November 14, 2013 (Life, the Great Defibrillator)

I had kind of a scare Monday night. Something happened that forced me to wake up and take notice of my body. I went to the ER because I was struggling with breathing and had a pressure in the back of my left leg. I thought I had a blood clot again, this time in my leg. I was immediately taken back and tests were quickly ordered. As always, it started with blood work. I also had an ultrasound of my left leg, an x-ray of my chest, and was placed on a heart monitor. Needless to say, I was admitted overnight for evaluation. The next morning I was sent for a CT scan to be sure there was not a blood clot in my lungs.

Upon discharge, I was given prescriptions for cholesterol and high blood pressure. The discharging diagnosis was a heart attack. Now, I don't know if that is what actually happened, but it was enough to wake me up! I know that I don't want another scare like that ever again. The only thing I could think of was my children. What would happen to them if something happened to me? I am the one they can rely on to take care of their needs. I am the one who nurses them back to health when they are sick. I am the one who teaches them what it means to be a responsible, caring, giving human being. How could I beat cancer, but let something like this kick me off my feet?

If anything was going to bring me back to life, this was definitely it! Major lifestyle changes are definitely in my future. I still have so much to accomplish in this lifetime. I have a laundry list of things that I have yet to do. There's no time like the present, right?