Posted: 10/2/07
Community comes to his support;
Benefit for Mark Buttell October 13
By Jan Lee Buxengard
Special for the Caledonia Argus
Neighbors helping neighbors -- Thatís what small communities like Caledonia do for others out of the kindness of their hearts.
On October 13, individuals and organizations are joining in a united effort to help someone in need. A benefit has been planned to raise funds for Mark Buttell, a 40-year-old Caledonia resident who was born with a heart defect and continues to deal with the condition.
The Buttell family moved here in 1972, and Mark graduated from Caledonia High School in 1985. There are seven children in the family, including Markís twin brother, Mike.
Born with heart defect
"When I was born, our family lived seven blocks away from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mark Buttell recalled. "Mom ran me down to the clinic because my color was blue, but by the time she got there, I got my color back. This happened a few times until at four-months of age, I had my first open heart surgery."
The heart condition he has is called, Tetralogy of Fallot, a defect that affects five out of 10,000 people.
Four years later, Buttell had corrective surgery because he was growing, and also, they discovered and patched a hole between the ventricles.
"I lived 10 years, and then at age 14, my pulmonary valve was leaking. The surgeon found a hole in the pulmonary artery, and got on the phone to consult with the cardiologist, who said, ëClose him up and see how long he livesí." With technology at that time, thatís probably all they could do.
Twenty-one years later, at age 35, surgeons replaced the pulmonary valve and installed an ICDU (combination pacemaker-defibrillator). "Thatís when problems with the electrical end of the heart began," Buttell pointed out.
To explain, fibrillation is a condition in which the muscle fibers of the heart work without coordination ñ with an irregular rhythm and usually at a far faster rate than normal. These ventricular arrhythmias can be treated with an electronic device called a defibrillator, which is implanted in the body, and continuously monitors the heart and delivers electric shocks to restore normal rhythm.
"Let me explain what itís like: the shock buckles you like getting kicked in the chest by a horse. Itís supposed to bring the heart rate down."
November 2006
Buttell vividly remembers the experience he had in November 2006. "I was working late. It was a long day and I was tired. When I got up to leave from work, the defibrillator went off. I got in the van and went half a block down the road and it hit again. But, as bull-headed as I was, I got to Hokah, and was hit four more times.
"I stopped at Kwik Trip and asked them to call 911. When the medics got there, they put me on a hard, plastic board. A medic on one side of me was taking my pulse and another was on the other side doing blood pressure. When the next jolt hit, both girls got zapped and also another that was touching one of the girls -- all three got shocked. They now have some relation to what the shock, the jolt I get, is like."
Several months later Buttell wasnít feeling right so he went in to La Crosse. "They checked the pacemaker and found the battery almost dead. They told me I should get up to Rochester to replace the pacemaker. My appointment was two days later and the longest days of my life. They didnít know my pacemaker wasnít working. They had me double dosing on meds to bring my heart rate down to 140 beats per minute.
Being hit those 22 times had brought down the life of the pacemaker, and he had to have his ICDU replaced ahead of schedule. This was a whole new pacemaker unit. "I said to my wife, somethingís not right. Iím feeling great," after receiving the new pacemaker.
"I fear driving home after work. Itís one of my longest rides and I donít want it (the defibrillator) to go off again," Mark stated.
"I hope I can keep going until I get the new valve.
Since last November, Buttell has experience three episodes of this condition called ventricular tachycardia, an irregular, elevated heart rate of over 200 beats per minute, which cause his defibrillator to go off each time. Each episode gets worse.
"Just when I think Iím getting somewhere, something happens," he commented about his health the last few years. "The fourth operation was difficult, but you keep going."
"As of right now, every three months I go in for a battery check-up on the pacemaker. Within the next four years, they will replace the pacemaker, and another six years, Iíll have heart surgery to replace the valve."
"My dad was 33 when he had his first heart attack, and he died at age 40 of a heart attack. I was nine-years-old when he passed away."
Previously, Buttell would say he wanted to at least live to age 40. "Now, Iím shooting for 80. I want to be there to see my kids grow up."
Two days after their daughter, Rose, was born, the doctor told the couple their newborn has a major abnormality of the heart, a heart murmur. They took her to Mayo Clinic for an ECHO, but nothing else was found. In November, she will have a check up at the same time as her father to make sure everything is "in check".
"I couldnít play sports when I was in school. When our youngest son was born, I told my brother, ëI have my 103 pound wrestlerÖItís a boy!í"
Mark and his wife, Cathy, have three children Claire age 5, Rose 3 ‡, and Connor 19 months. Mark works as an inside sales person for Gexpro, formerly GE Supply, an electrical distribution firm in La Crosse. "I enjoy my job, Iím pretty mobile for the time being, but have restrictions on heavy lifting."
Positive, but cautious
Family and friends say Mark is keeping a positive attitude, but remains cautious, knowing that a fifth open-heart surgery is projected.
"Weíre very grateful of family and friends when I was ill. My family has been extremely supportive. Weíve juggled our kids around when Iíve had doctor appointments and, the neighbors helped when I wasnít able to do things such as blowing snow, etc.
"People have been coming up to me right and left saying they want to help and that they are saying prayers for me."
After the fourth operation, Markís siblings asked if they could do a benefit for him. "It was a difficult decision, and itís very humbling to us," Mark commented. "Our family really appreciates the support of the community. Itís just amazing.
"Whatís most frustrating about the benefit is being on this end of it. Iíd rather be on the other end, the helping and giving end."
Benefit planned
A benefit for Mark Buttell is scheduled for Saturday, October 13 at St. Maryís Catholic School, 308 E. South Street, in Caledonia.
Food will be served beginning at 4 p.m. and until it is gone. A cash bar for beverages will be open all evening.
Raffle tickets, can be purchased at $10 each, with the drawing to take place at 8:00 p.m. The grand prize is $1,000, first prize $500, and five - $100 prizes. There will also be mini-raffles.
From 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. there will games for kids. Music will be provided at the VFW from 8:30 to 12:30 p.m.
A live auction starts at 6:30 p.m. To donate auction items, contact: Mike Buttell 507-724-5524 or Laurie Conway 507-724-5120.
Cash donations may be mailed to: The Mark Buttell Benefit Fund, Merchants Bank, 1 Sprague Square, Caledonia, MN 55921.
The Caledonia Lion Club, Caledonia Rod and Gun Club, and Knights of Columbus are sponsoring the event. Matching funds provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com