By Deb Kroon
Review Staff Writer
Ryan and Sheena Eidhammer moved to Adrian around seven years ago. They both have jobs they like, Ryan is a co-owner and a mechanic at Adrian Auto and Sheena is a nurse at New Dawn in Luverne. They have 3 healthy, handsome boys; seven year old Ryker, three year old Raylan and seven month old Ruxin. Life is good!
On September 27th, Sheena woke up not feeling well. She woke up Ryan. Little did they know they had begun a day that would change the direction of their lives.
After a trip to the Emergency Department in Worthington, Sheena was airlifted to Sioux Falls, SD. In Sioux Falls, she underwent two surgeries before being airlifted to the University of Minnesota Hospital. Sheena had suffered a dissection of the heart (spontaneous coronary artery dissection-SCAD). The artery wall has three layers. When a tear occurs, blood is able to pass through the innermost layer and becomes trapped and causes a bulge inward. This can narrow or block the artery and causes a heart attack.
Once at UMN, Sheena was put on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, extracorporeal means outside of the body) – a machine to add oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide and return the blood to the artery. This allows the blood to “bypass” the heart and lungs, allowing them to rest. She was also on a ventilator and fighting for her life. Sheena was kept sedated for more than a week. When she finally opened her eyes and recognized Ryan, nine days had passed. There was a lot of excitement amongst the people staying at her side. God put a light into a dark tunnel.
As days passed, Sheena continued to slowly gain strength. Her doctors remained very hopeful, no matter what course would be needed. The support, kindness and prayers from everyone have kept Ryan and Sheena positive and hopeful. “It’s hard to be here, but we have great support from other families that are going through similar situations. We’ve made some really awesome friends through all of this!” (taken from a journal entry by Sheena’s aunt, Kasie Olesen on Caring Bridge)
During the next few days of meetings with doctors to discuss all the options for Sheena, Ryan had some tough decisions to make. The cardiologist team felt they should proceed with surgery to place a LVAD in Sheena. A LVAD (left ventricle assist device) is a mechanical pump that is implanted just below the heart. Its function is to help a weakened heart pump blood. Unlike a total artificial heart, the LVAD doesn’t replace the heart, it just helps the heart do its job. Often called a “bridge to transplant”, one end is attached to the left ventricle, the chamber of the heart that pumps blood out of the heart and into the body. The other end is attached to the aorta (the heart’s main artery). Blood flows from the heart into the pump. When sensors indicate that the LVAD is full, the blood in the device is moved into the aorta. A tube passes from the device through the skin. This tube, called the driveline, connects the pump to the external controller and power source. It can be used to let the heart recover its normal ability by giving it a chance to rest.
After seven hours in surgery, they had installed the LVAD. The surgery went well and once again Sheena was sedated for two days. After they closed her chest, she was allowed to slowly wake up. This was October 8th. Ryan stepped out for a time and when he returned, Sheena was sitting in a chair, not completely awake, but slowly coming to. She was breathing on her own. Needless to say, Ryan was overjoyed!
Also for the first time in two weeks, Ryan was making a trip back to Adrian to see his kids. “When I come home, the boys are so excited! I have to play with all three at once,” Ryan commented.
Six days later, after lots of therapy and much improvement, Sheena was moved out ofCU. The next five days would have her improving at “warp speed”. She was eating soft foods, visiting with company and she was able to FaceTime with her boys. She was also taking short walks and was starting to show signs of her real self. Five days after that she was out of the hospital and heading for a Rehab unit. Twelve days later, on November 6, Sheena was released from rehab and was able to move into an apartment on the U of M campus, where she will stay for about a month. Although things had improved one hundred fold, Sheena was placed on the heart transplant list. If things continue to go well, Sheena may be home for Thanksgiving.
“It’s been very weird,” said Ryan when I tracked him down at Adrian Auto. “First Sheena, then Jim (Ryan’s partner at Adrian Auto) had a stroke- it’s just been a really weird fall.” We talked a bit about Sheena, the boys, all they help they have received. “People have been just great,” Ryan said. “They have brought us food, diapers and helped keep the boys busy. I’ll come home and there will be diapers sitting by the door-no name on them, so we don’t know who has dropped them off. Sheena’s parents have been staying with the boys, so things have been pretty good. We have great friends! Some we have not seen for a while, have made the trip to the Cities to visit Sheena. That’s so unbelievable!”
He told me that he has been able to take the boys to see Sheena only once. He was hoping to take them along when he went back this past weekend. We talked about Sheena’s coming home and her transplant. Ryan told me that the doctors will not do anything for a minimum of 6 months. “She needs to heal,” he said. “Our optimal outcome is that the left side of her heart recovers, so no transplant would be needed. When she comes home she will have a lot of restrictions.”
“You know,” Ryan humbly reflected, “for as hard a situation as this has been, with all the great people in our lives, it’s been as easy as can be. We are so thankful for all the help and prayers.”
To help out the Eidhammers, some friends held a “REFIT” fitness class in Luverne where free will donations were taken to be given to the family. Coming up on November 19, in Adrian, there will be a Pancake Feed, silent auction and bake sale. This will be held at the Adrian Elementary Commons. (Check out the details in this paper) There will also be a gun raffle sponsored by the Brewster American Legion and Auxiliary. The drawings will be held on December 21st at the Brewster American Legion Hall. There is already a four page list of donations that have been pledged to the family.
If you wish to help Ryan and Sheena, you can participate in the upcoming fundraisers, or you can make a donation by calling 612-432-3885. Please keep up all the prayers and support for Ryan and Sheena Eidhammer.
