Don Jenkins arrives home after suffering heart attack
When Connie and Don Jenkins drove out to Castle Rock, Colorado to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their daughter Tessie’s family, little did they realize how strong the power of prayer would mean to them.
It began on Tuesday, November 26th, when Don was doing an everyday normal chore of snowblowing Tessie’s driveway. Don went into cardiac arrest. The miracles began at that moment, and a teacher who lived near by and was enjoying a “snow day” from school, went to check on her children playing outside. She spotted Don on the driveway, called 9-1-1 and began CPR. Once the EMTs arrived, they continued CPR and transported Don to Sky Ridge Hospital.
When word went out about his condition, prayers from far and near began to flood the heavens, and little by little the prayers were answered as Don slowly and steadily improved. The baby steps in his prognosis turned into miracles and Don was eventually moved from the ICU to a fifth floor with a beautiful view a little over a week after being first admitted. According to Connie, by that time Don needed a change of scenery and an attitude adjustment. He was already doing well enough that Connie was constantly trying to keep him calm and discourage him from doing things he threatened to do on his own! That move was a good one since on the Thursday after Thanksgiving, the doctors and specialists reviewed his records, documented his monitors and did exit exams with PT and RT to prepare for his transfer to the Cardiac Rehab at Swedish Hospital. However, he did not qualify for the transfer because HE WAS DOING TOO WELL! So they sent him (along with portable monitors and hospital equipment) to Tessie’s home for Home to Clinic Rehab. During that time Don had a physical therapist come to the house for sessions, and he would go to follow-up appointments at the hospital to monitor his progress.
The two remained in Colorado until Sunday, January 5th, when they finally returned home to Stockton. Don will continue cardiac rehab, will still be on a heart monitor for the time being and will be on a diet/weight regimen the doctors have outlined for him. And people will again see Don taking his daily walk around Stockton, which he stated, “That walking is probably what saved me.”
While he was in the hospital, and during his recuperation at Tessie’s home, Connie never left his side and his children and their families were there to help and visit with him during the next month. Their son Travis and family were there with Don when he was in the hospital and came back to celebrate a joyful Christmas with the whole family. Don’s sister, Christina Baber, was another visitor during that time. As for those who could not be there in person, they sent prayers every day for his miraculous recovery, which was exactly what it was. Connie had written, “I’ve always believed in God and faithfully worshipped him. I prayed, but never knew the POWER of prayer. NOW I DO!! There’s no other way to explain Don’s recovery. He died and received 24 minutes of CPR. He was given the Last Rites, the Holy Anointing. And then he was blessed with a second chance at life.SO GRATEFUL!!!! Many thanks to ALL who shared in our journey. Your prayers were heard, and we love you for caring so much.”
