Bradycardia
Bradycardia… just another word I didn’t know 18 months ago. It didn’t take long to learn its meaning. I suspect I learned it shortly after hearing “tachycardia”. In their simplest forms, cardia means heart rate. Brady means low, where tachi means high. So, bradycardia is medical speak for low heart rate. It becomes scary when you hear the doctors exclaim “He’s starting to brady!”. Yep, been there more than I care to remember.Anyhow, after getting Ryan to bed and giving him a bath, his heart rate was hovering just above 50 beats per minute. Not too unusual for him when totally at rest. We have the monitor set to alarm when he drops below 50. He does. But, it’s dipping occasionally to 49. It will alarm and go silent quickly since his rate goes up.
Then, it alarms and stays alarming. His pulse starts sliding below 45. Sue and I both have our cell phones in hand. 9-1-1 is already punched in so I just need to hit the send button if he drops below 40. He’s at 42! Entirely too low!
I step outside my body and enter the logical/detached realm as I’m mentally preparing to administer CPR. I do a quick scan of the room to make sure the oxygen mask and-ambu bag (used to give breaths) are at hand. Check.
After an hour or so of anxiety that we’ve learned to accept, we see Ryan do what he always does… bounce back. His pulse starts a painfully slow, steady ascent. Just after midnight it is around 60.
Ryan will live another day.
Oh, my God.
This was difficult to read, but I’m sure it was incomparably more difficult to live through. I have no words other than Ryan continues to inspire and amaze me.
Covering you in prayer, morning, noon and night, and I would ask everyone who is so inclined to please do the same on Ryan’s behalf. Like so many others who are devoted to Ryan, you, Sue and Kari, we stand ready to help in any way we can. Sending you love and prayers for peace…Paula
Ken, Thank God Ryan’s heart rate went up .,and thank God for you and Sue..You are really two amazing people .Hope the dat and night bring more peace to all and the weather is better. SHSP
Ken, I was holding my breath as I read your post today. I am wondering if you got any sleep at all? Today is a new day…………..let’s hope for a better day and a much better night.
BOUNCE BACK — Wonderful words! Those are the words we want to hear! Praying that Ryan continues his uphill climb to recovery and that today is as smooth a sail as possible. Still here as a thunder storm rocks the sky here in Southern Maryland. What a night, and it seems to go on and on!
Ken, you and Sue are truly amazing, and always ready for whatever comes. I’m sure that’s why Ryan is so amazing and bounced back the way he did. I’m glad the evening ended on a more positive note. SHSP & thinking of all of you. I hope you have a good day. Special hugs to ‘our boy’. <3 Dianne