Sunday morning emergency

I ended up deciding to rest last night (Sunday). That means I've done almost nothing for 3 of the last 4 days (Saturday being my long run). Part of me is ok with the break because I'm starting to feel some non muscle knee and hip pains. They are not constant but they tend to be on the sharp side when I feel them.

So Sunday was a church service I may never forget. I went to the early service because I needed to do an announcement about a missionary. Seconds before I was supposed to do my piece, the heard something across the aisle. A man said, "Hold on pastor". I looked over and I saw 2 people looking at Lester Olson. Then I heard him making a strange gurgling noise.

Someone said, "Call an ambulance". So I ran out the back of the church to a phone and called 911. The 911 operator said, "Is this an emergency"? I said "Yes, I'm in church and someone is having a stroke or a heart attack". He immediately got the ambulance on the way.

He verified the address, and then asked if the phone would reach the patient. I said no, but ran into the sanctuary and interrupted group prayer to get a cell phone. The 911 operator called me back on the cell phone and asked some questions.

They had taken him out into the foyer and Diane (who is a nurse) was performing (chest compressions) and John was doing the mouth to mouth. I heard someone say, he has a pace maker, your not supposed to do CPR if they have a pacemaker. I had no idea so I kept out of it and the nurse kept performing CPR.

The 911 operator asked if he had a pulse and if he was breathing. I asked, but they were so busy I didn't really get an answer, and the cop showed up moments later (maybe 5 minutes or less after the phone call) and continued the CPR. Soon after the paramedics arrived with a portable defibrillator. They used it 3 times, which I remember thinking was not a good sign. They continued doing CPR after using the defibrillator.

I glanced at Lester's face...it looked like he had no muscle control. It looked the way people look when they are in the coffin. I had seen enough, so I went back in the sanctuary to pray.

I heard he had a pulse when he left the church...but it was weak. The nurse said that his pulse was stopped for quite a while.

It was a very sad thing that happened but trying to look on the bright side, it was good it happened in church. The call went to 911 almost immediately. CPR was begun almost immediately. The police station is right across the street, so they go there very fast. Lester lives out in the country, so if it had happened at home (with just his wife there) it would have been worse.

Our pastor had to deliver the sermon after going through this difficult experience. He is an amazing man.

My prayers go out to Lester and the whole Olson family. Lester's son Mark Olson is Minnesota State Representative for district 16B.