So, that happened.

[rolanni]

Tuesday, we split up the act.  Steve went to town in pursuit of an appointment with follow-up grocery shopping, and I stayed home to work.

. . .and I was working when I got a phone call from Steve, who was sitting on the floor in the Hannaford deli department, as a result of having slid down the front of the cold cut case, his ICD firing twice on the way down.

John, Bernadette, and others of the Hannaford crew leapt into action, someone called an ambulance while John helpfully put the full shopping cart into the deli's cooler to await retrieval when all was sorted out.

Fast forward about 45 minutes.  I arrive in the Emergency Room at Inland Hospital, where Steve is answering intake questions.  He looks fine, if a little sheepish.  We figure to wait for the results of several tests, and so to home.

In the meantime, the ER doctor calls the cardio folks in Bangor, Inland not having the means to interrogate the ICD to find out WTF actually happened.  The cardio doctor on-call says, Five years and this is the first time the ICD kicked?  Put him in an ambulance and bring him to Bangor. Now.

So!  Off Steve went in style and luxury, while I went to Hannaford, retrieved the basket from the cooler, and the other groceries that were already in Steve's car, told the night manager to alert him to the fact that the car would be in their lot overnight, drove carefully home, put the cold stuff away, informed the cats of Events, and made sure dishes were full, and the cat fountain, too, packed a bag, and headed for Bangor.

It is now dark.  Very dark, in fact, being upwards of ten o'clock at night.  I. . .let's just say that driving in the dark is not my best trick ever.

Arrived at the hospital shortly after eleven o'clock, found Steve eating a late-night roast beef sandwich, looking tired but mostly fine.  I stayed the night in a recliner helpfully provided by the night nurse, and drove home early Wednesday morning.

Wednesday for Steve was tests of all sorts, including the interrogation of the ICD, wherein we learned that the ICD had fired twice at increasing jules.  Since nothing invasive was scheduled.  It was decided that I would stay home, which I did, and Thursday morning the word came from the Hospitalist that I could fetch Steve home.

. . .which is where he is now.

His regular doctors need to see him within the next week -- naturally no one is on today.  The biggest change that has come home from the hospital is that Steve is banned from driving for at least six months.

This. . .will make life Very Interesting, and may affect upcoming convention schedules.  More on this as we sort things out.

Today, I need to go into town to complete the errands that were left hanging on Tuesday (including finishing the grocery shopping), and meeting the kind friends who will be helping move Steve's car out of the Hannaford lot and out to our driveway.

To Sum Up:  Steve had a heart event; the ICD operated as it should; he is home and receiving quality feline care.

. . .I think that catches us all up.  Everybody -- be well.

Comments

[reedrover]

I'm very sorry that events were so exciting and I'm pleased that your final report includes all persons and produce home safe. My best wishes to Steve for an uneventful next while.

[badgermirlacca.livejournal.com]

Yow. Glad he's home and being taken care of. Take care of yourself, too!

[malkingrey.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. Glad to hear nothing worse happened, and kudos to the on-the-ball folks at the Hannaford.

(And deep sympathy for you having to drive to Bangor in the dark.)

[1crowdedhour.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Thinking of you both! Not to mention the feline supervisory staff.

Take care.

[thewol.livejournal.com]

Gack! -- and Whew! That bit about not driving is, to say the least, inconvenient, but you can see their point. Still, when you consider the range of possible outcomes, this is pretty durn far over into the range of "best possible." We will hope that quality feline care will work its usual wonders and that this precaution of Steve's not driving turns out to have been totally unnecessary.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

oh, thank goodness the ICD worked properly. wow. agh. all love to you two.

[angela-n-hunt.livejournal.com]

Oh man. That's awful. Lighting up the altar for you both.

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

Very scary. I'm so happy he's ok and home again.

[charlie russel (from livejournal.com)]

Thank goodness for the ICD! I'm glad things are mostly well, though I know the driving limitation is going to be problematic for both of you. My sincere best wishes to both of you.

[ckd]

Three cheers for:
- Steve being home safe (and for the medical equipment doing its job and damn well)
- the Hannaford crew for taking care of everything they could
- you for getting through it all safe including the night driving.

[elbales]

Yikes! Best wishes for Steve's continued health.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

fingers crossed, and that Crack Feline Team of Home Physicians is on the job..

and you, take care of yourself...

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Sending warmth and good wishes to you both, and extra Catdorphins to apply as needed.

We know this dance here. Dad had congestive heart failure, Mom has pacemaker that sometimes does its job, with alarums and hospital excursions. Empathy.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Good luck to you both! Hope nothing more serious happens for the rest of the year. -_-

[seachanges.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh, I'm glad he's okay!

[gerald heaton (from livejournal.com)]

5 years of peace, followed by 2 days of "Oh, my God".

Not to put light on the matter, but my bosses ICD did the same thing at 5 yrs and 6 months 3 years ago. In her case it was decided that it was time to change the batteries.

Sounds like a case of Murphy to me. (What can go wrong, WILL go wrong when you least expect it)

You have a fine crew of medi-cats to purr him well.
Good luck and best wishes.


Oh as an aside, HOW did you get "The Black Wolves of Boston" so early?
Did you buy the ARC?
It's on my list to buy.

[susan kelly (from livejournal.com)]

That 'no-driving' thing is a massive problem out where you are but on the upside - alive and well. Virtual discrete hugs from some distance.

[pedanther]

Best wishes for that being as exciting as it gets, ICD-wise.

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

Ditto!!!!!!!
*thanks all gods known and unknown*

[stitchwhich.livejournal.com]

It is relieving to see that the ICD did what it was supposed to so your entry was a positive (even if "our world view just got shaken like a snow globe") one. May all Steve need is some tweaking of meds. May all YOU need is a nice walk along the shore and some extra time with the cats purring around you.

[margotinez.livejournal.com]

OMG. and I second these comments!

[muirecan.livejournal.com]

Be well you two.

[welhar.livejournal.com]

Best wishes for Steve's speedy recovery. Hope you are both well and recovering from the recent challenges.

Wendy

best wishes to both of you!

[mcfan02.livejournal.com]

I hope the doctors diagnose the event to be something straightforward and easily handled. Take care of yourself as well!
- Millie

[burton chan (from livejournal.com)]

Shock to read up on Steve's grocery trip aftermaths. Take care you two.

OMG - ICD

[ireneha.livejournal.com]

OK. The technology worked. [wipes brow]

So may the worst thing now, be you needing to drive for two.

Irene
[PS: Driving at night, with major worry on brain. Ah the force was with you.]

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

That's excitement of the wrong type. I'm glad that the ICD operated as it should and hope that it doesn't have any need to do so again any time soon.