The Power of Prayer and NEVER losing faith

I thought this was an awesome and inspirational story, posting with Karen's permission:

Monday evening at about 9pm, while at Lisa & Danny's house for Bible study-- Jack got a call on his cell phone. Before he said a word-- Lisa began jumping up and down, "It's his heart! It's his heart!" So, how did she know? Sure enough, the Cedars Sinai heart transplant team member, Brian was on the phone to tell Jack the good news. "I can be there in an hour," Jack told him.

Meanwhile, Sam and I were already on our way home. I had come by myself after delivering some paintings to a print publisher in Vernon. Ordinarily, I didn't attend the weekly Bible Study at my sister's house. Jack, my Dad and Sam had been going weekly for a few years. I decided on my way home, since I was passing by her house, to stop there and join them. Jack's eyes lit up (did I see him get teary?), and it was nice to hear Danny pray especially for "God who was preparing the donor, and what a blessed gift the donor was to be giving Jack..." He prayed for the donor's family, and for them to know peace in this great gift of life.

As I was at about Bolsa Chica and Edinger, when Jack called me and told me they had a heart for him. He was going to meet me at home and we needed to be there in an hour. We both screamed and cried!

Immediately Sam and I got on our phones. At home, I grabbed Jack's toothbrush and unplugged the L-VAD power base unit. I was told to bring in his heart pump equipment when we got the call and I was more than happy to do so! Gone now are the noisy base unit, the emergency back up unit, the box of extra filters, the black bag full of extra batteries, emergency hand pump, etc. which Jack had to carry with him at all times; all the brick-sized extra batteries (like, eight of them!), and the shower-pack apparatus (still in its box). Jack was never comfortable getting that close to water because he thought he'd get electrocuted!

We piled into the van and headed up to LA, all three of us on our phones simultaneously to give family and friends the good news. Jack wanted to tell people as many people as he could, in that hour drive, that he loved them...

We arrived and went directly to his room on the 6th floor, in the heart unit at Cedars Sinai. There, he had a battery of tests, and around midnight was wheeled into the OR. I kissed him goodby and watched the doors close. In the waiting room were Samantha, Jack's mom and step-Dad, Paul. Lisa, Danny and their girls Britney and Madeline (in pj's) waited with us.

At 2:30 am, the OR nurse called to let us know the donor heart was indeed good, and they were going to proceed with the transplant. All we know about the donor was that he was in Santa Barbara. His heart (and liver-- going to a patient at UCLA) was flown by helicoptor.

We waited and tried to snooze in the uncomfortable waiting room chairs, each with wooden armrests so you couldn't lay down. Lisa finally gave up trying, and joined the girls on the floor. We took over half the waiting room with our blankets, bags, purses, books and assorted cups of caffinated drinks.

At 6:45 am, Dr. Simsir came out and said the surgery went, "without a hiccup." I'm thinking, that's a good way to put it, considering we're talking about heart transplantation. He reported that Jack was doing very well, had little bleeding, and was on his way to the ICU where he would be for the next 24-36 hours. We all hugged and cried for relief and gratitude. Danny, Lisa and the girls left for home to get some much-needed sleep; Linda, Paul, Sam and I headed over to the Sapparstein Tower (Cedars is huge!) to the heart ICU unit and waited some more.

At 10:30 or so-- we finally got to take a peek at Jack. Considering the invasive nature of his surgery (remember-- they had to also remove the L-VAD "Left Ventricular Assist Device" heart pump which had been implanted last Oct.) he looked pretty darn good! He was sedated, but they said after checking his vitals and responsiveness, all was very well with him. The nurse overlooking Jack said they would be gradually waking him after about 12 hours when the breathing tube would come out. They will be pumping him full of anti-rejection drugs and monitoring him closely.

He will then go to the 6th floor in the North Tower and spend up to 2 weeks, recovering and doing physical therapy; after which he will come home! He should be able to go back to work and resume "normal" life! I have hopes of going out dancing like we used to... As I write this, "The Early Show" drones on in the background. A report about another miracle surgery, a little girl who had 6 organs removed and replaced, was alive and well to tell about it on national TV. We are so blessed to have the medical technology (and the health insurance thanks to Jack's faithful employer, Goodwill Industries!) to realize extended life, when vital organs fail. And tremendous doctors and a great hospital like Cedars Sinai!

I do not under estimate the power of prayer. Jack has been on many prayer lists, and even had holy water (blessed by the Pope himself!) sprinkled on him just prior to both his surgeries. The fortunate timing of this will allow him to be healed 100 percent just in time for Matthew's graduation from boot camp in May. Jack was very strong, having gained back all the weight he lost, and was back to working almost 6 hours a day; taking out the trash, shopping for groceries, and getting around like any (middle-aged) man. He was able to spend the holidays with us, and our son (which may have been our son's last Christmas at home). He was fully available to be there for Matthew before going to Marine training. And we were able to attend Samantha's Improv Show, which thrilled her so much to finally have her dad there!

We have been lifted and held up by God's grace, by our family and friends, and all the support shown us.

Again, thank you for your prayers, friendship, good wishes and hugs. We are all incredibly grateful! With love,Karen (and Jack, Matt & Sam)

Karen Wall Garrison
ARTIST for HIRE