Miracle Mike

Thursday morning started off like any other in the Deaton household, a MAD rush to get everyone ready and out the door by 8 a.m. I was especially excited about preschool because it was BIKE DAY which is always a fun time. The morning came and went quickly. My friend (and co-worker) Betsy told me that my sister wanted me to call her when school was over. I was thinking...hmmm, maybe she called mom and asked her to keep the boys longer so she and I could go out and eat =). With about 10 minutes left at school, I saw her van pull up (we were outside on the playground with the kids). To my surprise, Isaac and Miles were with her. As she approached, I could tell something wasn't quite right. With tears in her eyes, she told me that mom had left for Louisville because my uncle Mike had a massive stroke and most likely wouldn't make it. Once I wrapped up the day at school and got my boys wrangled up, the waterworks began. My uncle Mike, 55, never married, has no children and is the world's BEST human being. He would do anything for anyone. I just couldn't imagine life without him. Matt and I made babysitting arrangements for the kids and headed to Louisville that afternoon. The scene in the CCU at a hospital is enough to make anyone emotional, but it was especially emotional seeing my grandparents and mother. My Memaw just broke down when she saw us. Mike was there but not there if you know what I mean. Matt and I talked to him, stroked his arms and hair. He had his eyes open the whole time and tears flowed as we spoke to him. Well, the day came in went. Floods of visitors were in and out the whole day. The CCU team kept scolding us about how many people kept coming in and out. Something you should know about Mike is that he had a stroke seven years ago. At that time, the doctors found a hole in his heart. His heart was functioning at 20% and normal is 60-65%. The doctors were amazed that Mike had lived that long with such a low functioning heart. They recommended a heart transplant at the time which he refused. He said, "if I get someone else's heart, that means they died." We knew that something like this could eventually happen again, and it did on Thursday. At about 10 p.m., the decision was made to take Mike off the ventilator. He had written a living will and did not want to be kept alive via life support. All of us gathered around Mike, holding hands and prayed and cried. Your heart tells you one thing but reality (and medical science) tells you another--I knew this would be the last time I would see my uncle. Matt and I decided to come on back to Bowling Green that night. We got home around 1 a.m. and crashed after an incredibly emotional day.

I woke up Friday morning in a fog and started crying again knowing that my uncle didn't make it through it the night. Matt called my dad to see what was going on. He said, "at 2:30 in the morning...(we assumed he would say Mike passed) Mike started smiling and looking around. And, this morning, things are even better with his vitals, and he even knows the names of people." WHAT!!! I immediately emailed Karson's teacher and told her that she would NOT BE at school today. We needed to get to Louisville ASAP. We got the kids in the van and got up there as quickly as possible. I had taken my camera the night before, but it didn't seem appropriate to take a photo under the circumstances. BUT, I didn't want to miss an opportunity to document this day and had a photo snapped of him (and the one of him with his parents, at the top of the blog). We had to come back home Friday afternoon because Isaac had a ballgame, but Mike's prognosis was looking better and better. Over the weekend, he has made great strides in his recovery--reading, walking, talking, eating, recognizing everyone and remembering. He is a WALKING, TALKING MIRACLE. As of today, his short term memory is poor--but, HEY, mine is too! Plus, an amnesia drug is administered to anyone in his circumstance who has experienced extreme trauma. As all the medicines leave his system, he is starting to feel pain in his chest and breathing. Those of us that have had epidurals can totally relate to the pain felt when that wears off. His MRI is still inconclusive which is normal. And, he will be getting a defibrillator put in Wednesday. Please pray for my Uncle Mike--we are truly grateful for all the people who have been lifting him up!!!