My First Look

My son took this picture and sent it to his wife. She posted it on Facebook.
My first thoughts upon seeing him, I just wanted to kiss his heart. I was so thankful.
So very thankful.
I couldn't control my emotions one more second.
This man is my world.




 He was extubated about an hour after the first picture.

He is such a superstar!
He was having a hard time staying awake....that's ok.
Sleep handsome man, sleep.

AT LAST!

I'm finally in control of myself. I think I have held my breath for a week and a day.

We haven't seen him yet. He's in the ICU. We are waiting.

Such gratitude and relief. 
So very thankful.

Thank you so much. All of you. For your encouragement and helping hold me together. And most of all for loving my husband. 
So thankful to a Heavenly Father for allowing us this miracle.

I haven't stopped sobbing. 
Thank you for indulging me in putting this "out there". I think it helped me to hang on to some sanity.

I'd like to say I'll stop posting and leave Facebook alone ... but that would be a lie.

Thank you. 
Thank you.

And We're Off!

The kids crowded into the elevator.

They let me go into the OR holding area where they started a new IV and

gave him some sleepy-time medication.

Then we were banished to the ICU Surgical waiting room.

These kids kept me entertained.

This helped keep my mind off of things.

We are missing Cameron who couldn't be there.

 

Finally an update

They are just starting the 4th graft. They said he is doing well.

 

He went into surgery around 8:30 AM and finally got out around 3:30!

The wait seemed like forever.

 

Nate's Early Morning Workout

Our son Nate Egan came home last night. He stayed at the house in Rexburg so he could go to Teton Crossfit and get a workout in, in honor of dad. He's a muscular kiddo. Always has been. 
I guess he wanted to see if he could outdo the "old man". 
From all reports it sounds like he rocked it.

However I'm told from Jennica Watson Hirrlinger that he may not be able to lift his arms to eat or brush his teeth tomorrow.

Thanks for the comic relief this morning.

Thanks to all the Teton Crossfit family for making him feel welcome and doing a workout in honor of Howie.

Thanks for your love and prayers.

 

Jeff Fullmer's Post

From my cousin's Facebook page:

Thinking of Howard Egan on my chilly snow covered trail run this morning. 
The miles were not as long, the cold not as bitting. The hills not as steep and the darkness lessened. The wind was quiet as the snow glistened in silence. The only noise was the crunching of my shoes against the hardened snow. Howard's gentle voice echoed in my mind and kept me company as I pictured him smiling on a cold dark morning trail run.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your sweet family today Tauna Egan. We will patiently await the good news we hope to come. 
#howardstrong

#HowardStrong

When the members of Teton Crossfit set up the gofundme, we knew that we didn't need it.
We have very good health insurance.....thank goodness!

Anyway, I told Tyler...the one that set up the account....to buy an AED with the money.

Many cardiac arrests occur at gyms.

So we wanted Teton Crossfit to have their very own AED.

With a sudden cardiac arrest the live saving measures are..

Early recognition
Early and effective CPR
And
Early defibrillation.

Those things saved Howie's life.

So in the end they did purchase an AED for Teton Crossfit.

But I loved the people that were taking pictures of them in their #HowardStrong t-shirts.
It made my day!
We love you.

Becca...good friend from work who moved to Boise.

Candice

The people from Howard's work, this was taken about a month after his cardiac arrest.

Nate and Sara

And then these people.....my heroes.

The ones that literally saved his life.

They performed CPR while they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

When the ambulance got there they defibrillated his heart. 

I will be grateful for you forever.

OK....We're Ready!

Ok. Waiting. 
Showered. Shaved. 
Prodded and poked. 
He should go in at 8:30. 
Surgery to begin at 9:30.

He slept amazingly well.

Me.....not at all.

WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING

Whew. 
Trying to take a deep breath tonight as we prepare for tomorrow. Besides having this entire past week being surreal..... this past week has been surreal.

17 years ago I worked on this floor that Howie is currently on. 
And more recently Lynsey worked in the ICU where he was and will be again after tomorrow. Actually she worked on the 4th floor as well prior to transferring to the unit.

I remember taking care of patients like Howie. 
I remember helping them prepare for Open Heart. 
I remember giving them the instructions and teaching of what to expect. 
I remember helping them with their chlorhexadine shower the night before surgery.

I remember taking care of various patients in various rooms of this floor.

My heart has been happy that we were able to be in room 426. 
18 years ago my favorite patient was in this room. 
He was my Bishop (ecclesiastical leader) when I was in high school. Bishop Stander. 
He had a heart surgery. I loved taking care of him. And as I recall it was December. 
One morning I went to weigh him and get his vitals and do my assessment. Because 4:00 AM is such a reasonable time to do that nonsense.

Anyway he was getting out of bed to sit on the chair scale and as he turned around his gown came open and he flashed me. 
He laughed and said, " I bet you thought you'd never see your bishop's bum"
I laughed closed his gown, patted his bum and said " and what a cute bum it is". 
We had a good laugh.

We are unsure what time his surgery will begin. 
We have been told 8:00 AM 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. 
However, latest word is 8:30.

Again, I know I have said this a million times, but your kindness and prayers, texts, messages, visits, generous acts of kindness and calls..... so overwhelming. The love and support is almost too much for my heart to take in. 
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 
The words just don't seem to be enough.

To my ER family... I miss you. I'm eternally grateful for you for helping me hold it together when my world was crumbling. 
Paula Orr for having the worst job of all. To break the news to me that it was Howie. 
Alan Brower, smartest nurse in the whole world. Smartest paramedic instructor BYU-I ever had. Being the best boss. For being the best home teacher ever. (Consider your home teaching done for the month)
Sorry Tiffany Snedaker, I'm not sure if I tore your flesh or broke your hand when I was hanging on. 
Dr Wells and Dr Anderson.... what can I say? 
Jena Smith Turman and Julie Blaser.... I'm having IMC flashbacks of our many shifts together on this floor so many years ago. So glad we got to connect again at Madison years later. 
All of you are stellar. And I'm proud of the work you do. To be a part of you.

Ok. 
Now breathe.