My Second Chance Reminder

Five years ago today, Dec 11, 2005, I was given a second chance on life.

I left you with the post about my son's birthday telling you that his birth was full of happiness and heart ache. I was so overjoyed with his birth, which was through planned cesarean section due to complications with my daughters delivery (I do not do things the easy way).

I won't bore with all the icky details, believe me they are icky, but right after he was born I had the same complications that I did with my daughter. Thank goodness my doctor was prepared for that.

However,

What he wasn't prepared for was the fourth day after my son's birth, December 11, 2005. I should tell you that I was supposed to go home on the 10th but had a terrible headache and was not able to stand so they kept me an extra day.

God must have been really looking in on me that day because 1:00 Sunday morning I woke up with chest pains. The nurse gave me Tums thinking that it might be heartburn. I, however, have never had heart burn. The pain continued through the early morning until I couldn't stand it anymore. It is a pain that is hard to describe but it was THE most uncomfortable pain that I have EVER experienced!

After a blood test confirmed that I was indeed having a heart attack and about 12 hours after I first felt pain, I was in the cath lab and they were looking for the problem.

They found that my arteries were dissecting or splitting open. I had no idea what was happening to me as they had given me a sedative. Apparently they rushed out to my family (mom, dad and hubby) and told them that if they did not do the surgery now, that I would not make it. My dad looked the surgeon (who is one of the top thoracic surgeons in Michigan) in the face and asked "Are you good?" and he calmly responded, "Yes I am."

The next thing I remember was waking up in a cold room with tubes and wires coming from me and an odd sensation overtaking my body! The nurse told me that I had just had open heart surgery (double bypass) and asked how I was feeling.

I laughed!!

Yes, laughed! I thought that there was no way that this was happening to me! I was a healthy 32 year old woman with no heart issues ever!

I remember everything as it was yesterday, my family and friends by my side, my poor husband throwing up in the bathroom and having some sympathy chest pains of his own (they actually had to take him down to have a EKG) He just loves me that much! :) and all the wonderful nurses and doctors that took care of me! I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Meijer Heart Center. They truly have an amazing facility, employees and doctors that care and are there to help.

I wound up having another heart attack on the 13th of December and they were able to stint that, which was another blessing!

My dad didn't leave my side for three straight days and nights after that, he slept in those awful lounge chairs that sort of recline, and kept his eye on my monitors. I am tearing up right now thinking about him and how much I love my dad and needed him during this time. I love all my family and friends for helping me and being there for me. My mother in law kept my son for two weeks, while I was in the hospital and took care of him along with my daughter. Bless her and my sister in law who was also there to help.

I was not able to hold my little boy until I was able to sit in a chair and was disconnected from certain tubes, which was about 6 days later.

THAT was the hardest part of everything!!

My heart attacks were due to a hormone in a pregnant womans body that is released about two weeks before birth. It helps soften the soft tissues, in which this case were my arteries, and makes your hips flexible and all that fun, wonderful stuff that happens during childbirth.

This is rare for all those who are reading this and are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant.

And please take into consideration that I do not do things the easy way....

EVER!!! :)

I thank God everyday for giving me this second chance and I know that I am far from perfect and I have those days when I complain or I am angry at something or find myself feeling sorry for myself and that is when I look at this.......

and try to remind myself what is important and try to move past whatever it is that clouds my heart!

I wanted to do something different and I hope that it is ok with Sue from Beach Bungalow!

You see Sue gave me a blogger award, which I thank you so much Sue, it really means a lot that you would think of me!! You should visit her blog, it is full of love and inspirations! She is the sweetest and will make you feel right at home!

I was asked to share 8 things about myself and I wanted to share with you 8 things that I hold close to my heart that came from this little ordeal! :)

1. We are not invincible! I know that I would feel like bad things would not happen to me but there is no guarantee that we will be here tomorrow.

2. Life is WAY too short!! Enjoy every single moment!

3. During times like this friends and family are one in the same and mean so much!!

4. God has a plan for me. (Not sure what it is yet, but I am sure that one day I will know what it is)

5. Always thank your nurses and doctors, the things that they had to do.....that is why I am not in that line of work! :)

6. It is ok to feel sad, mad, glad, irritated and to complain, we are only human. But, always keep in mind what is important and what really matters at the end of the day.

7. Forgive.

8. No matter what you believe, we are all the same on the inside, treat others as you would want to be treated, it is you that you have to live with.

Sorry this was long, but I wanted to share with you a bit more of who I am, and that time played a huge part!

Have a great weekend, I am currently doing my last craft show!!