CaringBridge journal entry by Stephanie Fay — 7/1/2023
Good Evening Dear Family and Friends,
Nancy and I have been on the beautiful Oregon Coast this week – at Cannon Beach with her Dad, her siblings, the grandkids and the great grandkids, too. Their 30th year of The Ellertsons gathering there!
Around 2 AM early Thursday morning, Nancy’s ICD (Noelle) fired once. It was a legitimate shock that restored her PVC-induced v-tach to a normal rhythm. Nancy has had two of these one shock events before in the intervening 3+ years since her ICU stay in Seattle in December 2019. The first was in October 2021 and the second on 4th of July, 2022. We both felt these middle-of-the-night single ICD firing events were rather miraculous compared to her two earlier storms. We hope hope hoped for the same this time ‘round…
Such was not to be, however, and Noelle fired early Friday morning just after midnight. In consultation with her Minnesota cardiac team, we set a course for home. Her Minnesota EP doctor, Dr Roukoz, has been wanting to try to induce Nancy’s rhythm and then abate it. He was about 70% sure of this path and left the choice completely up to Nancy. Nancy wanted to wait for one more shock episode before choosing that path.
We packed up and left the beach yesterday afternoon (just a day early) to be nearer to major medical in case she had another shock, and we changed our flight back to Minnesota from July 4th to today. Alas, this plan was not to be either…
We had just driven into Portland around 7 PM when Nancy had a very sudden onset firing in the car. Noelle saved her life yet again, and we, as we had been instructed the night before, headed straight for the closest ER. Fortuitously, Providence Portland Medical Center was only 4 miles away. We zipped right into the ER bay and Nancy went to the head of the line and was transferred up to a floor within 90 minutes or so. Record time. They began to increase her antiarrhythmic medications and planned to observe her for the night.
We both got some much needed hours of sleep right up until Noelle fired again around 5 AM. Nancy was awake for this shock as well. They immediately began to prepare her to move to the ICU. The shocks continued and occurred closer and closer together (maybe a total of 10?). This was not nearly the torrid pace of shocks (every few minutes) or the sheer number (40 to 50) of shocks that she experienced during her first 2 v-tach storms. But still scary enough.
At 8 AM the electrophysiologist on call, Dr Rajabali, after consultation directly with Nancy, chose to intubate her. As with her two earlier device storms, Nancy’s heart rhythm stabilized very quickly after the respirator was in place. And she’s been resting comfortably ever since – some 10+ hours now.
Her day nurse Elliot has been as winsome as he is attentive. And many, many others have been in and out to assist with her care. I feel calm and confident in their care for her. I’ve repeatedly requested that they keep her as lightly sedated as possible, hoping to greet the loopy, happy Nancy in a few days (Iike Seattle), not the dark thinking and fearful soul (like Scottsdale.) Time will tell…
Despite my pleading, she’s fairly heavily sedated right now, but it sounds like they will begin to ease up on that as early as tomorrow and, if all goes well, perhaps extubate on Monday. The ICU doctor feels fairly confident she won’t suffer too much ICU delirium with a brief intubation.
Once awake, Nancy’s recovery journey will begin again.
Nancy’s has SO much family here – lots of Ellertson cousins and her brother Jeff and his family. She also has a lovely group of high school friends who keep in close touch and see one another regularly. This is such a comfort to us both already – to be surrounded by family and friends. Tina lives in Tacoma now, and she’ll drive down once Nancy is awake.
Please, from wherever you are, surround our sweet Nancy with your good energies, your powerful thoughts and your meaningful prayers – whatever you do best.
She’s a brave one, my Nancy. More tomorrow or Monday.
Love, Stephanie