TUESDAY, April 28 - Pastor McKeown has been diagnosed with aortic stenosis, which is calcification of the aortic heart valve. He was admitted in the hospital this morning and had an angiogram performed. The test showed that there is no blockage in his arteries, which is an answer to prayer, because bypass surgery will not be required.
Pastor McKeown will undergo surgery to replace the aortic heart valve around 12:00 noon on Wednesday, April 29. Please keep him in your prayers. The surgery will take approximately 3 hours, at which time they will stop his heart, place him on a heart and lung machine during surgery, and then restart his heart after the valve has been replaced.
Please do not call or visit him at this time. You may email him at nvbc1010@aol.com and your message will go directly to his blackberry. He will not be able to answer any of the emails after his surgery since he will be in cardiac ICU for several days.
We will keep you posted as we know more on this website. If you have any questions, you can call the church at 602-944-2275 or Barb Hannah at 623-521-8648.
Thank you
WEDNESDAY, April 29 @ 1:30 p.m. - Pastor has just gone back for his surgery. If all goes well, he will be out of surgery around 4:30 p.m. and into ICU around 5:30 p.m. As soon as we know how the surgery is going, we will let you know.
WEDNESDAY, April 29 @ 4:40 p.m. - The doctor just came out and said that the surgery went very well. He was able to do just a small incision, which is what Pastor was hoping for because recuperation is shorter. He put in a 25 mm valve, which is a very large valve but due to the size of Pastor, he felt it was the best. He said that Pastor will be in ICU in about 20 minutes and he was very pleased with the surgery. Praise God!
WEDNESDAY, April 29 @ 6:00 p.m. - Pastor is now in ICU and according to the nurse doing excellent. He still has the drainage tube and respirator, but hopefully those will come out soon. He has not waken up yet, but once he does they will remove the respirator if all goes well. Carolyn (Pastor's sister) is going to call ICU at 9:00 p.m. and check to see how he is doing and if he is off the respirator yet, then she will call me to let me know. As soon as I hear from her, I will let you know. Once again, thank you for your prayers. Everything is going just the way Pastor had prayed it would go ... no blockage, therefore no bypass, and a small incision was all that was necessary for the surgery! I guess we should have him do all of our praying! :)
WEDNESDAY, April 29 @ 9:00 p.m. - Just to let you know that Carolyn (Pastor's sister) called ICU and they said that probably within an hour Pastor will be off of the ventilator. The nurse said that he is not on any medication for blood pressure because his is stable. He is awake and doing "super" in the words of the nurse. I'll update you tomorrow as he progresses.
THURSDAY, April 30 @ 7:30 a.m. - Carolyn called ICU this morning to see how Pastor did and they actually put him on the phone! She said his voice was a little weak but he was doing fine. He said he was a little dizzy and apparently had an allergic reaction to some medication, so they have changed it. The nurses said he had a good night but they had to add blood pressure medication (which he was not on any last night). BUT, he was on medication prior to the surgery, so I'm sure that is normal. He said he was excited that the incision was just a small one since that is what he had been praying for. He said "Isn't God good!" I will let you know more later this morning! Thanks, once again for all of your prayers. I'm sure he has felt them all. By the way, I'm sure it is tempting to want to call the hospital, but they have requested that there only be one contact, which is Pastor's sister. So please refrain from calling. I know I have had to refrain myself! :) Also, the only visitors he is allowed is family. Remember, you can email him at nvbc1010@aol.com and he will receive your message.
THURSDAY, April 30 @ 9:30 a.m. - Just wanted you to know that Pastor is sleeping right now. The nurse said that the next two days will be the hardest for him and that he needs all the sleep he can get. She said he sat up in the chair for 1 1/2 hours this morning, but became nauseated, which is normal. Carolyn & Rebekah will be visiting with him around 11 am today and will let us know any new information.
THURSDAY, April 30 @ 1:15 p.m. - Rebekah just visited with her dad and he was sitting up in the chair. He ate a small bowl of soup while she was there. The doctor came by and said that his blood pressure was a lot better (still on medication). They have given him some anti-nausea medication, which has helped. He has been experiencing a lot of back pain, which apparently is normal. He is very weak and very tired, which is also normal. I'm sure right now he wishes he could just go to sleep until this was all over! Please keep him in your prayers that God would strengthen his body.
THURSDAY, April 30 @ 8:00 p.m. - Carolyn called ICU and Pastor is doing about the same. He did do some walking. I'm sure this is probably the worse day for him. I just pray that tomorrow will be better for him. That's all the news I have for now. She is going to check on him in the morning and I'll let you know what I find out. Thank you again for your care, concern and prayers.
FRIDAY, May 1 @ 8:00 a.m. - Pastor is doing much better today. He ate french toast and coffee for breakfast (which is the best he has done as far as eating). He has been talking walks (300 feet). I think he finally feels like he's on the road to recovery.
FRIDAY, May 1 @ 5:00 p.m. - Pastor is doing much, much better. He has all of the tubes out and is even able to talk on the phone! :) He ate a really good dinner and has not had any nausea or dizziness. He is actually going to be moved from CVICU (cardiac/vascular intensive care unit) to a step-down ward in cardiac/vascular care which is the normal process in recovery. They say that he may be discharged on Sunday! Wow, isn't that great. He now has his blackberry, so can receive emails through nvbc1010@aol.com Thanks
SATURDAY, May 2 - Well, I haven't written because I really don't have anything new to say. Pastor is continuing day by day to improve and was even able to take a shower today. He is sitting up more and taking more walks. The plan as of yesterday was to come home tomorrow, but I'm not sure if that will happen. When he does get home, he will be going to therapy 3 times a week, 1 hour each day. Continue to pray for his strength and recovery. He's doing great considering he had major open heart surgery just 3 days ago!
SUNDAY, May 3 - Pastor was supposed to go home today, but the doctor came in and decided to keep him one more day to monitor him. He is doing great, but now will possibly go home tomorrow. I will let you know as soon as I know.
MONDAY, May 4 - Pastor just called and said that he has been released by the cardiologist, but the surgeon hasn't been in yet to say whether he can go home. As soon as I know more, I will let you know, but it appears that he will go home today. He sounded good and said that he walked outside of the hospital to get fresh air. His oldest sister, Patty, will be flying in tonight to help take care of him, along with his other sister, Carolyn. Don't stop praying, he still needs your prayers during his recuperating time and therapy.
MONDAY, May 4 @ 1:19 p.m. - Pastor just called and said that they have released him! Praise God!!!! :)
THURSDAY, May 14 - There have been no updates because basically Pastor has just been gaining strength and recuperating. He has lost 16 pounds. He has been off of his pain medication for three days and is doing GREAT. He has been going out to eat occasionally and finally getting his appetite back. He sees his heart specialist and heart surgeon next week and willl know more then. He plans on being in church on Sunday, May 31st.
