Mar 14, 2020

OUR MIRACLE OF 2020

The breathing treatments were consistent, keeping the airways open allowing oxygen to flow more easily, for he was also battling aspiration pneumonia. This happens when a person swallows their own vomit during CPR. Following lunch time on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, the respiratory therapist came in to give Peter a breathing treatment. During the breathing treatment, the hose went flying off across the room and everyone busted a gut! Beans said, “What the ****?!” We lived for those funny ass moments.

Although we were making progress, there were still many concerns. Beans was very uncomfortable, in pain, and hardly resting. It’s no wonder he’s in pain. The man has 12 total broken ribs, 6 on each side, along with a broken sternum from when mom had to give CPR. And, she has now been nicknamed Sledgehammer. Did you know that effective CPR results in broken ribs and sometimes a broken sternum? All of the medical staff and doctors continue to give her praise because of her CPR skills, that SAVED PETER BEANS’ LIFE. Crazy wild fact – my mother, a nurse of 37 years has NEVER administrated CPR on anyone other than a mannequin during practice, and she had to do it to save her own husband. She has always been the one to direct care and give medications, but not perform the CPR. Simply amazing.

So, when the nurse asked Peter where his pain was, he kept saying his stomach. He had also been suffering a massive stomach ache and diarrhea. The stomach pain kept him awake for over 30 hours straight. Mom began to worry something was up in the gut. She demanded he be tested for c-diff. He was on three very powerful antibiotics to treat a pneumonia and sepsis, from aspirating into the lungs, which can tear the stomach up. Praise God, the c-diff test came back negative. In addition, the doctors discussed possible kidney dialysis with my mom as it appeared as though his kidneys may have taken a hit from all the powerful antibiotics.

That evening, my husband stayed with Beans for a few hours, while mom tried to get some sleep on the couch that was 4 feet away. They were watching some TV and it said on the bottom of the screen, “Do you believe in miracles?” Beans said, “Yes, I sure do!” Our family is truly experiencing a miracle. No pulse for 49 minutes, forty-nine minutes – means no oxygen to the brain, except what got there during CPR, which is why it is so important to initiate it immediately. All the nurses and doctors that have helped provide medical care and that know of Peter Beans’ case, have shared in our pure JOY in his recovery. Less than 8% of people who suffer cardiac arrest, survive with minimal damage. Beans is a survivor falling in that 8% category. Did you know, that if CPR is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, it can double or triple a person’s chance of survival? Mom was taking no chances of losing the love of her life.

Sister Nicki called Josh the night of Wednesday, February 19, 2020. He was leaving the hospital around 11pm when she called. She called to tell Josh just how much Beans loves him and how beautiful their bond is. Josh and Beans share a very special relationship, one he will forever cherish. So, while driving home from the hospital and talking to her in this moment, Josh saw a shooting star! Another beautiful and powerful moment to realize how grateful we are to be experiencing this miracle of 2020.

Beans was considered stable at this point, so the physical therapists were getting him up out of the bed and into the chair. Next up was walking with a walker. Well, I am proud to share that Beans took his first steps with the walker on February 20, 2020, 6 days after he suffered cardiac arrest.

This date is SPECIAL – I mean LOOK AT IT and you tell me, 02-20-2020. 6 days later and he was a walking miracle in the halls of Chandler Regional Medical Hospital. Are you FREAKING kidding me?! Dad Beans – you are the strongest man we know! February 20, 2020 was also “Moving Day” – when Peter moved out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), room #307 to the Telemetry Unit, room #428 where constant monitoring and care would continue. Sister Dani helped mom pack all of the things in the room and threw them into big garbage bags. Dani swung the fully packed trash bags over her shoulder and Dad Beans cracked up! He said, “There goes Ms. Claus!”

Nicki and Dani went to buy a bunch of dry erase markers because we were told we could write messages and draw pictures on his new bathroom door. We all had fun decorating it, including the kids.

After being moved to the Telemetry Unit, Beans was finally stable enough to get an MRI of his brain. In meeting with the neurologist, he confirmed Beans had a stroke of his left brain during the time he was without a pulse, due to the lack of oxygen to the brain during cardiac arrest. The left brain controls the right side of the body. This describes the weakness in Peter’s right arm and leg strength, and the difficulty speaking and swallowing. Now knowing this, the medical team was able to be more specific in the type of care and support Beans would need in the coming weeks and months. He had to partake in a very intense memory testing, which also confirmed areas of the brain that were affected from the stroke. When the memory therapist asked Peter to write a sentence, he wrote – “I love my wife.” Just another beautiful moment.