Lost a good man yesterday
An employee who has been with us for 22 years had a massive heart attack just after noon on Monday. His heart was still beating, but his chest hurt, and it was apparent that he was not thinking well. Ambulance would have taken 15 minutes to get here, hospital was less than 10 minutes away, so we rushed him to the ER where his heart stopped after around half an hour. They got is re-started, but the damage was done and he passed away yesterday morning.
Turns out he was having chest pains for a month prior to Monday, but he was a stubborn cuss with little use for doctors. 100% blockage of one of his coronary arteries.
Fascinating life story. Spent 5 years in prison in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon; charged with helping us during the war. Immigrated soon after his release, took up a trade here in the US and was a productive citizen literally up to his dying day.
Kent always had a smile when approached, was liked and respected by our entire crew. A smile we will be without from this day forward, and an honorable man we will fondly remember.
Turns out he was having chest pains for a month prior to Monday, but he was a stubborn cuss with little use for doctors. 100% blockage of one of his coronary arteries.
Fascinating life story. Spent 5 years in prison in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon; charged with helping us during the war. Immigrated soon after his release, took up a trade here in the US and was a productive citizen literally up to his dying day.
Kent always had a smile when approached, was liked and respected by our entire crew. A smile we will be without from this day forward, and an honorable man we will fondly remember.
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Sorry to hear of his untimely demise. Prayers for his family and loved ones. Hope your heart is comforted as well, Mr. McManus. 3 -
Prayers said for Kent's family! 0 -
Sad story. If an ambulance could have gotten to the job site right quick, the medics might have saved his life. Might not have, it just depends.
Anyway y'all did all you could do, it just wasn't his day. In a way it is a blessing, we had lots of patients we called "cardiac cripples," the medics got there quick, put the pt. on oxygen and injected lidocaine and morphine and epinephrine, maybe shocked him once or twice. Got his heart beating well.
Then he had surgery, spent a week in ICU, but was never able to work again, and was in and out of hospitals for a miserable year before he passed away. In a way, it is better to go out quickly like your friend did.0 -
condolences 0 -
sad ...but be proud to have known and worked with such an individual...they are getting fewer in today's world 3 -
I hate to hear of your friends passing. (I am Sorry.)
As Allen alluded to, Personally I would rather go quickly, than hang on.
That is my hope, for myself, if anything.
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Condolences must be difficult for you and of course the family, prayers and well wishes for all 0 -
Sorry to hear that.
If he wasn't an officer he spent 5 years in hell because he was of no use to them. He's just lucky to have survived that at all. Officers had it bad but can you imagine being an enlisted man in a Vietnamese prison. He must have been a really tough man.
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Sorry to hear this, prayers for Kent from here. 0 -
A true American hero, fighting for his Country, and showing no emotion, fighting for his life, and still being strong. A true American in every way as I can see. RIP Kent, and am sorry for the loss of your good friend Don.. 0 -
Sorry for your loss. 0 -
Yes he was, Smitty.Smitty500mag said:Sorry to hear that.
If he wasn't an officer he spent 5 years in hell because he was of no use to them. He's just lucky to have survived that at all. Officers had it bad but can you imagine being an enlisted man in a Vietnamese prison. He must have been a really tough man.
In the 30 seconds we were getting ready to transport him, his instinct was to go back to his machine. He was oxygen starved at that point, and not thinking clearly, but his work ethic was so ingrained, that is where he headed. The ER team performed CPR for about 40 minutes before his heart started going on its own. The lead in the room was on the phone with a specialist at another hospital who was telling him it was over. His response was that he still saw something; that he can hear us or something to that effect. He was right. There still was something, but just not enough.
He is being buried tomorrow. A graveside service. Looks like it will be clear and sunny day. Not a fan of funerals, but this is one I wouldn't miss for the world.3 -
Sorry for your loss Don. Sounds like a hell of a Man. I also would not miss the funeral for a Man like that. My condolences Sir.
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, my condolences, he sounds like he was a fine man to have known.
Mule0 -
I am sorry for your loss, prayers sent for you and his family. 0 -
Sorry for the loss of your friend.
You were blessed to have known him.0 -
Don McManus said:
Yes he was, Smitty.Smitty500mag said:Sorry to hear that.
If he wasn't an officer he spent 5 years in hell because he was of no use to them. He's just lucky to have survived that at all. Officers had it bad but can you imagine being an enlisted man in a Vietnamese prison. He must have been a really tough man.
In the 30 seconds we were getting ready to transport him, his instinct was to go back to his machine. He was oxygen starved at that point, and not thinking clearly, but his work ethic was so ingrained, that is where he headed. The ER team performed CPR for about 40 minutes before his heart started going on its own. The lead in the room was on the phone with a specialist at another hospital who was telling him it was over. His response was that he still saw something; that he can hear us or something to that effect. He was right. There still was something, but just not enough.
He is being buried tomorrow. A graveside service. Looks like it will be clear and sunny day. Not a fan of funerals, but this is one I wouldn't miss for the world.
Thinking of you today Mr. McManus. I hope your heart is comforted. My prayers are still with you and his loved ones.0 -
Thank you, Randy.
Was a great service. We had 95%+ showing from the shop at a graveside service, plus folks that worked for us and had left or retired over the past 20 years. He had two step children and a niece who spoke of a strong, yet fun family man I never knew. Three young people who are an increidble addition to the American family.
Big take away was his fierce love of and deep appreciation of the United States of America, his adopted and adoptive country. I doubt 1 out of 100 natural born Americans can even grasp the level of his appreciation. Apparently he gave significant monies and time to US veterans groups/organizations over the years as a thank you for their sacrifices.0 -
Sounds like a Man to be proud of Don. Glad you made it to his funeral in order to Honor him.
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Very sorry to hear about Kent, Don. Prayers for all concerned. 0
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