Dale Lidstrom survives massive heart attack:
 
 (Audio message from Dale at the end of this article)   

     On Tuesday, August 5, 2008, just 9 days after ministering at the Northwest University 60s Alumni Reunion, Dale Lidstrom suffered a massive heart attack in the Bi-Mart parking lot in Yakima, WA.  Amazingly, an off duty nurse, "just happened to be nearby".  She saw him collapse lifeless on the pavement and rushed to his aid. Finding no pulse or heartbeat, she  administered CPR until paramedics arrived.  With the on board emergency equipment they were able to restart his heart at the scene. They loaded Dale into the emergency vehicle and headed for the Hospital. The paramedic who administered the electroshock to start his heart told Dale later, "I lost you 4 times on the way to the hospital ... one time for over 6 minutes".
    Doctors were confronted with multiple problems. While attempting to stabilize his heart, it was also necessary to deal with a major laceration and concussion on the back of Dale's head. Concerning the heart, they found that the main artery into the heart was completely collapsed. This is what they call, "The Widow Maker".  Miraculously, they were able to reopen that artery and insert a stent. The second problem they found was that the main artery out of the heart was 90% blocked. They were able to successfully restore blood flow through both of the blocked arteries.
    Dale remained unconscious and on life support through the night. His heart and breathing were stabilized and he was able to be removed from life support the next morning.  Rita told us that there was a brief window of nonverbal communication Wednesday morning in which Dale opened his eyes, looked directly at her with an undeniable twinkle of recognition, and smiled. Then, one by one, he focused on the other family members who were in the room and smiled at each of them.  He was kept sedated in an unconscious or semi-conscious state for most of Wednesday to ensure that he would remain quiet and his body would have undisturbed rest. Doctors told the family that it would be a few days before they would be able to assess the full extent of damage to the heart or know if there was any permanent brain damage from the lack of oxygen during the time his heart was not beating.
    By Thursday afternoon, Dale was awake and able to communicate. Doctors were so impressed with his progress that they characterized his improvement as a "TEN" ... being interpreted, "excellent"!  On Friday, Dale was up walking and talking, and the doctors began discussing the possibility of sending him home on Saturday.  One physician, hearing about this case said, "most people who suffer this kind of heart attack don't go home, they go to the morgue."  At this point, the word on many people's lips was, "MIRACULOUS!"
    At 6:00 PM on Saturday, August 9th, Rita checked Dale out of the hospital and drove him home.  (The picture of Dale and Rita on the right was taken in his hospital room the day he was released to go home). In a phone conversation the next afternoon, Rita said that Dale's comeback has been absolutely amazing.  "However", she said, "after those first few days of physical trauma, the adrenalin has worn off and he is beginning to feel the full impact of all that has happened to him." His entire chest cavity was extremely sore, as was his head from the concussion and lacerations he received when his head struck the pavement.  "His body needs a lot of R&R", she said, "but his spirit is vibrant and overflowing with praise and gratitude to God, and to all who have been praying on his behalf."
    The doctor has told Dale not to drive for a month, and to give himself a couple of months before attempting to resume his preaching and singing ministry.  Therefore, Dale and Rita have canceled  their travel itinerary for the next few month.
    On Tuesday, August 12th, one week after his fateful heart attack, Dale insisted on going down to the ministry office to retrieve their accumulated email and take care of some administrative things. He was very weak, bruised, and sore, but it's amazing to consider all he's been through and how far he's come in just one week.
(Here is a link to a 9 minute audio recording of a phone conversation with Dale on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, just 8 days after he suffered that massive heart attack). LISTEN TO DALE'S MESSAGE

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