A letter dated 29 June 2022 from Bishop-elect Alex Farmer to his congregation:
Dear Servants Family,
I am emailing you to let you all know that I suffered a heart attack yesterday afternoon. Home on vacation working in the yard I started feeling symptoms at the house around 1:00 pm. I heard the Lord clearly telling me that this was a heart issue and I needed to go to the emergency room. I showered and drove myself to the UF ER at Spring Hill. They hooked me up to the EKG and immediately said I was having a heart attack and sent me to the main hospital. An amazing surgeon put in two stents in the RCA artery. I’m told this is the best place to have heart attack if you’re going to. The artery was completely blocked; I felt instantly better, was actually not unconscious at all. Pain honestly was never above a 4-5. I have the utmost respect for UF health professionals. Slept pretty good and I’m feeling great today.
The doctors have done an echo cardiogram and they are encouraged that intervention was accomplished quickly. There are two other chronic issues on the left side that need stents, so I will be undergoing a second procedure tomorrow morning. I am going to be taking more medicines, but other than some diet changes, I should be back to my activity pretty soon. Both our girls are in town, so we’re well taken care of.
I am so grateful to the Lord that He allowed me to get to the hospital in time to have this healing treatment and it is clear to me that the Lord needed me to experience this before I began my work as Bishop.
Thank you for all your love and support and Jody and I ask for your prayers as we navigate yet another transition. For obvious reasons I won’t be able to respond to emails and text messages but will read them as I’m able.
Alex+
