One Month to Live
The last few days have been stressful, disheartening and we Americans are divided and many of us don’t want to be. We don’t agree about the state of our union, we want it to be better for all. There was some glimmer of hope yesterday. Let’s all really try hard. In 2010, 5 Emergency Room personnel rapidly applying leads on my chest, neck, abdomen and then pushed the button for the EKG. The paper printed out and they were all high-fiving and I was lying there happy because they were all smiling. I thought, “Can’t be too bad with that celebrating.” Oh, Ms. Stewart, we’re just happy because by the time people get to us its usually over and we’re just happy we got it on the EKG! IT??? Well, I had an SVT, supra ventricular tachycardia. SVTs, I learned, can take you away. Heart beating so fast I couldn’t feel a pulse because there was no space between the beats, hence I got myself to the ER fast. I mean, I knew I was alive but no pulse anywhere, so I threw a few things in my bag like all my meds, PJs, tooth brush and a book I was reading. Out the door I went! Yes, I drove myself to the hospital. No, I will not do that again. I was in the 4th week of wearing a cardiac monitor, so as I was driving, and the device rang like a phone. Hmmm…”uh, hello?” “Ms. Stewart, this is so & so at Life… are you having symptoms?” “Oh, yes, I am. Can you see what’s going on? I’m on the way to the hospital now.” “Oh, good, you called 911.” “Um…no.” “Oh, so you had someone with you.” “Um…no. I’m driving myself.” S-i-l-e-n-c-e !!!! You know, that deafening silence! Then, she spoke and was calm and professional. She stayed with me until I got to the hospital. She called ahead and told them I was coming so everyone including the guard was waiting & boy did things move fast!! She told me to just hand the nurse the device and they would see everything. So after the celebratory EKG, the doc came in and gave me a choice of taking the meds that would stop my heart blah-blah-blah…” “Wait!! Wait a minute? Stop my heart? No, I don’t want that.” “Well, Ms. Stewart, the medicine will make you feel worse than you have ever felt…but just for 3 seconds and then your heart will be in rhythm and it will just go away.” (Everybody circling the bed just looking at me.) “Um…isn’t there something else you can do!?” “Yes, I could shock you.” “Oh, so like when I’m not expecting it, you would scream at me?” “No, see those paddles over there? I would shock you with them.” “Oh, heavens!! Give me the medicine!!” So in 3 seconds I went from feeling like I was dying to having my perfect heart beat back to normal and then they brought me snacks!! I had to stay in observation for a few hours, so I sipped on my ginger ale and read my book. A nurse came in and stopped at the door, with hand on hip said “ you should NOT be reading a book like that at a time like this!!!” She was not happy with me reading my book “One Month to Live” by Kerry & Chris Shook. I said, “Oh, no, it’s all good.” Right then another short little nurse came in and asked the other nurse what she was so upset about. Again, that nurse...
Read MoreA Sleep Clinic Test But NO Sleep?
Here we are, it’s 2013, the world did not end as the Mayan Calendar alerted and many of us are pondering what our contribution to the world will be in this new year. So many of us make New Year’s Resolutions, some of which we accomplish and others may fall by the wayside. I certainly have made many that belong in both categories! Last night, I reluctantly spent the night in the hospital having a “sleep test” which my cardiologist ordered. One of my health issues is fibromyalgia and most patients that are AFFLICTED (yes!!!) with that, struggle with sleep issues which impact one’s quality of life greatly. For over 17 years now, I have learned how to live with fibromyalgia and have somewhat conquered the CURSE of “cycling” back and forth between level 1 and level 2 sleep thanks to my docs, a couple of meds and routine. Those who never get to levels 4 and 5 where one gets restorative sleep are doomed…maybe the Mayan calendar even mentions that! I reported in at 10:00 p.m., got all wired up to several types of monitors and and began the attempt to go to sleep. The hospital beds have never been my friend…too hard for my arthritic body. I recall when I had my first mastectomy and stayed one night in the hospital, I gave up and got up at 2:00 a.m. and sat in the recliner which was more comfortable. So last night during the sleepless sleep study, my hips and back were in too much pain that I simply could not go to sleep. I talked with God a lot…world problems, people I pray for, everyone in the hospital for healing, and then I switched my conversation to what God would like to see me do in 2013. He gave me a lot of good ideas; we chatted about how many in our world are hurting (not just their hips and backs from a hard mattress) and that discussion led me to thinking about how even a kind word or just listening to someone’s problems, giving them a smile or praying for them can make a difference in their lives. Mark Twain says that “Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Well, I am still constructing my list of resolutions (I move slowly, I know) but extending kindness to people whom I encounter is at the top of my list. What’s really cool is that God said He would give me hints on just who might be needing it. Isn’t that kind of Him! So, “Sleepless in Statesville” actually turned out to be a good evening. I’m moving very slowly today, but my mind is going to...
Read MoreWhat's Your Passion?
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