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Having recovered sufficiently from his August 23 heart
attack for part-time teaching duties, Mooseheart band
director Steve Schmidt (right) is back at work helping
students such as freshman woodwind player Chon Montano.
(Click Photo To Enlarge) |
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In just about every
sense, Steve Schmidt spent Aug. 23 much as any other
on the day before classes opened at Mooseheart Child
City & School.
Breakfast, the morning paper, the morning run - the routine
was much the same as many late-summer days for the school's
band director. But during that morning run, everything
changed.
Schmidt, Mooseheart's band director since 1988, felt some
tightness in his chest. Feeling it was nothing more than
heartburn, he cut short his jog and returned home.
That decision, and many subsequent
ones may have saved Schmidt's life. For while 49-year-old
Schmidt had the "heart" portion
of "heartburn" correct - he was actually in the
opening stages of a heart attack.
"I went home and showered and the pain got worse," Schmidt
said. "I got out of the shower - actually I fell out
of the shower - and my wife took me to Urgent Care."
While traveling by car to the Dreyer Medical Clinic facility
near his Batavia, IL homeabout a mile north of Mooseheart,
Schmidt experienced worsening symptoms, though he still
felt it wasn't as serious as it became.
| A Message from Mooseheart Band Director
Steve Schmidt |
In the days since arriving home from
the hospital, I have received so many wonderful expressions
of support from so many of you at Mooseheart. Words
are not sufficient to describe how it feels to be
so cared about. It has really buoyed my spirits and
given me hope.
It has been quite a shock and setback for someone
like me who takes pride in his boundless energy.
I have been humbled and told to slow down by two
powers higher than myself; my cardiologist and my
wife. That is how I haven't gotten back to anyone
quite yet. But I feel good today and wanted all of
you to know how deeply moved I have been by your
support.
From Bill Airey and all the kind people at the Supreme
Lodge, including WOTM, Membership, Moose Charities
to the staff at the administration building, to residential,
and, of course, my second family at Mooseheart School,
I thank you all from the bottom of my mending heart.
When Anne Thomas stopped by last week with a load
of cards from students, I thought it couldn't get
any better. There is nothing like a hand-made card
from a child to lift one's spirit, but an arm-load
of these? Well, I am pretty sure they contain a healing
power far beyond that of Crestor, Lipitor and Plavix!
But it could get better! Not an hour later, Gary,
with two of his sons in tow, arrived with a huge
plant, a card signed by the entire school staff,
and a DVD, which had him jumping out of his skin.
I could tell it was something special. After he left,
Arlene, Chris, Yas and I sat together on the couch
and watched it on the laptop.
I have to say it was probably the most moved I have
been in my life. I don't know if anyone has seen
it, but Gary went to literally everyone on campus.
I am sure you remember him doing his best imitation
of Ty from Extreme Makeover! Just when I thought
he had run out of offices, classrooms, random cars
and kitchen staff, he would find even more people.
I thought he was going to put on his swim suit and
coax get well wishes out of the fish at Mooseheart
Lake!
In any case, that video cemented it. This is just
a bump in the road, and I will be back soon, doing
what I love most; teaching music to the special population
of youth at Mooseheart School. I might have to start
with Mary Had a Little Lamb, but with the kind of
support I have in all of you, I will work my way
back to Beethoven in no time at all. You are the
best!!!!!
Peace,
Steve |
The medical technicians at Dreyer hooked up Schmidt to
a 12-lead electrocardiogram, and things started to move
very quickly.
"They were the ones who called 911," Schmidt
said. "The ambulance was there in something like two
minutes and they took me to Delnor."
The scene at Delnor-Community Hospital, two miles north
in Geneva, was no less frantic as the ambulance arrived.
Alerted to the severity of Schmidt's condition, doctors,
nurses and other medical professionals were ready to move
into action.
"It was like a scene from a television show, with
them running down the hallway and ripping off my shirt
and getting me ready for surgery," Schmidt said.
All the work - by Schmidt's wife and the various medical
professionals paid dividends for Schmidt has returned to
his job in a part-time capacity in less than a month. He
expects to return to full-time teaching in October.
Doctors
told him that "on a scale of 1-to-10, what I had was
an '8,'" Schmidt said.
Schmidt
admits he can't remember everything that happened on that
traumatic day. But in its aftermath, he has had a very
extensive course in the workings of hearts and what happened
on that day.
What
he suffered from was a full, 100% blockage in the left
coronary artery. Heart attacks stemming from this artery
often cause nearly instant death--to the point where this
particular type of attack is known to the medical profession
as "the widowmaker."
In
surgery, a medical stent was placed into Schmidt's heart
to restore proper blood flow. He remained at Delnor for
three days before returning home. His recovery--slowly
increasing physical activity--continued for three weeks
before he returned to the classroom. He is currently teaching
in the mornings and resting in the afternoon.
"I
still haven't seen my band," Schmidt said. "I
have seen individuals, but I haven't seen the full band
yet."
As his recovery progressed, a literal stream of cards
and letters flooded Schmidt's mailbox. Some came from Moose
Lodges as far away as West Virginia and South Carolina.
Mooseheart Superintendent of Education Gary Urwiler composed
a video made of Mooseheart students and Moose International
employees wishing him a safe and swift recover.
"All those cards and letters helped," Schmidt
said. "The support my family and I received through
this was unbelievable and wonderful."
Schmidt's
heart attack struck despite his frequent regular exercise
and relative youth--but he remains a firm advocate of physical
fitness. Indeed, doctors have told him that it is only
because his level of cardiovascular fitness was so high
that his recovery period has been as short as it has been.
And Mooseheart's band and its director are still making
preparations for their annual holiday concert, which takes
place at 2:15 p.m. on Dec. 11 in the campus' House of God.
Though just after our nation's great autumnal holiday,
that concert is sure to also be a scene of great Thanksgiving.
"I don't know how we'll sound, but we'll be there
and be as ready as we can be for that concert," Schmidt
said.
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