Sunday, July 16 started out like every other Sunday for the Herrman family. They got up and got ready for church and other sports activities they had that day. 13-year old Reagan was playing basketball in the Sunflower State Games at Washburn University. During the game, Reagan came out and said she needed to catch her breath (with her having asthma it wasn’t unusual). After sitting down, she fell to the floor. She was unresponsive and turning blue. Several heroic people leaped into action beginning CPR and running to get an AED. She received 2 full cycles of compressions and one shock was delivered. After a terrifying 4 minutes, Reagan began breathing. She was flown to Children’s Mercy and placed in the cardiac intensive care unit. Over the next several days, Reagan’s heart rate was in nearly constant arrhythmia. A cardiac MRI was attempted, but they had to stop due to her having a very unstable heart rate. The Washburn University police located and delivered the AED that was used on Reagan to the team at Children’s Mercy where they were able to review the cardiac activity that was recorded on that AED during her event. The information from the AED and the results from a brief but informational stress test led the cardiology team to investigate two possible causes. One more test the following day eliminated one of those diagnoses and they began a medication protocol for treatment of CPVT. CPVT is an inherited cardiac condition that causes sudden rhythm disturbances, called arrhythmias, in otherwise healthy children. Often there are no signs of heart problems until sudden cardiac arrest. Thankfully, Reagan was in the right place with the right people to intervene as quickly as they did, undoubtedly saving her life. Reagan was discharged home with a life vest (wearable cardioverter defibrillator) to record her heart activity and trigger the external AED if needed. She will be wearing the vest at all times. The tentative plan is to wear the vest for the next 4-6 weeks until they have the results of the genetic panel (needed to confirm CPVT diagnosis) and then they will meet with the cardiology team at Children’s to determine the next steps. Reagan's long-term needs are unclear (lifelong medications, heart procedures, continued appointments with specialists, etc.). Doug and Mandy are still trying to figure out logistics (missing work and managing schedules with Taylor and Beau) with all of these changes and needing to be with Reagan all the time at least until her next appointment. Many people have reached out asking how they can help. Thankfully, the Herrmans have already been blessed with an abundance of gifts and meals over this last week. Given the nature of Reagan’s condition, she will need ongoing care and medical intervention for the foreseeable future. In lieu of meals and gifts, if you feel compelled to help support the family a go fund me has been organized to assist them during this time. The Herrman family is beyond grateful for all the prayers and support they have been given over this last week. They ask for continued prayers as they navigate finding their family's new normal. **Doug's Facebook Post** Almost one week ago a we started our day like so many before. Just another Sunday. Getting ready for church and for sports activities we had that day. Rushing out the door in a hurry like always. Little did we know what we had in store for us. I have had some time for reflection. Of course we didn’t want what happened to happen. Of course we didn’t to see what we saw. Of course we didn’t want to feel what we felt. Didn’t what to go where we had to go. Looking back it was just meant to happen. God had and still does have a plan for her and for us. The countless miracles that happened even just that day. The different people that were there. The people whom we didn’t know at all jumping into action. The people we did know still reacting without emotion and still able to remain calm and save her. The people we have met after the event. Our friends and family “village” have been just absolutely amazing taking care of everything. Taking care of our kids. Running errands and bringing clothes to us. And the so many other things I am forgetting. Life has changed so much in one week. One could very easily be upset and angry with what happened and rightfully so. One could be broken beyond repair and rightfully so. One week ago I was getting after Reagan for effort and trying to teach her discipline and to persevere thru adversity. Mental toughness and working hard. Even just right before we walked into the gym I was pushing her. Trying to help her or at least what I thought was going to help her in life. I’m sure if things hadn’t worked out the way they did I would have some regrets. I’m sure I would be heartbroken. I’m sure I would be angry. I got home last night after grabbing the littles. After unloading everything I was taking the dirty clothes to the laundry into the laundry room. I looked down and saw Reagan’s basketball bag. Looking down on them thinking the last time Reagan wore them she was lying on gym floor after coming too.  Hard not to be emotional thinking that and especially writing this down. It’s hard to not consider what might have been. Hard not to get upset thinking that could have been the last time I would have seen her alive. I am generally not one to post hardly anything. To not say anything about my thoughts about my feelings. But I just can’t. I have to tell all of you about it. Not for recognition. Not for status. I need to to do it. It is clear to me now because I need spread his glory. To tell you about the the miracles about her angels that were there. The amazing staff at the hospitals. From top to bottom. Everyone we have been in contact with. Everyone working to find answers and to find the right combination of meds and devices that will become part of our everyday life now. Again one could easily be upset about all that one has to do now. Everything we have to prepare for. The training we will still have to do. The therapy we will all need to do. Not just physically. Not just emotionally. Even right now as writing this down Taylor came and asked “are you ok daddy, why are you crying”. Because my heart is full. Because I’m humbled by everything and everyone that has reached out. By all the prayer chains. Just all of it. Of course Taylor cried with me which makes me cry more. My faith in God my belief of what lies in store for us all. That is what I have to spread. That is what has showed me I need to be the calm one. To listen without fear. To be for lack of a better term “the strong one”. To be the strength for my family to see it my face and my eyes. My faith. Just I can’t say it enough. It was in Gods hands and I told him several times even as the event was happening. God I trust in you “It is Your Will Father. And so it will be”. I said it multiple times. After the second time I said it embracing Mandy eyes to the Heavens they said she’s breathing. In closing I’d like to think I would still have my faith, still be this strong even if she were gone. Be the Man of God I think I am today. Just know that all of you reading this are very special to us. Know that any and all of you we are in debt to you. A debt that can never truly be repaid. Of course I am going to say anywhere and anytime you need help I will be there. But it just can’t and isn’t meant to be repaid. It is meant to passed on to the next person or family in need. So don’t ever doubt your help however small however big will be paid forward. May the Almighty Father bless us all today. Enjoy today. Take in this breath as is it could be your last. Feel the sunshine, listen to the quietness. For he is there. If you can do us one last favor besides the continued prayers and thoughts. Find him today! Find him and his glory Everyday! That is what we need. That is the help we need. Know him and trust in God. May the almighty God bless you in The name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. For his is who is now and forever shall be. AMEN!!! Lastly don’t take life too seriously, you never going to make thru Alive. You are dust and to dust you shall return. Love from all us. Doug, Mandy, Taylor, Beau, and of course REAGAN!
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