Balloon Pump Surgery

6:38 p.m. From Tonja; "this is a very difficult post...Michael is being kept alive on a heart/lung machine....neither is functioning on its own. His kidneys are starting to fail, so the doctors have said he is not going to live...(except by a miracle) They can not take him off the machine yet (ethics issues) until other problems become apparent. I will keep everyone posted when updates are available."

3:43 p.m. Tonja's mother, Riana, just tried to purchase a plane ticket to fly from PA to MN to be with Tonja...Tonja needs her and is requesting her mother's presence. Riana cannot get a ticket...the cost is 1,400.00 She will have to drive. If anyone can help, please contact Riana or a Manietta. Tonja needs her mother and Riana is not in any shape to drive. Thank you.

2:30 p.m. Please say prayers for Mike, Tonja, and Mike's family. Doctors took him back to surgery and put him on a by-pass machine. Tonja, Terri, and Riana need your prayers right now. Riana is flying to MN from PA.

1:30 p.m. Prayer Request; For Mike's blood pressure to stabilize so the doctors can lower his pulse. We need him to rest and heal. Thank you everyone.

9:24 am: From Riana; Tonja just called, the surgeons are done. Put in a pump to help his heart which is not capable of doing it on it's own. They removed several blood clots and cleaned out a lot of accumulated blood from around the heart. Tonja is trying to get some rest they told her it will be about 3 hours before she can see him. They also told her that it will be a couple of days before they will know if he is even going to survive this. Keep up the faith and prayers and know with God all things are possible.

6:00 a.m. Update from Tonja's Mother; "Hi everyone, they have taken Mike in for emergency open heart surgery. Really bad situation, excessive fluid in pericardial sac and blood clot blocking proper blood flow. Doctors worked on him all night to get tachycardia under control, kept him knocked out. Mike does not even know he is going into surgery, Tonja had to sign. Please continue the prayers for Mike and Tonja. Updates as I get them. Thanks again for all your prayers, thoughts, and all that you have done for them during their time of need."

4:59 a.m. Urgent: Tonja says, "They are taking Michael in for emergency open heart surgery to take care of some complications that have arisen from the ablation. This is a pretty hairy situation........they have been trying to get a handle on the situation for the past 10hrs. so they are not sure what else they may find when they get in there." Please say prayers and contact your prayer groups.