By Lori Ehde
First Baptist Church Pastor Tom Mabe remains in the intensive care unit of Sioux Valley Hospital, and doctors hesitate to give a prognosis beyond one day at a time.
Only 10 days ago, he was chatting in a Star Herald interview about his exciting plans to start a new challenge with a church in Edina.
He still hasn't had a chance to read that story.
As the Star Herald went to press Wednesday, Dec. 6, Tom collapsed in his home.
Church secretary Rhonda Morris had stopped by the parsonage to pick up a television set her son was interested in fixing.
Doctors say it's a good thing she was there to call an ambulance, because Tom wouldn't have survived long at home alone.
In medical terms, he suffered a "dissecting aortic aneurysm," which means his main aortic valve split open from the top and separated from the lining of the heart.
Because Tom received prompt medical attention, doctors were able to operate immediately to restore blood flow to his body.
They did this by bypassing the damaged area, and during the surgery, Tom's heart didn't beat for 21 minutes, while machines kept blood and oxygen flowing to his brain.
With the surgery complete, Thursday was a day to wait and see if the procedure worked. Doctors were making no promises or predictions, but by Friday, it was clear he'd survived the aneurysm and surgery, and it was a day of hope.
As Saturday and Sunday passed with small improvements, optimism mounted. But on Monday, Tom's family members faced the cold reality that they could still lose him.
On Monday, his lungs had started filling with fluid and his body functions, including kidneys, had started shutting down.
He was placed back on a ventilator to get oxygen levels back up in his blood and to take some strain off his heart.
It was a step backward, but as quickly as things turned sour Monday, they turned around Tuesday for the better.
At 7 a.m. Stephenie said Tom woke up a new man. "His eyes opened up and he was determined he was going to get that ventilator off today," she told the Star Herald Tuesday night. "He wanted to sit up and get that tube out."
Doctors cautiously warned that might not happen Tuesday, but by 5 p.m. he was strong enough to get along without the ventilator.
"He's got some real determination right now," Stephenie said. "He's real thankful for everybody praying for him. He gets really overwhelmed."
Without the tubes down his throat, Tom was able to speak, and mostly, he spoke about how grateful he is for the outpouring of support, Stephenie said.
While he can't have visitors in the intensive care unit, Tom has heard about the hundreds of people in his church and community who are praying for him.
His son, Josh, and son-in-law, Vince, spoke to the First Baptist Church congregation Sunday morning to let them know how Tom was doing.
They also relayed a plea by the Sioux Falls Regional Blood Bank for donations of O-positive blood. "They had an O-positive shortage because of Tom," Stephenie said.
After that word got out, the hospital was inundated with more than 100 local people who volunteered to give blood. On Dec. 27, the Sioux Falls Regional Blood Bank team will be in Luverne to accept additional donations.
Leaning on the prayers and support of their friends and family, Tom, Stephenie and their family are taking one day at a time.
"They're telling me he still has a long road for recovery," Stephenie said.
"If he can hold his own now, and keep breathing deep ... He seems to be as positive as ever and thankful for everyone in the church as well as in the community."