All hospitals have a "Code Blue" team, that is a team of employees that is called when there is an medical emergency, and Richard is on that team at Pioneer. On Feb 20 Richard responded to a code and was giving CPR. During the compressions the person working the defibrillator did not yell clear and Richard touching the patient got the full blow of 360 joules of the shock. To non-medical this type of shock is to stop the heart and reset it in a normal beat. This bolt of electricity went through Richards body making all of his muscles cramp up, the doctors say that it crossed over his body in his chest and exited his left big toe. Thank goodness it did not stop his heart, but it did throw him into a slower heart rhythm . For the first two weeks Richard has been dealing with his arm being numb and chest tightness.
But Richard has been complaining of chest pain the last week, so he got checked out and they found that when electric bolt crossed his chest it burnt his right lung and nerves to his lungs giving him a hemorrageic contusion. Because of that blood has leaked into his lungs and he is at risk for pulmonary embolisms(PE which are deadly) and he has contracted an infection and pneumonia. He has been put on bed rest with very little activity-he can't get his heart rate up because it would cause his lungs to expand and dislodge a PE. This is very serious because this can cause permanent damage.
So that is all the news i have to update people on sorry its not good news but hey news is news.
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3 comments:
We love you Richard!
Brad and I are fasting this sunday for two reasons. One, his aunt has breast cancer and is going into surgery. Two, Brads coworkers sisters husband is in a coma from a car wreck that was not his fault. So we will fast for another reason. Richard :) hope Meagan is doing good.
Richard ill be in our prayers. I hope this doesn't cause any more damage then it already has. Please up date us on his recovery. We're still looking forward to seeing you guys in June right?
Get well soon.
The Drumm's
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