Here’s where we’ve been for the last week and a half:

"I just wanted to catch you up on the events of the last ten days from my point of view, with Jen filling in some of the gaps. Around 9:30am on Sat 2/8, Jen found me unresponsive on the couch, called 911 and started chest compressions for 5 minutes until the paramedics came. They then worked on me for another 5 minutes before they got a pulse, intubated me and got me to the hospital. It was another 48 hours before I was breathing on my own and awake. However, I don’t recall anything from three days before the cardiac arrest to the day after the open heart surgery. Once the paramedics decided my ribs were no longer needed, they replaced them with rusty steel girders, my heart with a slab of granite, and my lungs with barbed wire. At least that’s what it felt like.

Then the open-heart surgery was scheduled for Wed. 2/12. Surgery ended up being a QUINTUPLE bypass surgery and went very well. My earliest memory in all of this was the Friday after the surgery - after having been dead for ten minutes, it’s understandable. Honestly, after what I am hearing I am happy I can’t remember most of it. 

Through an amazing amount of teamwork from the staff at the hospital, friends and family, and prayer warriors, God has made it 100% clear that my journey is not close to being done. I don’t know what His plan is yet, but it’s obvious I’m still here for a reason.” (Doug)

The current status: We are home and finding our new “normal”. It has been a sweet time for our marriage, so far ;-) and we know there is still a long road ahead towards recovery. If you’re reading this and have in any way, through prayer, comments, and texts, have encouraged us, thank you so much for the love, support and prayers. They have been felt, and words cannot express how thankful we are for all of you.

Financially, the thoughts of worry and control have popped up in both of our heads many times but have felt God say, “Wait.” In the car ride home from the hospital with Doug, I (Jen) remember throwing up a small prayer, “OK, God, it’s time to start looking at administrative stuff now (doc appts., approval and doc forms for approval to be out of work, how bad is this going to hurt financially).” But again, we both felt a strong sense that God would provide. That evening Doug’s oldest friend called and asked what we thought about starting a fundraiser site. In prayer and talking we both felt it was God providing just as he had in so, so many tiny, small, medium and HUGE ways over the last week and a half by using our dear brother! 

The financial mountains seem daunting but not to the One who owns "the cattle on a thousand hills” (Ps 50:10). I am not being paid by Intuit for this time off. Actually, I have to pay them every week for what they usually deduct to pay for our insurance premium. Doug’s work is paying him but he will have to use all of his PTO as a result. Also, the ambulance, hospital and myraid of docs’ bills have already started pouring in. Currently we owe $3,000 but know it is a drop in the bucket for what is coming. Thankfully, God has provided through Intuit the best health insurance we have ever had in our lives! Once we reach the out of pocket minumum, we should be fine. The goal we have set has taken all of this into account. 

Please give only as you are led and able. Prayer is actually more vital than finances to us so that support is asked for as well. While we have experienced for years His overwhelming grace through salvation, our new daily feeling is one of overwhelming favor by our Great God, Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will provide). He has already shown Himself the perfect physician, our Jehovah Rapha (The Lord who heals). We trust Him in all things because He is perfect in all His characteristics. He has proven that in many ways throughout our lives. We give Him all the glory and praise and could not draw breath let alone serve Him without His unfailing love. Our prayer is that you see Him in us. Our cry is, as always, Soli Deo Gloria!

Love, In Christ, 

Doug & Jen