No one deserves to be put in a position where you have to decide whether to pull the plug on your spouse’s life support. When things aren’t looking up after a while, you will have to take the hardest decision of your life. Ryan Finley had been in this kind of situation, and it took a turn for the worse. His wife was in a coma, and he already did everything he can do to make sure she is alive. After two weeks, she stayed unresponsive. Would he accept that it’s over?
Happily Married For Four Years
Ryan and Jill Finley, aged 31 and 31, were just a normal and happy couple living in Oklahoma. They have been married for 4 years and had so many plans to look forward to in the future. Ryan worked as a plumbing contractor, and Jill worked as a loan underwriter. They spend their weekends in their house-he would read on the porch, and she would catch up on her sleep.
Happily Married For Four Years
Just A Normal Weekend For Them
One particular weekend started normally. As usual, they are with the family and close friends. No one felt odd or unusual that day. It was Sunday. Ryan woke up around 7 in the morning and felt something weird for the first time in his life. He could not figure out what was wrong, but something was screaming at him to check on his wife. His wife was just lying beside him, but he felt it in his gut that something was wrong.
Just A Normal Weekend For Them
He Could Not Wake Her Up
When Ryan spoke to Brad, he claimed he did not know the reason he did it. More often than not, he would sleep late on Saturdays and Sundays. However, something strange happened on that day. His instinct told him that it was best to wake her to see if she was okay. He was surprised to find that she did not awaken even when he yelled for her or shook her. He bent in to decide whether she was still alive.
He Could Not Wake Her Up
She Was Not Breathing
After watching her for some time, he realized with terror that she was not breathing. Once Ryan realized what he had to do to get out of the situation, he called 911. Since he called the cops, he conducted CPR on Jill. He felt grateful that he had the requisite life skills, even if he had not heard about them lately. He pounded her before he had what he was taught during the lesson. This was the first time that he has really wanted to use this strategy.
She Was Not Breathing
The EMTs Got There 15 Minutes Later
However, despite his attempts, he could not restore her. Ryan has no alternative but to wait for a rescue squad to arrive. It just took about 15 minutes, but often it may seem like a lifetime. As paramedics appeared at his house, he got up from his chair, only to have the specialist use a defibrillator on his wife. They sent shocks to her heart with the interventionist technique. Watching in terror, Linda could just see as her body jolted and struck the concrete.
The EMTs Got There 15 Minutes Later
The ER Was Their Only Hope
Jill’s body lay on the floor while people watched as the ambulance crew attempted to save her. Despite their attempts, they failed. It meant that the patient would have to go to the hospital. The ambulance transported her and took her to Oklahoma Heart Center. No matter what he was thinking about, he could follow them in his car. When they landed in the ER, Jill was hurried to the emergency room.
The ER Was Their Only Hope
Doctors Managed To Stabilize Her At Last
The physicians advised that Jill had a heart attack during sleep. That’s why her body was stripped of oxygen for five minutes. This was why she was susceptible to developing neurological disorders. To reduce the risk, the physicians placed Jill in a hypothermic environment that would keep her body temperature at a safe level. She was put in cooling pads for the next 24 hours.
Doctors Managed To Stabilize Her At Last
Trying To Bring Down Her Body Temperature
Since their core body temperature declined, they had to supplement it again. They wished that she would recover awareness so that they could start to support her. This was how most people reacted. Upon detecting that she was not breathing, the physicians administered a series of experiments to ascertain what was wrong. Jill was unconscious, and there was nothing else that could be said.
Trying To Bring Down Her Body Temperature
They Held Onto Hope
The whole period Ryan desired to spend with her. He will nap and curl up in her room at the hospital. He was ready to be at the hospital when his wife got up. Though he cherished her, his dream began to wane as time went by. The more a coma patient lies there, the less hope they have of getting up. Through all, Ryan waited for Jill before heading to sleep.
They Held Onto Hope
He Did Not Leave Her Side
Truth started to set in for him as the doctors told him of Mary’s bad prognosis. By the time 48 to 72 hours had elapsed, her odds of survival were just 1%. As the days progressed, he became persuaded that his appeal was lost. He wanted to write to coordinate his thinking and determine the next move for action. Ryan loved staying home with his wife and writing in his diary.
He Did Not Leave Her Side
The Odds Did Not Look Great
Unfortunately, it was excruciating to face the truth. Regardless of everything he attempted, he would know that his wife was already asleep the moment he got up. “At 6 in the morning, I remember thinking, ‘This can’t be real,’” he said. The doctors lost faith because they didn’t see much improvement. The days elapsed, and the probability that she will survive diminished. If she were to wake up, she would not be as healthy as she once was.
The Odds Did Not Look Great
Every Morning He Woke Up
Although Ryan was not the only one who was affected, many people were also affected. She also had to contend with the thought of her parents outliving her. After two weeks, the effects didn’t change, so they had to order a decision. Ryan consulted with her parents about how to treat Jill. They had to determine how long she would stay on life support or if the situation would worsen.
Every Morning He Woke Up
Speaking To Her Parents
Ryan wasn’t the only one to have suffered from the turn of events. Her parents also had to deal with the idea that they were going to survive longer than Jill. They had to come to a decision two weeks without any sign of improvement. Ryan talked to her parents about what they were supposed to do about Jill. Among other things, they had to figure out how long she would stay on life support if she didn’t show any signs of getting better.
Speaking To Her Parents
He Wrote It All In His Journal
This was, by far, the hardest decision he’d ever had to make in his life. In his journal, he wrote about the ordeal. The entry said, “Today might be the worst day of my life. Basically, I have to decide whether or not Jill is going to live. That’s my soul mate. My all.” We can’t think of one that’s even harder to make. As he thought about it a little more, he remembered a memory and realized that the answer had been there all along.
He Wrote It All In His Journal
In Case This Happened
It didn’t help them both just to enter their thirties. They haven’t had children yet either. This was definitely not part of their plans. Despite this, they were talking about it a few years ago. His aunt was once on life support, which is why it came up between them. Suddenly, Ryan remembered that Jill said she wouldn’t want to live like that. That was all the answer he needed.
In Case This Happened
He Respected Her Wishes
He brought the issue to her family. In the end, they agreed that Jill would rather give up life support and put an end to things. Of course, it wasn’t at all easy for them to make this call. At any rate, the conversation between the husband and the wife made them clear. Ryan filed the necessary court order and informed the doctors of his plan. But they wanted him to know a few things before they could go ahead with it.
He Respected Her Wishes
Time To Prepare For The End
They informed him of something known as the “last rally,” which usually happens when a person is taken away from life support. They could make sounds or move as the body adjusts and starts to shut down. After hearing this, Ryan and her family got ready for the moment in question. They gathered together to make their final farewells, and the medical team took Jill away from life support. Ryan stayed with her all the time, but he didn’t expect anything to happen after that.
Time To Prepare For The End
Something Called The Last Rally
Ryan said that her entire upper torso would just be a little bit shifting. And then the mumbling would begin.” It was too much for him. He could not handle the thought of watching life slip out of his body. He felt physically sick, and he had to get out of the room. Before that, he did a good job of keeping it in front of everyone else. However, this was more than he could handle.
Something Called The Last Rally
He Braced Himself For The Worst
While he was initially overwhelmed, things changed after a while. Jill was no longer on life support, but she had been hanged hours later! His mother told him to go back to the room. She told him he had to see what was going on. At first, he felt hesitant because he assumed that it would only make things more difficult. Despite that, his curiosity was too much. One last time, he was aiming to see her.
He Braced Himself For The Worst
She Just Wanted To Go Home
As soon as he walked into the room, he saw that Jill had not been muttering inconsistently during her last rally. No, the first thing Ryan heard her say was, “I want to go home” and “Get me out of here.” He knew that Jill had a meager chance of recovery, so he tried to tamper with his hope that she would wake up. This changed after he heard Jill say she wanted to visit their favorite restaurant!
She Just Wanted To Go Home
She Answered All Of His Questions
Ryan could not believe it. Was his wife really coming back to life? He asked her to see if this really was the case. When he asked her the name of their cat and dog, Jill gave him the right answers. Then he tried their address and math questions like, “What’s five plus five? “To his surprise, she gave all of them the correct answers. Not only was she awake, but she was also fully functioning.
She Answered All Of His Questions
No One Could Believe It
It was truly shocking to think that his wife had beaten the odds. Ryan was filled with great joy. He shared, “I can’t imagine a feeling better than I did at the time.” According to him, he spent days preparing to lose her. It was unreal that, despite the odds, the best thing possible happened. It felt like he was in a dream, according to him. It took him a whole day to process that Jill was finally back.
No One Could Believe It
Even The Doctors Were Puzzled
Ryan wasn’t the only person to be baffled by this shocking turn of events. One of the doctors told him that her chances of recovery were no more than one percent after a few days in a coma. Every single day after that, the odds went down. This meant that the chances of her waking up and recovery were really very low. Jill shared that she had been told that she was “not a textbook material.” However, the only thing she could remember all the time was a big shower at the hospital.
Even The Doctors Were Puzzled
Her Response To His Decision
It’s interesting to hear what she had to say about learning Ryan’s decision to plug her life support. Most of the time, the patient doesn’t live long enough to know. In this case, it was different. Can you believe that Jill was totally in agreement with his choice? She verified that “he didn’t want to live like that,” so “he did the right thing.” According to her, living that way is “not me.”
Her Response To His Decision
What Really Happened That Day
Now that she was back, it was time for them to make sure that nothing like this would ever happen again. Jill found out that she had a congenital condition. That’s what made her heart stop while she was asleep. They didn’t have a way to explain the amazing recovery, but they could put a pacemaker to ensure that her heart would continue to beat. If something like this happens in the future, the device will give her heart a shock before the oxygen in her body was exhausted.
What Really Happened That Day
Going Back To Her Old Self
While Jill was doing better than anyone thought she would, she still needed help to get back to normal. For a few months, she had to learn how to perform simple tasks, such as tying her shoes and brushing her teeth. With the help of speech therapists and occupational therapists, she was given back the skills she had lost while in a coma. She was back to her normal self by the end of this.
Going Back To Her Old Self
A Newfound Appreciation For Their Spouse
It’s an incredible story, really. After all, they had gone through, Ryan and Jill had a silver liner in the form of a newfound appreciation for each other. While they loved each other a lot before that, they knew that they had to be cherished every moment they spent with each other. Jill said they were trying to spend every free moment together. There are times when this just means running errands with each other!
A Newfound Appreciation For Their Spouse
Just Like Newlyweds
We’re sure you’re going to agree with us when we say they’ve been through a lot. Even so, they didn’t lose their sense of humor. Jill even said that her pals’ were a joke about how jealous they were since the couple was acting and looking like new-borns. It’s hard to take what you’ve got for granted, especially when you’re married. Unfortunately, it’s typical for married couples to feel resentful about each other after a few years together.
Just Like Newlyweds
He Was Nominated For An Award
Ryan was more than happy to get Jill back after all that. However, his community could not help but feel that he deserved more than that. They wanted to reward him for remaining dedicated and loyal after what he had been through. The hospital where Jill was confined nominated him for the Oklahoma Heart Hero Award, given to locals who used an automated external defibrillator (AED) or CPR to save their lives. The loving husband had been eligible since his wife’s recovery began to give him CPR.
He Was Nominated For An Award
Checking On His Wife Every Night
His concern for Jill did not end when she returned home. “It’s not a night that I don’t wake up,” Ryan joked, “I usually kick her, and if she kicks me back, I know we’re all right.” She had a funny thing to share, too. She said that if you were wondering, they would drop the restaurant she talked about as she woke up from the coma. We’re so happy that it worked out for them! Every marriage is a different one. The next couple, for one, waited almost ten years to open a wedding gift.
Checking On His Wife Every Night
The Gift That Stayed Close For Nearly A Decade
While talking about a friend’s wedding gifts, Brandon and Kathy remembered one of their own. Ironically, their favorite wedding gift sat unopen in the closet. Neither of them had unwrapped it, even though it’s been nine years since their wedding day. At the end of the day, they decided it was finally time to see what was inside. The meaning of the present, however, did not wait inside the box. The truth is, it had more to do with the amount of time they waited before they finally took a look at it!
The Gift That Stayed Close For Nearly A Decade
A Throwback To Their Wedding Day
Brandon and Kathy Gunn are living in Northville, Michigan. The knot was tied in front of 300 people in Jackson on September 1, 2007. They had a lot of lovely gifts, but there was one that stood out in a pile. Alison, her great aunt, was the one who gave them a white box with no other ornaments apart from a silver bow. There was a letter at the top that said, “Don’t open until 1st Disagreement.”
A Throwback To Their Wedding Day
The Truth Is That They Did Fight
Could it be that they haven’t opened it since they’ve never fought? She said it wasn’t true. “Obviously, there have been a lot of disagreements, arguments, and slammed doors over the course of our nine years,” Kathy said on Facebook. She told ABC News that she and Brandon “didn’t want to turn to the box because you don’t have it when you open it. And then what are you doing? “What could be inside of it?
The Truth Is That They Did Fight
They Turned It Into A Competition
There was one more reason why they chose not to open the present. Kathy said they’re both “very competitive people.” She even told ABC News, “We love a challenge.” It turned out to be a rather odd game between them. “I honestly think we both avoided turning to the box because it would have symbolized our failure,” she said on Facebook. She added, “And we’re both too stubborn and determined to do that.” The two of them didn’t want to be the “cracked” person.
They Turned It Into A Competition
Not Sure Which One Would Warrant It
Apart from that, they weren’t sure which fight was “big enough” to open the gift. “What if it’s not our worst fight? “She reasoned, ‘What if there’s a worse one ahead of us, and we don’t have our box? “Katy and Brandon thought that opening a box after a feud would symbolize “failure.” As a matter of fact, she remembered what her great uncle Bill often said: “Nothing is so bad that it can’t get any worse.”
Not Sure Which One Would Warrant It
Someone Did Not Approve Of This
While Kathy and Brandon were stubborn about not opening up, other family members were curious about the gift. Aunt Alison asked them about it about two years after the wedding. When asked if they had already opened it, Kathy told her they didn’t. “She looked at us like we were mad,” she said, laughing. In the family, it soon became a joke. They didn’t think the coupe was ever going to open it.
Someone Did Not Approve Of This
They Admired The Relationship
Aunt Alison’s gift meant a lot to Kathy. The two women had always been very close. In fact, she even referred to her great aunt as her “surrogate grandma.” She also knew that Alison and Bill had been married for fifty years. Three years after the marriage between Kathy and Brandon, he died in 2004. The whole family mourned his passing, but it made the gift even more special!
They Admired The Relationship
One Person Did Not Find It Funny
Most of the family laughed at their refusal to open the gift, but not everyone was amused. We talked about Kathy’s mother, who didn’t think it was right to wait so long. “My mom was like, ‘Kathy, what if there’s food or something in there? “Kathy shared it. They asked Aunt Alison about it, and she said there was no food or any other perishable item inside.
One Person Did Not Find It Funny
It Remained Unopened Nine Years Later
The box remained open for almost ten years. By then, they had a daughter and a son. Since then, they have moved three times as well, but they have not forgotten to take the gift with them, no matter where they went. No matter how many times they fought, they didn’t open it. It was too valuable to them by then. Kathy said, “We didn’t want to ruin the importance of taking that in by opening it up after a stupid fight.”
It Remained Unopened Nine Years Later
The Reason They Finally Opened It
In the end, the mystery finally came to an end on May 29, 2016. As they talked about what to buy for a friend’s wedding, Kathy looked at Brandon and said, “We still have the box.” He said, “If we’ve made it this far, I don’t think we need the box to save us.” She agreed with what he said. That’s why they finally decided to see what was inside, nine years later. They let out a laugh when they opened it.
The Reason They Finally Opened It
What Was Inside The Box?
When the box was finally opened, two glasses of wine, an aromatic bath kit, and candles were found in it. The two of them laughed at the content. Did they really wait nine years for all this stuff? They didn’t think they were going to solve any of their fights. But this wasn’t even the best part of the gift. There were two notes in there, too. One of them was meant for Kathy, the other for Brandon.
What Was Inside The Box?
It Was A Personal And Thoughtful Gift
The two of them were interested to see what their note had said. “Go get some pizza, shrimp, or something you both like. Love, Aunt Alison,” read Kathy’s one. On the other hand, the one for him said, “Brandon, go get some flowers and a bottle of wine. Love, Aunt Alison.” Each note contained $200 so that they could buy the gifts. It looks like the older woman has passed on her marriage wisdom to the couple!
It Was A Personal And Thoughtful Gift
Not What They Expected To Find
It was a lovely gift, but did you live up to the hype? It was a thoughtful gift, but they thought it was going to be something else. Kathy and Brandon waited so long for money, a bath kit, a glass of wine, and a candle. In the end, the gift was meaningful in another way. Kathy said, “All along, we assumed that the contents of that box held the key to saving a marriage—an age-old trick—unknown to us rookies.”
Not What They Expected To Find
The Meaning Of The Gift Has Changed
The box reinforced their relationship in a different way. The content did not matter as much as the nature of their relationship. By refusing to open the gift, Brandon and Kathy had to work through their differences and resolve their struggles. “That box went beyond what I believe my great aunt had intended,” Kathy said. She went on, “[It] was high on the shelf in different closets gathering dust, yet somehow it taught us about tolerance, understanding, compromise, and patience.”
The Meaning Of The Gift Has Changed
How It Helped Them Resolve Fights
The box helped Kathy and Brandon tremendously by keeping the gift closed. When they talked to Today, Kathy talked about how their struggles have evolved over the years. “First, you’re fighting to pick up your clothes off the floor, and then later, you’re fighting to avoid sleeping because of cocky babies,” she said. Every time they disagreed, the two would wonder if it was time for the gift to be opened. Kathy explained, “We’d say, ‘We think it’s a mountain, but maybe it’s a molehill.'”
How It Helped Them Resolve Fights
They Decided They Did Not Need It
Every time one of them suggests opening the box, they would agree that it wasn’t the right time. They made sure they were going to find other ways to resolve the fights. At the time, they didn’t know if they would find a solution or a secret in the box. Despite this, they agreed that it was unnecessary. “I realized that the tools for creating and maintaining a strong, healthy marriage were never in that box,” she said, “they were in us.” In the end, their marriage is going strong because they didn’t need it!
They Decided They Did Not Need It
The Story Has Gone Viral
We’re glad Kathy hasn’t kept all of the stories to herself. After the box was opened, the couple went to Facebook to share it. Kathy narrated the past decade or so on a page called “Love What Matters.” It was viral and earned 900 comments, 4,000 shares, and 18,000 likes. People from all over the globe were amazed at the story and commented on how wise Aunt Allison and Uncle Bill were. Some of them even think the gift was working perfectly. We agree with that!
The Story Has Gone Viral
The Surprises Did Not End There
When she talked to People, Kathy said she was surprised at the story’s attention. “My husband and I are in awe of how much attention this story has received,” she said. “It seems to be a gift that keeps giving! “First of all, she posted it to give her great aunt the spotlight. Aunt Alison is also surprised to see how far the story of her gift has spread since then. She had no idea it was going to happen!
The Surprises Did Not End There
Thanking Aunt Alison For The Gift
Kathy and Brandon phoned Aunt Alison when they saw what was inside the box. Her great aunt, who lives in Ohio, was reportedly “tickled” and “flabbergasted” to hear the development. Kathy shared with Today, “She thinks it’s the funniest and the cutest thing because she can’t believe we’ve been hanging on it for that long.” Kathy went on, “She also thought it was a great story, but she thought we were crazy.” Even though Aunt Alison wanted it to be special, she didn’t know how special it was.
Thanking Aunt Alison For The Gift
A Word To The Wise
On their wedding day, Brandon and Kathy Gunn got a gift that they thought they would fight. A long time has elapsed since the big day, but now they can express their wisdom. Kathy clarified that partners are expected to have a solid basis. “Learn how to disagree and move on to the little things,” she shared. “Learn how to get angry and get through the larger problems. Giving up was never a choice in our case because we never had the idea that marriage would be straightforward.”
A Word To The Wise
The Main Takeaway From The Story
There are too many things to tell regarding Aunt Alison’s gift. However, Kathy feels that the most valuable lesson from this encounter was to place things in context. “It always pushed us, any time we had a dispute, to think of a broader picture and inquire, ‘Is that really a big deal? “Today, Kathy shared. She went on, “I hope it would encourage people to reassess their circumstances and learn about their love—why they were married in the first place.
The Main Takeaway From The Story