To the Hospital in Maui - by Ane

We are thoroughly enjoying our stay in Maui, although it has not been without some challenges – even in regards to Mark’s health.

Monday, the 23^rd, a few more of our Precoa guests arrived and we tried to be there when they got to the hotel. There were some challenges with getting the right rooms to the right people which resulted in a rather stressful day for Mark.  After we went to bed he got up several times, and couldn’t seem to settle down.  He then asked me if I would listen to his heart.  When I put my ear to his chest I heard the strangest heartbeat I had ever heard – very irregular and fast.  I knew this was not good and that we would need to go to the hospital.  We called Michael and asked him to come up.  He was with Tyler and Bret so they all came, listened to his heart, gave him a blessing, and then found the closest hospital.  It was decided the Michael would drive us.  The Maui Memorial Medical Center was about 45 minutes away in Wailuku.  When we arrived around 11:30 p.m. we were taken directly into a room to check his heart and then into an emergency room.  IV’s were hooked up and he was given medicine to slow down the heart rate and hopefully to get it back to regular rhythm.  We, of course, had to explain about the shrinking tumor in his heart.  That was quite fascinating to the nurses and doctor.  Mark has a rather unusual tumor! :)

Next, it was just a waiting game.  Michael returned to the Sheraton Maui. The medicines weren’t helping so finally around 5:30 a.m. we were admitted to the hospital and taken to a regular room where we both could get some much needed sleep.   Nurses started coming in around 6:30 a.m. and continued to come in every 15 minutes, so sleep was difficult.  I simply don’t know how anyone could get well in a hospital – you certainly can’t get any rest there!  Later Mark called Dr. Urba and he thought the A-Fib was probably caused by the tumor in the muscle wall of the heart, and not a side effect of the drug. 

Around noon Mark had another echo cardiogram which showed about the same thing as before – the tumor now about the size of a large olive and growing into the heart muscle.  A doctor came in later and explained that the tumor could certainly cause the A-Fib and he would give medicine to hopefully regulate his heart.  Mark could not get blood thinners, though, which are usually given to keep strokes from happening, because they could cause his tumor to bleed which would be worse.  While A-Fib is not fun, it can be managed.


Around 2:00 p.m. his heart rate returned to normal speed and regularity!  YEA!!   By 5:00 p.m. we were finally able to check out of the hospital and return to our resort after stopping at a pharmacy to get the meds as well as a blood pressure and heart monitor.  More fun supplies! :)