning at 35% and he was still truly sick. When Jason was awake and lucid one of the first things he said was “I love you” to his wife and then he wanted to personally thank the first responders. Which word got back as most of the first responders were calling and checking on him and they individually came to the hospital to meet Jason. Jason was in the hospital for 18 days then released, having to wear a defibrillator vest, lifelong pill regiment and a new lease on life.

We found out that on the night Jason was brought into the hospital, they called to give a heads up to the organ donor organization that they likely would have a 41 year old organ donor. We also realized how stacked the cards were against him and how less than 10% live to tell and how the hospital personnel thought he wasn’t going to make. Repeatedly we heard the words, lucky, miracle, and less than 10%. He is lucky…. But more importantly blessed and so are we to have him in our world. Jason had God on his side, and he stated he felt the love and the prayers around him. Today Jason is doing much better his heart is still damaged but almost near normal. His wife is still in school to be a nurse and he too is taking classes part time to work in the medical field as well.

http://www.wdaz.com/news/north-dakota/3867047-heart-attack-victim-reunited-heroes

Please help his family help recover from the losses they incurred from lost wages and work while working on Jason's recovery.  We thank you for your prayers and donations, it is so greatly appreciated!