this was a note posted by Chuck to all his well wishers;
ReportHealth Update
.by Chuck Evans on Monday, September 13, 2010 at 10:53am.I would like to take the time to answer each and every one of you but unfortunately my health won't allow me too. So I apologize up front.
The purpose of this medical update is to let those who have expressed concern know what exactly happened and what will be happening as we move forward.
In my case Sunday night was a very restless night with very little sleep. Around 4:34 am Monday, the 6th of September 2010, I realized there was something significant going on. At 4:52 am I sent a message to our corporate office in Ohio letting them know that I was en route to the emergency room.
I drove myself to the Urgent Care Facility where they started doing all of those wondrous tests they love to do and my EKG came back sending off alarms. They contacted Banner Heart Hospital and dispatched a ambulance to transport me.
Once I got to Banner Heart their cardiac team went into action and boy am I glad they are in the Top 100 Heart Hospitals in the country! As the staff was completing their workup, more EKG's, x-rays etc. the cardiologist came in to tell me that I had, and was still having a heart attack and that he was going to get me up to the "Catheter Lab" to see how much damage there was.
I was then rushed up to the cardiac care center and catheter lab where they would run a catheter up from the groin to the heart while injecting a dye to see where the damage was. I could hear them talking while I was in a semi- conscious state and then all of a sudden a felt a burning sensation and a loud noise. I asked what that was and the Dr. said, "We lost you and had to hit you with the paddle to bring you back.
For the next 2.5 hours the Dr. placed 4 stents in the right coronary artery. After the procedure I was taken down to cardiac critical care where I would spend the couple of days.
On Wednesday, the 8th, I was awakened by several ICU nurses and Dr's hooking up more EKG machine to me. I was not feeling very well with severe chest pain and finding it difficult to breathe. Since my procedure on Monday I had a 24 hour heart monitor on and evidently it was sending out readings that no one liked! And rightly so...I was having another heart attack!
Again, I was rushed back up the "cathlab" this time a blood clot was the culprit...different artery...more stents!
Finally on Friday the 10th I was allowed to go home but only with home care. One I noticed almost immediately was that I was walking like Capt. Jack Sparrow...only a lot slower! Along with slow slurred speech I now have some issues with motor skills.
During the next couple of weeks I will undergoing extensive testing to see if there is permanent motor damage along with cardiac and physical therapy.
The Dr.'s expect me to make a full recovery, albeit a long slow process. But I will make it back and can't wait to get back on the lesson tee!
I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers, they really do mean a lot to me, and it is because of your prayers that I am alive today...It simply was not my time to go.
While I do receive each note, email or post from you guys I cannot respond to them all. Just know that I do get to read them all and they are all very special to me.
For all of you "younglings" out there, don't worry...I'll be OK...just focus on your school and keep your head in the game!
Again, my heartfelt thanks to you all!
Chuck
