Wayne Melin, Matters of the Heart
Donation protected
They came into dad’s hospital room, and told him they were his last Hope. They were! That was 4 years ago, and he beat the odds!!! Dad’s story is that his heart was failing and failing fast — that’s what the top notch heart team affectionately known as the “green berets” told us that fateful day. His ONLY option of surviving was a heart pump — called an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device). We didn’t know what that was but quickly learned. What IS a heart pump or an LVAD? It’s an implantable mechanical life-saving device designed to help the left side of the heart pump oxygen-rich blood when it no longer can...and it does it at the speed of a jet engine, 9200 rpm’s to be exact!
Dad has been a bionic man for 4 years now and counting! He has no pulse; it’s just a “whirl” because the blood flow is constant. This is no pumping. His heart pump is connected to a tube that comes out of his belly and hooks up to a computer (controller) that gives vital heart information. During the day, he wears 2 batteries the size of vhs cassettes to run the pump. At night, he hooks up to a 20 foot cord that plugs into an electrical outlet. This self-made gadget guy, who has become somewhat of a gadget himself, has had to say no to baths, swimming & fishing...electrocution, yikes! And no more working with his favorite hobbies like woodworking that includes saws or stained glass that includes cutting tools...nope, it could cut his life-saving cord! He’s ok with giving up a TON of things he loves...HE JUST WANTS TO LIVE! He shows us this each and every day by how hard he has to work and what he has to go through to “live”.
We thought getting through that first surgery and recovery was the hard part. Since then, dad has had to survive not 1, but 4 heart surgeries in 4 years...with 3 of them being heart pump replacements. Ok, he didn’t have to; he WANTED to, the alternative was death which would have been the easy road. The heart pump is a new frontier. This one is called “destination therapy” meaning there are no other options and this is it. There are no guarantees. With each heart pump comes different challenges and hardships. Because of dad’s unique chest cavity, more is learned with each heart pump replacement to help save more lives. His surgeries have be become teaching tools. DAD WENT THROUGH IT ALL, so he could hold his beautiful wife’s hand, see his kids, grandkids, family and friends another day. He’s one tough Swede!
In the past 4 years, mom & dad moved 3 times to be closer to the specialized team of doctors, and downsize due to mounting medical bills. Dad didn’t get to say I would like to keep that toolbox...because he had the hard work of surviving and recovering in the hospital while his family moved or shed his belongings to bring him home to an environment that could support his new life style. During the 3rd surgery, their beloved dog, sweet Tilly, went to heaven before dad arrived home. With each surgery, when dad went home to recover in new surroundings, Tilly was by his side each time to comfort him and keep him comfort...”she knew he needed her”. This last time she was not there and dad struggled without his companion. Yet again, they are having to consider another move because the bills are (overwhelming). Dad is on 15 medicines each day and he has special bandaging needs with high costs! With each move dad was happy to just be HOME, whatever home was! He was unbelievable and he never complained. He was just happy to be out of the hospital. It’s getting a lot harder to move because recovering is harder. Each surgery takes more out of him.
Dad is a modern-day medical miracle! He’s courageous, brave and one of the most beautiful souls we’ve ever known! We love this king of hearts with all of our hearts!!! He has moved mountains more than once to live. It’s taken sheer will-power and determination to get through what he has, PLUS, he’s a walking teaching tool for future generations to come. Dad’s worked hard all his life to provide for his family, sometimes working 3 jobs at a time. Dad and mom deserve a chance to get back on their feet without the worry of how to buy life-saving prescriptions, special bandages or even groceries. Mom, dad’s amazing wife Mickey, is by dad’s side, his loving nurse, 24/7. She gets little sleep. She would benefit from some added love & support as she has not been able to care for herself since dad’s care has been so great. One of her teeth fell out when she was with dad at the hospital this last time. She’s needs 4 teeth extractions due to the extreme pain from infection, and she needs them done fast. She is not focusing on pretties, just necessities. She is the most loving woman we’ve ever met, and would give her very last dollar to anyone who needed it. She has cared for many in her life for anyone who needed it. If anyone can help ease their burden, it would be welcomed with tears of joyful appreciation. Thank you and God Bless!
Dad has been a bionic man for 4 years now and counting! He has no pulse; it’s just a “whirl” because the blood flow is constant. This is no pumping. His heart pump is connected to a tube that comes out of his belly and hooks up to a computer (controller) that gives vital heart information. During the day, he wears 2 batteries the size of vhs cassettes to run the pump. At night, he hooks up to a 20 foot cord that plugs into an electrical outlet. This self-made gadget guy, who has become somewhat of a gadget himself, has had to say no to baths, swimming & fishing...electrocution, yikes! And no more working with his favorite hobbies like woodworking that includes saws or stained glass that includes cutting tools...nope, it could cut his life-saving cord! He’s ok with giving up a TON of things he loves...HE JUST WANTS TO LIVE! He shows us this each and every day by how hard he has to work and what he has to go through to “live”.
We thought getting through that first surgery and recovery was the hard part. Since then, dad has had to survive not 1, but 4 heart surgeries in 4 years...with 3 of them being heart pump replacements. Ok, he didn’t have to; he WANTED to, the alternative was death which would have been the easy road. The heart pump is a new frontier. This one is called “destination therapy” meaning there are no other options and this is it. There are no guarantees. With each heart pump comes different challenges and hardships. Because of dad’s unique chest cavity, more is learned with each heart pump replacement to help save more lives. His surgeries have be become teaching tools. DAD WENT THROUGH IT ALL, so he could hold his beautiful wife’s hand, see his kids, grandkids, family and friends another day. He’s one tough Swede!
In the past 4 years, mom & dad moved 3 times to be closer to the specialized team of doctors, and downsize due to mounting medical bills. Dad didn’t get to say I would like to keep that toolbox...because he had the hard work of surviving and recovering in the hospital while his family moved or shed his belongings to bring him home to an environment that could support his new life style. During the 3rd surgery, their beloved dog, sweet Tilly, went to heaven before dad arrived home. With each surgery, when dad went home to recover in new surroundings, Tilly was by his side each time to comfort him and keep him comfort...”she knew he needed her”. This last time she was not there and dad struggled without his companion. Yet again, they are having to consider another move because the bills are (overwhelming). Dad is on 15 medicines each day and he has special bandaging needs with high costs! With each move dad was happy to just be HOME, whatever home was! He was unbelievable and he never complained. He was just happy to be out of the hospital. It’s getting a lot harder to move because recovering is harder. Each surgery takes more out of him.
Dad is a modern-day medical miracle! He’s courageous, brave and one of the most beautiful souls we’ve ever known! We love this king of hearts with all of our hearts!!! He has moved mountains more than once to live. It’s taken sheer will-power and determination to get through what he has, PLUS, he’s a walking teaching tool for future generations to come. Dad’s worked hard all his life to provide for his family, sometimes working 3 jobs at a time. Dad and mom deserve a chance to get back on their feet without the worry of how to buy life-saving prescriptions, special bandages or even groceries. Mom, dad’s amazing wife Mickey, is by dad’s side, his loving nurse, 24/7. She gets little sleep. She would benefit from some added love & support as she has not been able to care for herself since dad’s care has been so great. One of her teeth fell out when she was with dad at the hospital this last time. She’s needs 4 teeth extractions due to the extreme pain from infection, and she needs them done fast. She is not focusing on pretties, just necessities. She is the most loving woman we’ve ever met, and would give her very last dollar to anyone who needed it. She has cared for many in her life for anyone who needed it. If anyone can help ease their burden, it would be welcomed with tears of joyful appreciation. Thank you and God Bless!
Organizer
Kay Lambert
Organizer
Osceola, WI
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