Supt. Langham updates system on health issues | Health

Elmore County School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Langham released a letter Wednesday addressed to the school system family. The letter addressed serious health issues the superintendent is having regarding his heart.

The letter reads:

Dear Elmore County School System Family:

"My wife Ginny, daughter Weldon, and I would like to thank you all for the prayers offered on our behalf. My echocardiogram last week showed that God answered those prayers as my heart function improved from 10% to 20%. While it's good that the number doubled, the cardiologist does not feel that it's good enough. "

Langham goes on to say that he will have a bi-ventricular CRT-D device implanted on Friday, August 31. The surgery will take place at Baptist South hospital in Montgomery.

Langham's letter describes the devices saying it "contains three leads: 1. A pacemaker lead (to speed up a slow heart rate), 2. a defibrillator lead (to detect and "shock" abnormal heart rhythms) and 3. a cardiac resynchronization therapy lead (which can improve the heart's pumping ability and ejection fraction)."

The superintendent says a home monitor will automatically send readings to his cardiologist and he is under the impression that some patients experience an immediate increase of 5-10 points in their ejection fraction number following the procedure.

The surgery is expected to take approximately two hours to complete, but Langham will have to remain in the hospital for recovery overnight.

Afterward, he says he won't be able to drive for two weeks, and won't be able to do any heavy lifting.

There is an upside, according to the superintendent's letter. "I will no longer have to wear the Life Vest," he explains. "While I am grateful for this technology, it has definitely worn out its welcome!"

Langham concluded his letter by saying, "God is good and has answered prayers – so we humbly ask you to continue beseeching Him on our behalf..."

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