To Randy, With Love from Everyone Who Has Helped You

This Post was written by Barbara.

I would like to list some of the blessings of people and miracles that have happened. Part of the reason is because I want to put it down while it is fresh in my mind and I want Randy to know of all of the kindnesses that have happened on his behalf.

I have been overwhelmed with all the kindness, love and attention our family has been receiving since this totally, out of the blue, critical event. My heart is very full and I can't tell you how grateful I am to each and every one of you. I want you to know that I feel like Randy is in very good hands and he is continually watched over. I also want you to know that I truly feel every one of your prayers. My heart is very full.

First off, I would like to thank Randy's wonderful employees ("the boys," as he call them) - Steve Hibbetts, Gordon Brown, and Gary Southern. Randy could not have picked a worse time to have this happen, business-wise. They have been so busy. They even worked Thanksgiving, have been working weekends, and have been putting in very long days. They were finishing up a job in Clinton so they could start the Park City job. Randy ended up staying a little longer to finish up. When Steve walked into the room, Randy was clutching his chest and Steve knew he was in trouble and called the paramedics, even though Randy said he was going to drive home. You know the rest from the blog. Anyway, thank you Steve, Gordon and Gary. You have worked so hard and I am so grateful to you, and thanks Steve for saving his life.

I would like to thank Jerri Nellsch, the mother-in-law of one of the nurses at Davis Medical Center who drove me back to the U of U when Randy was life flighted.

I thank Barbara & Jon Hansen, Boyd and Liz Edman, and Kelly and Paul Hicken for rescuing my car from Davis Medical Center.

Thank you to Cory Cummings, Keith Davies, Diana and Jim Hasselfelt, Jon and Barbara Hansen, Gary and Deannie Southern, the band - Tom Halliday (with his wife Joyce), Steve Kimball, Roger Tidwell and Russ (and my mind is totally blank because I can't think of his last name - sorry Ruby). Also my family, my son Tyler and his wife Andrea, Kevin and his wife April, my perfect grandson Ian, sisters Nancy and Carol, brothers Todd and Charlie, and nieces Tanya and Shannon. All of these people were with me the first night at the hospital - what troopers!!!

Thank you for all of the phone calls - Nancy Hyde, Merrilee Nelson, Jeff Gold, Liz, Kelly, Bishop, Sherrill, Nola, Rebecca, Helen Young and tons more.

Yesterday (Friday, November 30th) we were visited by all the family members, Keith and Nola, Chris Jackson, Gordon, Steve and Gary, Bishop, Molly and Bill McMahon, Liz Edman, Kelly Hicken, Nan Bateman, Tracy Green, Dave Willis, Deb Bilder, Cory Cummings, Mary Sonzini, Kim and Susan Duersch, Tom & Joyce Halliday.

Today (December 1st) we were visited by Bishop Dave, Bill McMahon, President Kent Cannon, Mary Sonzini, Dave and Anna Thackerary, all the family, Travis Staley and his wife and two sons.

Thank you Steve for saving his life.
Thank you Sherrill for the temple network.
Thank you family - you are amazing.
Thank you Keith & Nola for picking up and putting together the crib.
Thank you Malia and Makoa for tending my grandchildren Friday night.
Thank you Molly for the very appreciated gift bag of toiletries (loved the toothbrush and tooth paste).
Thank you Bill for the chocolates (which help in any situation) and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to the nurse for me.
Thank you to the RS for all the food that has been delivered to our house.
Thank you to the crew who shoveled our walks.
Thank you Debbie for offering help as a friend or doctor-whichever I need at the time.
Thank you Judy Zimmerman for sending the clergy lady.
Thank you Mary Sonzini for setting up a wonderful shower for me at the hospital - showers are really helpful.
Thank you Dave Willis for answering all our questions and being available.
Thank you Claudia for sending a fellow from Nutrition Care to take a food order. Chicken noodle soup is very healing.
Thank you to the surgeon for his knowledge and skill in repairing Randy's heart (even though he acted like the grim reaper when he initially spoke with us).
Thank you to the nurses.
Thank you my son-in-law for also answering difficult questions .
Thank you Carrie (my niece) and Maryetta for babysitting.
Thank you Van and Myrna for picking up Janell and Scotty.

I apologize to anyone I may have missed.

I wanted to write down as much as I can remember so that when Randy can communicate, he will know of all of the people that love and have rallied around him and our family. We have had some great times with all of the visitors. I kept saying Randy would have loved to have been in the waiting room with us.

I want you to know that I am feeling very hopeful, loved and spoiled. Except for a couple of Dr. Death encounters, I have been very positive and upbeat. My family and I will get through this and love and appreciate each and every one of you.

Mmmm.... sugar.

Andrea and I went in to see him just before the shift change tonight. He wasn't talking, but he was moving around a lot. That bed is just too short for him! That, and he loathes the oxygen mask. He tried to pull it off probably 7 or 8 times in the time we were in with him.

We asked if he wanted us to go back to sleep yet, and he shook his head no. We told him about all the visitors who've come to see us in the waiting room today, and about the blog and all the people who were wanting to see how he's doing. He probably won't remember a thing from these first days, but it's nice to think that we're helping him relax in the moments when he's more lucid.

While we were there, they finished off the insulin he's been receiving. So hooray! One less tube! There are still several, and he likes to try taking them out at every opportunity. Those poor nurses-- they have their hands full! They'll be monitoring his glucose level every 4 hours, and giving him insulin shots as appropriate.


Not much else to report for the day. We looked at the clock and noted that he's starting Day 3. Time blurs, and it seems unreal that it's only been 48 hours since we first arrived at the hospital.
Mom is going to try posting in a while to let everybody know how she's doing.

Janell & Scotty are Here!

Janell and her toddler Scotty arrived this afternoon! Now all the children are together. Barbara is feeling very happy. Randy continues to communicate now that he has the breathing tube out. He is still drowsy with the medication, however. The nurses tell us that if he continues to improve they will be moving him out of the ICU within a couple of days.

Visitors keep stopping by, and now there is much more entertainment in the waiting room with Scotty. The grandchildren are not allowed to see Randy until they move him from ICU, but they are patiently waiting and looking forward to talking with him again.

Lazarus, arise!

Kevin and April just got in from checking in on dad. He's sedated at the moment, so he was not too responsive. In talking with the nurse, they learned that earlier a physical therapist had come in and they told Randy they were there to help him stand up. So he got up. All on his own!

He is now tied down to his bed again. So he doesn't, you know, wander off on them or anything. Go dad!

Dazed and confused

Barbara and Nancy came back from visiting with him. The nurses were doing various diagnostics on him-- thumbs-up with his left hand, two fingers out on his right hand, wiggle his toes.... They had a light and had him track it. He turned his head to follow it instead of moving his eyes, which they weren't particularly pleased about, but everything else seems to point to decent cognitive function.

Nancy asked if he knew who she was, and he whispered out, "Nancy". The nurses asked what the holiday was that we just celebrated. He said, "Barbara's birthday". "What's the holiday that we just celebrated where you eat lots of food?" "Barbara's birthday." "When is Barbara's birthday?" "September." That's correct, but it looks like there may have been some short-term memory loss.

You know what? I'd be perfectly happy to have Thanksgiving again just for him. There's a lot to be thankful for.

Breathing tube? What breathing tube?!

I just got out of the room with my dad. As we approached, he was moving his arms a bit and struggling with the nurse. We came in and talked with him a bit, just reassuring him that yes, we know he's uncomfortable, but he's doing great. We explained a little bit to him about what happened and where he is, but certainly not the extent of it.

We were about to leave when a crew of nurses showed up to take out his breathing tube! He started trying to take it out himself (again!), and fought with the nurses when they tried to restrain him. We kept talking to him and it calmed him down to where they could finish their work.

And moments later.... he was breathing on his own with no tubes!!

He tried to talk a bit-- he told the nurse he was about to pee on her. She explained that he had a catheter, so he's good. She told him she's had patients threaten worse. :-) I told him to not try to talk because his throat is really sore. Having been through several long surgeries myself, I can empathize with how bad your throat gets and how confused you are when you're coming out of the sedation. He accepted that, and we just kept telling him he's doing well. He fought a bit when they put an oxygen mask over him until we explained that they're not trying to put another breathing tube in.

So that's good... he's breathing on his own now. He's certainly dazed by all the anesthesia, but if you explain what's going on he settles right down. When he made a comment to the nurse when the tube was removed, he sounded like dad. They've taken out a lot of the tubes from his neck and chest, and his color looks more and more normal.

They didn't want to pull the tube until he could follow commands because they'll need to have him do some breathing exercises. Apparently the next step is to try to get him walking!! Yeah. We're shocked too. I'm frankly terrified, but that's probably just because he's still dazed from being sedated so much. He'll be delighted, I'm sure-- the way he's been thrashing about in bed implies he wants to be up and kicking. But wow!


On a separate note...


Mom slept in the waiting room again last night, because she wanted to be close in case anything happened. Matt and Karrie came in from Massachusetts last night and visited dad for a bit-- he'd fallen asleep and didn't get to see them. We all left my mom and went to their house to get some sleep. Everybody was completely exhausted.

This morning we had waffles for breakfast, and the Relief Society and neighbors have been bringing food over for the family.


Thank you everyone for all your love and prayers and support. This is a horrible thing to happen, but we've all been so blessed by the overwhelming response of everyone who knows our dad.