This months inspiring lady is my cousin, Amyanne Rigby... check out her blog, Barnwood & Tulips.
Amy has had a few scares over the past five years but she decided to turn those moments of fear and confusion into moments in her life that have defined who she is now. At her most challenging and trying times she turned to the Lord and found peace and comfort in the gospel. She is an inspiring woman, mother, and wife. Here is her story...
I
have a reoccurring nightmare…. I am scrunched up in a hospital
corner in a metal chair clutching Maleck’s infant carrier. While
my eyes and body beg for sleep, it is interrupted by the sounds of a
Polynesian family. They are loud. Evidently somebody’s uncle’s
brother’s cousin has had a turn for the worse. Throughout the
night, my sleep is constantly interrupted by the intercom. I keep
hearing the urgent voice of a nurse, “Stroke patient room 11,
stroke patient room 8, the list goes on… Where am I?”
I
wake and remember this is not a nightmare… this is my reality. It
is February 28th, 2009. At age 35, my husband
Travis had a stroke. Our baby boy (number 5) was 12 weeks old.
After Travis was put on life flight to the IHC Stroke hospital in
Murray, he was placed in Neuro ICU. The
decision to life flight him was made after less than 12 hours at our
local hospital where more tests and blood work then he or I can count
were performed. Two black spots on his brain were found. He had
indeed suffered from a stroke. And the question lingered, “Strokes
happen to old people right, not young healthy 35 year olds?”
It
had been nearly 24 hours since our sweet little three year old
daughter came to get me in the bathroom. I was brushing my teeth.
Our other four were settled for the night. She said, “Mommy daddy
needs you,” Doesn’t daddy always need mommy (were my thoughts)?
I kept brushing my teeth. “Mommy, please daddy needs you now,”
she said with a pleading urgent tone.
I
went into our family room where I met his eyes...those beautiful blue
eyes that had seen me through 5 difficult labors were filled with
panic and fear. And then he spoke. His words were nonsense.
Something was wrong.
Dad Rigby drove me and our five little ones to Murray while Travis's mother went with him on the life flight. Travis arrived before us. Thankfully, his brother and sister were there to meet him. When I walked into the room holding our sweet baby, words fell from my hubby's lips. I looked up to see his neuro surgeon wiping tears from her eyes with a look of disbelief. Travis had not uttered a single sensible word until his baby boy was placed in his arms - miracle!
There
were so many miracles that transpired through this “lesson” in
our life. It would be hard for me to count, but miracle number one…
the Lord was preparing me. Months before the stroke, I was being
prepared. It seemed everywhere I went, I saw or heard information
relative to strokes- the back of doctor’s doors, TV and radio ads
etc. I also received emails and had conversations with associates
about strokes. I read literature about the signs of strokes. So
when the night came, I knew Travis was having a stroke. I knew to
give him an aspirin, and then I knew to call our neighbor who was a
doctor. He took Travis in the back door of the hospital and
announced, “this man is having a stroke, he needs a doctor
immediately.” The ER staff came to attention.
Long
story short… After spending the weekend in Neuro ICU and after
various tests and lots of blood work, the doctor ordered an
echocardiogram. This test showed that there was a hole in Travis’s
heart that had caused the stroke. Conclusion, to prevent any future
strokes, the hole would need to be repaired.
The
surgery was performed and a 20 mm hub shaped somewhat like a mesh
umbrella was placed in my hubby’s heart. The cardiologist told us
it was the biggest hole he had seen in any patient. After nearly four
hours of making sure his vitals were stable, he was discharged. We
were told his heart was fine — now just go home and get over the
stroke…
Not
nearly as easy as they made it sound. The hard part: my husband is
young and a very highly functioning stroke victim; there is not a lot
of information and support for young stroke victims in our area. I
have Googled a lot — information please!
The
stroke affected the speech control portion of his brain. Typing a
one sentence email was a crowning moment for Travis. Speaking in
front of a crowd was another milestone. Feeling a connection with
deity took nearly four years (during the initial stroke I experienced
an overwhelming spiritual high. There were so many angels
strengthening me. Travis on the other hand, was left without words,
without clarity, and without the ability to feel the comfort of God),
He would have preferred his limbs had been affected by the stroke and
not his communication, Wanting to be around large groups of people….
Hmm…? We mark the years off like birthdays since the stroke. This
month: February — five years
The
effects from his stroke may seem minor or termed residual if you were
looking them up in a textbook. But to me, the wife of this wonderful
man and mother to his five children, they are ever present in our
daily lives. Most victims of any brain injury suffer an alteration
to their personalities. We have waited for our “Travis” to
return. Likewise, he as waited for this as well. Although
discouraged and seemingly alone, Travis never quit. When others may
have simply quit talking and hid away, Travis has led a successful
company, served as Scoutmaster, and coached several of his kids’
athletic teams. Finally, I believe we have reached the summit.
In the distance, I hear an echo of the priesthood
blessing my father and Uncle Kurt administered to Travis that night
in the hospital, ‘In due time, he will be healed.”
Fast
forward 3 years and it is Halloween night. Travis and I are
taking our two little ones trick or treating. We are smiling and
laughing (It has been a long time since we have done so) and
indulging ourselves in this memory. The autumn night is beautiful
and Travis is visiting with neighbors and friends. Our children
delight in the magic of the evening.
The next
morning, I awake and join my girl friends for our morning run. We
decide to take the golf course loop. I remember not feeling well. I
even asked to stop and walk (I never walk). After which, we kept
going and finished our run. I remember thinking, “I wish someone
would stop and ask me for a ride.” Upon opening the door, I thrust
myself into the morning routine… my mind was trying to talk my body
out of what was happening. I fried eggs for Seleck and Stockton. I
told Travis I was not feeling well. He took the boys to school. I
got Emma and Madsen up… Travis returned. My symptoms were
worsening. My heart was pounding, my skin was cold and clammy. I
tore my clothes off hoping to remove the pressure from my chest, and
then I had a bath hoping that would help. Nothing did. I called for
Travis and then began vomiting profusely (I don’t vomit. In fact,
I can count on one hand how many times I have vomited in my life).
Now I told you the Lord had a way of preparing me for things.
Three weeks earlier I woke from a dream. In the dream my grandmother
was gently rubbing my face. Her eyes spoke to me as if to say, “It’s
not time yet.” I woke up thinking, “What?”.
Two
weeks earlier I had stopped by Travis’s office. He insisted I
watch the email attachment our neighbor sent him. (Never, does he
show me these things, nor do I ever take time for them.) That
morning I did. The video clip attached to the email depicted a woman
experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack. Her son insisted she
call 911. At which point, she did. Funny side note: they told her
they would be there in 10 minutes. She looked around her kitchen in
its morning disarray and she asked if they would give her 15 minutes
instead.
At
this point, I asked Travis to google the symptoms of a heart attack.
I wish you could have seen the look he gave me. However, after
reading the signs of a heart attack and feeling my pulse. He
announced, “We are going to the Emergency Room.” I asked him to
get me an aspirin before we left.
Thankfully,
upon entering the ER doors, our dear friend greeted us. She was on
duty. Chest pain is not something taken lightly here. I was
immediately taken back to a room. I heard Maleck crying as I left.
I was taken to my cubicle (It was the same cubicle Travis had on that
dreaded night. This is not my favorite place). They checked my heart
rate- 240 beats a minute. It has been over 2 hours since I came home
from my run. Immediately tests are ran. The tests show no damage to
my heart. It is not a heart attack. But what then? Why was my
heart doing this? The nurses kept asking me if I have taken anything
this morning? Do I do drugs. I was slightly annoyed and told them
that I do not even drink Coca Cola or any caffeinated drink.
My
heart rate was still racing and needed to be brought down. The ER
Doc administers me a drug designed to do just that. After two double
doses, the drug was unsuccessful. At this point, they ushered Travis
out the door and escort him to the waiting room. They told him they
will need to sedate me and shock my heart. It was not going to be
pleasant. They said it should only be about 20 minutes.
Travis
and a doctor gave me a blessing. I don’t remember the words, but I
remembered the feeling that I needed to be diligent (I remember
thinking, I am not overly talented, beautiful or successful, but I
can do diligent). Before the doctor began the procedure, I looked at
him with begging eyes and say, “Please do not let anything happen
to me, I have five little ones I need to take care of.” He
responded with a look of shock.
The
20 minutes turned into an hour and a half. During the procedure, my
heart stopped. When I came to, I was looking at the bed from above
the bed. I was headed somewhere in those heart stopping moments, but
thankfully diligently, I returned.
At
this point, the doctors knew that nothing else could be done for me
here. Further answers needed to be obtained. I was given a nice
ride on the ambulance to St. George. My mother-in-law rode with me.
Travis gathered the kiddos.
Another
long story short- After 3 days in the hospital and the
administration of several tests, Dr. Molden performed an EP study.
It was determined that a ventricular ablation was needed. During
this six hour surgery, he fixed my heart. Two weeks later, I
returned for a check-up and I was told I could run again.
Wow!
Travis and I joke around about the fact that we both have our own
cardiologist. The doctors term Travis’s heart problem as a
“plumbing problem.” On the other hand, they call mine an
“electrical issue.” Whatever the proper name… we both have a
greater understanding of “matters of the heart.”
The
seven of us approach each Valentine’s with open and grateful
hearts. We were all changed by these experiences. We have been
touched by such generosity and care from others. Through these
experiences our children have been our “mountains". They have
rallied to the occasion and have loved and served each other and
Travis and I. They have come to know the brevity of life. Our
hearts have been carved with understanding, greater love, and deeper
appreciation for the “minutes” of life we are granted to share
with those we love. I treasure the moments I have to experience
with our “Fab 5” and I admire the strength and compassion with
which they have been blessed. We are a team of seven, led by a man
who is ever courageous and forever ours. Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Thanks Amy for being so willing to share such an emotional and personal story. I am so grateful for your example of courage and perseverance. Love ya:)
Amyanne Rigby...
s.jpg)
