Marathon Heart

It is the 3rd day after Clark's surgery. Around 2AM Saturday morning, his heart decided it wanted to speed up and stay full speed. In order for Clark to get out of the hospital, his heart rate needs to be below 100. But, his heart has decided to settle into a steady beat of 145. Clark is agitated and confused, probably from the morphine and who knows what, he is in the recliner where he sleeps, (I sleep in the bed beside him, figure that out).. He screams, "Get out of here, get out of here". I think he means, that he wants me to leave the room. I then figure out that the aphasia is getting in the way. What he wants is the recliner brought to a sitting position.
Once, they realize his heart won't slow down, they start him on a protocol they have for this problem. They try Lopressor pills, no doesn't work, IV of Diltrazem, no doesn't work, around 3:00 PM they try Procraine, he heart slows down to around 125. His blood pressure also drops to 72/50. Sunday, 7AM his heart is back up to 140-142. The doctor comes in around 9:30, Clark is in A Fib, he says they call what is happening to him, a "Flutterbird". They try Digoxin as a final effort in medicines. It is Monday 6AM and now his heart rate is 151-154.
A doctor who is a partner to Clarks surgeon, decides to try using the temporary pacemaker wires, that are attached to Clark's heart.(I am not sure about this, so forgive me for my ignorance, if I get it wrong). He attaches the pacemaker and pushes the button, no change, then again, it goes down to 120. But, fluctuates higher, lower, higher, lower. They decide to schedule him for a Cardioversion. They will put him in a twilight sleep for just a couple minutes, then shock his heart into rhythm. Clark, is getting depressed, agitated, and he looks so tired.
Tuesday, the doctor tries the pacemaker one more time, but it doesn't work.
Tuesday afternoon, Clark is in bed and starts coughing. He is holding his chest tightly, you can see the pain on his face. The surgeon walks in the door, to talk to him about getting him down for the CardioVersion, we look at the heart monitor. There are ??? marks, from Clark coughing so hard. Then......92? The rate just went from 159 to 92. His doctor smiles and says,"Well now, Clark you just coughed yourself out of CardioVersion". I start laughing, and hit the doctor's arm, saying "that was amazing, you walk in the door right at the moment Clark cough's his heart rate down." "The magic doctor !!" The doctor starts laughing and raises his arms up in the air, and motions like he is hitting Clark in the head, saying "You are heaaaalllled". The look on Clark's face is priceless. I am serious, you could see the relief wash over him. His whole body relaxed, tears started down his cheek, as he started smiling. It was a wonderful, wonderful moment......