I know that difficult times are
not fun at all. In fact, they can be really awful. I have been wondering
lately though. What if I frame my trials in a new way? What if they are the
backdrop to highlight the good times? I wonder if, in the hard times, I will
change my perspective if I may not even see light amidst the darkness of my
hour.
I don't know how to share
exactly what has recently happened to me. It has been profound, scary,
exciting, and very unexpected.
I had not been feeling great
for a few days. It wasn't that odd because I just had indigestion. It was bad
enough that I didn't attend church that day. I just didn't feel great. By
Monday, I was able to go to lunch with a sweet friend. The next day, I walked
my dog, Ellie, and I taught my cardio class at the Wellness Center. It was
Halloween. It was going to be a very busy day. It had gotten super cold,
and my hands hurt while I walked Ellie. I figured it was just because I was
cold. I got home, my hands warmed up and the pain went away.
I had payroll to process at
work, I needed to take my mom to get groceries, and I just didn't have time for
what happened next.
I finished teaching my class
and I could tell I was just a bit off. By the time I was leaving the facility,
I called my sister, and she wisely advised me to go to the doctor to get
checked out.
I headed to the nearby Urgent
Care. They determined that I was either at risk or was having a heart attack.
Gosh!!! WHAT???
But I eat right and exercise!!! How can this be?
I was taken by ambulance to the hospital. I remember traveling in reverse looking out the window at the all too familiar road. I began to pray with a bit of excitement and peace that this could be my last day here on earth. I wasn't hating my life; I was just getting excited that I may be face-to-face with Jesus today!!!! Oh wow!!
I immediately began to think of
all of my wonderful family and friends that I would be leaving behind, which
made me tear up. But the peace that fell on me was beyond what I could ever
have imagined or put words to. It was that heavy deep breath followed by a full
exhale that makes up a sigh of relief and release. (Yeah, still words just
cannot do it justice)
For any of you who know me
well, this next part will not surprise you. The ambulance driver, the person
who was taking care of me, and I started joking around. I smiled, and they
smiled. The young lady who rode with me was so busy with my care, but she was still
light-hearted with me. Still very much doing everything to keep me alive on
that ride. She told me once we got to the ER that she didn't want me to know
how bad it was. She elevated my status to get me into a specific room for
urgent care.
I was surrounded by a sea of
medical staff all doing their part to get me treated ASAP. The entire staff at
Huntsville Hospital was absolutely amazing. I cannot begin to thank them all
for the treatment from start to finish. It was quite a day.
I had a procedure and had to have two stents in two branches of a main artery, and I heard it called the widow maker.
I was taken to ICU where I slept and struggled with nausea. I remember family and friends coming and going into my room. My daughter Sara Kate stayed with me that night. Unfortunately, she was awakened by hospital ICU staff who quickly removed her from the room. She recalls seeing my body flailing around on the bed. The staff hooked me up to an AED and began chest compressions. I was awakened by a nurse trying to get an oxygen mask on my face. I remember freaking out because I couldn't understand why they had awakened me from such a great sleep. I can attest to a PEACE and rest I have never known. It was the best and deepest sleep. But to be brought back to such chaos was strange. I am still very thankful to the wonderful staff that provided such quick and skillful care for me.
In the meantime, Sara Kate had been
taken to a room to wait. She proceeded to contact Marc, my husband, and my
daughter Taylor. Taylor and her husband Caleb were about to board when Sara
Kate told her what had happened to me. She didn't know if I had made it or
not. At that point, she was taking off and not able to receive updates
until she landed. Taylor said she just slept on the plane. Being in the room
alone, Sara Kate turned to see a bible sitting near her. During this difficult
storm, she began to read and found peace, hope, and care in the words she kept
reading.
It was one scary event after
another. But I can tell you I felt the presence of God during it all. He draws
near to us when we seek Him. I sensed His presence more intimately. I don't
want to have another heart attack but what happened to me was better than any
revival I have experienced in my life.
My heart's ability to pump
blood out to the body known as the EF was 30% at the time I was leaving the
hospital. I was informed by the cardiologist that the number would need to
improve into the 40's and optimally 50's or I would require a pacemaker.
I began 3 months of cardiac
rehabilitation. I am still doing it. But my latest ECO showed my EF is 56%. The
optimal range is between 50-70. I had people praying for me from the east
coast to the west coast. Sara Kate placed her hand on me and prayed believing
God would heal my heart. My cardiologist said the muscle looked as if I had not
had a heart attack. He said from the EKG he could tell I had.
So why would I want to share
this story with you on this Blog? Well primarily to offer hope. I want anyone reading
it to know that dark times will come. The number one thing I heard after
this was "But you are the healthiest person I know." Dark times come
to all of us at one time or another. Life is not all a bed of roses, but my
trials and difficulties provided the perfect context to reveal to me the beautiful
perspective of God's love, care, presence, and peace. I would not know just how
close He is, how much He comforts me and those I love, had I not gone through
it. I would know it with my head, but now I know it because I experienced it. I
experienced God through this time. I was so thankful to see Him comforting my
family in a variety of ways.
Another reason I wanted to
share my experience is to say do not ignore the warning signs. I didn't know
that indigestion could be a sign of a heart attack. But since my event, I have
been informed. Is every bout of indigestion a reason to go to the ER, NO. But
it is good to know that it is a possible sign.
My family tree has several
branches that have a history of heart issues. This was not something I could
exercise out or eat well enough to improve it. So, listen to your body. Do not
ignore signs but also do not read this and start working yourself up into
anxiety that can lead you to a panic attack. Just listen to your body, talk to
family and medical staff, seek help if needed, and know that if you call on the
LORD Jesus, He will be with you and can provide intimate care for you in the
middle of it all.
Call out to Him. He draws near
to those who seek Him with their whole heart. He will walk with you through the
difficulties.
Take care of your body. I am including some links for you to check out.
Taking Care of Yourself | American Heart Association
Cardiac Heart Care and Cardiovascular Program by Huntsville Hospital
What Is a ‘Widowmaker’ Heart Attack? | Sharp HealthCare
