My Mycardial Infarction announcement from 2/19/04

Dear Friends and Family,

You have all heard by now that I had a wee little problem starting Monday night (2/16/04) at about 10:45pm. I, Rick Lingenfelter, olympic caliber athlete, trapped in the body of an international male supermodel, 36 years old, had a heart attack. The bad thing is that I had a heart attack. The good thing is, I had a heart attack. I can think of many people who maybe aren’t ready for this. Maybe their faith is weak, maybe they have no faith, maybe their body has no chance of taking it, I don’t know, but it worked out this way for a reason, and I am here today thanking you for your prayers and actions.

I had peace throughout the whole ordeal. That peace only comes through Christ. I don’t know everyone on this email list, some of you were on Susan Rychener’s email and I don’t believe we have met. If we have and I have just forgotten, excuse me, I just had a heart attack. My family and I really felt your prayers. The people I thought who would not handle this well, were OK. I actually was disappointed that everyone seemed so happy on Tuesday, surgery day. Would have been nice to see a tear or two, but, maybe next time. If you haven’t met me, let me say I am sorry, and please understand I tend to be a little sarcastic.

Monday night I got the classic symptoms and called my father-in-law for advice. He had been there before and encouraged me to go to the hospital. By 4:00am Tuesday it was clear I had had an attack and my scheduled stress test for Tuesday AM turned into an angiogram (not as fun as the name implies) and angioplasty (doctor induced heart attack…excuse me…it sucked…about six minutes of laying on the table feeling like you are really dying…the worst part of the whole experience). The 24 hours of nitroglycerin headache was a close second.

It was so nice that so many people visited me. Sorry if I smelled and looked un-GQ in my hospital dress. I just thought about it. The worst part was the dress. You know what you wear under those beautiful gown’s? Nothing. You knowwhat every hospital employee does when they come to see you? They lift it up. Then they push where it hurts and they ask if it hurts. Pam and my sister Tami felt this was fair that I experience what women go through.

There were so many people in that hospital without hope, in fear, sadly without visitors. I had a 70 year old roommate. He was intentionally obnoxious andeveryone who came in loved him. We had some great talks during our two days together. He has a good heart, well, bad, but good. We talked a little about faith as he realizes he may not have long to live. It was good. Thank you.

Remember Christ in all you do. Read some of my favorite verses Eph. 2:8-10 and remember it is not about us or what we do. I have included a couple of photos, one from the hospital when I was near death and another shows the hemotoma on my right hip.

Rick