Return to "Jenny" Page


Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - - A Summary of the past 47 days

On Thursday December 7, 2000, Pearl Harbor day, less than 3 weeks before Christmas, Jenny collapsed at home, and Chris could not move or revive her........ Jenny had been throwing up ..................and very, very sick .................and then, all of a sudden, Jenny just passed out......

Jenny had been sick like this once a month, for about the prior 6 months - - but once she threw up - - she was fine.......There was no passing out the previous months.......This time, on December 7, 2000, she did pass out and couldn't be revived - - -and an ambulance was called......

An extract from the December 7 diary, below - - -

"All day, no one could tell what Jenny's issue was, but the news kept coming back worse and worse. She was getting sicker and sicker as they tested for migraines, pancreas and kidney problems, stomach problems, viruses, diabetes and other problems. Fluids and morphine were given to Jenny through a tube and they may have somehow filled up her lungs. Apparently, when they attempted to put an oxygen tube or mask on Jenny, she kept pulling it away, probably because she couldn't breathe and wanted to keep all obstructions away from her mouth. They had to tie her arms down so she wouldn't get in the way ! Jenny was very afraid..............she had extremely frightened eyes..........as she was fighting for her life

Finally, a doctor put her on a respirator (a tube in her mouth to help her breath) and while in the Emergency Room, she had a heart attack. It became clear that in addition to all the problems she was having, the heart appeared to top the list, but still, no one knew what was happening.........Perhaps the other problems were a result of the heart problem ........

Jenny's life hung by a thread all night long as the doctors diagnosed her condition. "

On December 8, a diagnosis was made and surgery to install a HeartMate was performed :

An extract from the December 8 diary, below - - -

"A number of tests were run all day to determine the problem, and finally, at about 4:30 PM, Dr. Peters and a hospital chaplain held a family meeting. Dr. Peters said the problem was that her left heart was only pumping at 10%.....Because of this, Jenny's internal organs were not being supported and were beginning to shut down.......The heart was the key to Jenny's problems.... Accordingly, Dr. Peter's he was handing Jenny's case over to a Dr. Allen. Later, Dr. Allen came in the room with his nurses and gave us the facts of Jenny's situation. He said, "If we don't install the Heart-Mate immediately, she will not make it through this evening!"

We were all dazed and couldn't speak, but dad mustered the ability as he spoke up and said, "we really have no option."

With that, Jenny was prepared to go to surgery.

Each family member got to say a few words to Jenny (who was under heavy sedation) before she was taken away ..........it was by far the saddest, most difficult moment every member had ever had in their lives........Everyone present was in tears and hugging each other and praying for God's mercy that Jenny would have another day of life.......

Given the possibility Jenny would not make it through surgery, the Chaplain gave Jenny her "last rights" in accordance with the Catholic tradition...........Family members witnessing the event stood in stunned silence........She's only 30 yrs old !!!!!"

For the first time this bible verse became clear to me......., "In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10

Chris signed some papers in a daze and had no idea what they really said...........We had much hope that we would see Jenny alive later that night.

At 5:30 PM, the family waited for the 4 - 8 hour operation !

At 9:30 PM, the nurses came to the waiting room, and through their actions and expression it was very clear that the operation was a success...... Their words confirmed as such .......Interestingly, Billy Graham was on the television during the very difficult waiting period in the CRU - - asking thousands to give their lives to Christ..........

We learned the Heart-Mate was phase 1 of a 2 phase project.....Phase 2 was the need for a donor heart to replace the Heart-Mate.......But a donor heart was way down the road..........

While the family learned about the HeartMate and prayed for Jenny's recovery, the "great physician's" hands were already at work on Jenny..........Her progression and recovery was nothing short of a miracle:

Between Christmas and New Years Day, a daily routine developed of physical therapy, rest and strolls in a wheelchair through the hospital - - - it was scary at first for Chris to switch Jenny's HeartMate from the Power Base Unit to battery packs - - but eventually - - he became comfortable...Also, Jenny missed Ellie tremendously, and still had not had a chance to see her baby - - this extract - -

"Jenny misses her baby Ellie so much and needs to see her so badly................ Today, she was watching an Ellie video that Chris made from the past 2 weeks of Ellie's young life....

- - Little Jenny was in tears during the whole video and her heart just ached to hold her baby...... While viewing the video, her uncle, Father Pat Doyle, Pastor of St. Joan of Arc church, entered the room and provided some kind words .....which turned Jenny's tears into hope from sadness...........God's timing is perfect.........."

Through the tremendous, awful pain, difficulties, and emotionally tiring times, Jenny kept her sense of humor, as was evidenced from this extract - - -

"I was hustled yesterday...........

You see - - Jenny doesn't enjoy performing her breathing exercises at all.....

The result ???

She doesn't do them as much as she should, despite repeated warnings from the nurses.....

Chris said, "Let's do some breathing exercises......." Jenny responded by rolling her eyes and losing her smile.....

Sensing a chance to help the situation, I said, "John Babes, I'll give you $1 if you can hit 1200 on that there breathing contraption...." (apologize for the language - - we've been watching too many Andy Griffith tapes.......)

Struggling, or so it seemed, she reached the 1200 mark, ..looked at me, clicked her fingers and said, "fork it over."

I did, ...........but I was smart......... or so I thought.......

I waited for her to do a few more - - so she'd tire out a bit - - and......... it appeared she was tiring - -

the next 3 breaths barely reached 1100 and were declining.......

Time to strike, I thought.................I said, "John Babes, I'll give you another 'George Washington' if you can hit the magic 1200 again." .........

Smiling, she seemed to draw a breath reserved for such a challenge..........and, of course, she amazingly hit the target.......

I thought, the heck with 'fool me once shame on me......' - - I was setup twice by my baby sister...... and I needed to let her know who was in charge here..........

I reached down in my bag and pulled out another 'Dead President' - - this time - - - one with a picture of my hero Abraham Lincoln on it...... a $5 bill !!!

Repeating a phrase that was sure to get me a win this time ........I said,

"John Babes, me and my good buddy Abe Lincoln here don't think you can hit 1250 on the "tube"........."

Jenny's eyes squinted.............., a serious, focused face replaced the harmless smile I had just witnessed.........and I knew I was in trouble..........again..................

She looked over at the bill in my hand, as if to say, "Show me the money!!!".........

however, no words were spoken.................

The 'swooosh' of the HeartMate was all that could be heard, as Chris and I held our breath......

...... I tightly grasped Abe........

Big Breath in.......Then out...............Jenny blew into the long blue tube....................

Chris leaned over the plastic contraption to get a reading..............

"1250" - - exactly........Chris started laughing and dancing................

Jenny, tired, but not too tired to click her fingers again and motion for Abe, demanded the prize for her efforts.....

"Ready to go for 1300?" Jenny said, acting more tired than she really was.......again.................

No response from me.................... I was Joe Frazier to Muhammad Ali's 'Rope-A-Dope' scheme in the big fight of the 70's.......

"Just let me know when you wanna go again Timmy !"

I muttered, "Never - - would be too soon........."

On January 2, the last tube - - the feeding tube - - - was taken out of Jenny's body - - and she was free of all external tubes - - - what a sense of relief........and, soon thereafter, she was able to eat normal food......Another huge praise !!!

One day later - - - - - - January 3 - - - Jenny finally got to see Ellie in person - - an extract - -

"Jenny had a very, very special visitor this morning - - - Ellie Walker - her baby!!!!!

Ellie's reaction:

Ellie just stared at Jenny the whole time, with those big blue eyes, as if to say, "Mommy, Is that you ??"

Jenny's reaction:

OH MY GOSH - - LOOK HOW BIG ELLIE IS !!!!! AND ALL THAT HAIR - WHERE DID THAT COME FROM???? OH - AND ELLIE'S SOOO HEAVY !!!! SHE'S SO WONDERFUL !!!!

Jenny got to hold her little baby, and, at last, all finally seemed right with the world........It's been almost a month since Jenny's even seen little Ellie !!!!

....and Ellie just continued to stare at her mommy as they sat together in bed........

Ellie even joined Jenny at physical therapy today for her morning walk........"

A few days later, Jenny made a triumphal return to the Caridac Recovery Unit (CRU) to visit some new friends who nursed her back to health:

an extract - -

"...This evening, Chris switched Jenny over to the battery packs, and helped Jenny to a wheelchair for leisurely stroll through the second floor........A pretty common occurrence these days........Jenny gets in the wheelchair and her smile widens........It's freedom - - - from that awful bed !!!! Chris gets a wild hair and says, "Jenny, do you want to see where you spent the first 2 weeks of your hospital life?" ." Ever the adventurer, Jenny said "sure!

....5 minutes later, we arrive at the Cardiac Recovery Unit - - - during "shift change time", when some nurses end and others begin their workday....... Chris turns the corner with the wheelchair, and nurses come from all over !!!! There were smiles everywhere!! The nurses - - about 10 of them - couldn't believe Jenny could speak ! They had never heard her voice before !! They had never seen her situp before!

There were hugs and misty eyes all over - -

Jenny was amazed !

She really couldn't place everyone - - but they all remember Jenny very well !!!

We told Jenny there were about 20 more nurses that weren't there that night who would just love to see her !!!! Jenny replied, wide-eyed, 'You're kiddin' me, right? I had no idea !!"

Jenny had a tough afternoon sitting alone in her bed today, but the nurses in CRU really changed her focus!

Reminded me a little bit of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life........."

Anyway - - - to those wonderful and caring nurses in CRU - - thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for taking care of Jenny......It never seemed to be a job with you, it seemed you always led with your heart first and then your knowledge.......We are grateful for your kindness and professionalism........"

On January 9, 2001, Jenny was informed she would begin her road to recovery program - - - which meant preparing her for going home !

Soon thereafter, however, she received heartbreaking news that the road to recovery schedule was too aggressive:

an extract - -

"Well, today, Jenny received two pieces of heartbreaking news ......and, unfortunately, the news was too close to her heart to be ignored.........

First, Jenny was informed that she is not strong enough to go home this week, and her "release date" will be moved to next week.......

Jenny cried........

There were tears in her voice when she exclaimed to Chris, "I'll never get out of here!"

I'm told it was truly a heartwrenching scene where no words could console -- and, accordingly, the only audio in the room for some time, was the sound of the HeartMate in Jenny's body and Jenny releasing her emotions......

Jenny also received news that she will not be able to drive a car while the HeartMate is in her body..... This will be very difficult as Jenny loved to take Ellie on drives to family and friend's houses to hang out and let Ellie show-off her latest tricks......

Well, today, Jenny received some difficult news........and tomorrow, who knows?

But it's ok - because we know God is sovereign, as it is written in His word:

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139: 16 "

On January 12, 2001 , for the first time in 37 days - - - Jenny went outside !!! What joys simple pleasures can bring !!!!

Before Jenny could go home, Jenny and her posse had to pass the HeartMate test - - an extract - -

"The genesis of this release program was the passing of a "HeartMate" test by everyone attending the classes this last week: Chris, Jenny, Jamie, Jackie (nanny) and Dad.........If everyone didn't pass the test, Jenny wouldn't get to go home...... There was definitely some pressure in passing ! And.......everyone came through with flying colors !!! .......Well, everyone passed anyway.....

One small incident took place worth mentioning - -

Jamie had a question for one of the coordinators teaching the course, so the coordinator took Jamie and some HeartMate test equipment to the side..... Jamie asked the coordinator to create the alarm on the HeartMate unit so she could familiarize herself with a "game day" situation......During this time, the other coordinator, Jenny, Jackie and dad were moving on to the next topic......For some reason, Jenny didn't notice that Jamie and the previous coordinator stepped away........everyone else in the group was quite aware........

Naturally, Jamie's test HeartMate system alarm went off - - - and - - -Jenny was startled !!!!!!

What scared her more was that no one was doing anything to address the alarm !!!!! She was sure it was the HeartMate alarm for the HeartMate inside her own body !!!!!

Jenny said, "My eyes got as big as half dollars" and I said, "What is that? What is that? Do something !!!!!!!"

Everybody just looked at Jenny - - - and then to Jamie - - - who then apologized for alarming Jenny.......

A good chuckle was had by all - - - at Jenny's expense......"

Finally, on Wednesday January 17, Jenny had a 4 hour furlogh home, followed by a 24 hour furlough on Friday January 19........

On Monday, January 22, 2001 - - Chris and Jenny packed all their belongings and moved out of the hospital for good..........

Over this entire 47 days, the Walker and Doyle families were the recipients of many unbelieveable acts of kindness:

Jenny says she has learned so much through this experience...........


Finally, I thank God ,His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for their protection of my baby sister; I thank them for their continued presence with Jenny and our family and friends in the midst of this trial, providing a miracle hand of healing in recovery, and a continued sense of comfort that God's will would be performed in this situation.........

Yes, miracles do happen - - - and we have witnessed one in Jenny's trial...... Jesus, in the bible, asked His listeners, "If you don't believe in who I say I am, at least believe in what I do...."

At least believe in the miracle of life He has given Jenny..........to whom else could you attribute her life to?

To understand God's purpose for your life, the problem we have as human beings, God's remedy to our problem, and our required response - - click here - - Faith in God

I'd ask that you give your life to Christ - - right now - don't wait until you get yourself better and ready - you never will; and anyway, you never could make yourself good enough for Christ - - He's perfect - we're not - - - - so please, from the bottom of my heart, believe by praying the following verse:

That if I confess with my mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, I will be saved. For it is with my heart that I believe and am justified, and it is with my mouth that I confess and am saved. - - -(Romans 10:9-10 - adapted to personalize the prayer)

God bless each and everyone of you,

In His Holiness, Love and Peace,

Tim


Return to "Jenny" Page