I was all set to have a great weekend. Friday night I drove by Walmart and picked up more moisture management clothing to be ready for a Saturday morning run. The weather forecast called for milder temperatures with much lower humidity. It would be sunny with blue sky and fluffy white clouds. But it wasn't meant to be. I came down with a case of the flu. I got up that morning early with urgency and spent the whole morning in the toilet. I had a temperature and chills. I didn't even get to do this at home. I had no one to work for me so I went on in to work and did my regular shift. Mercifully I got home just after midnight and got a little rest. About 3:30am, I had to get out of bed for the bathroom. This is after 6 doses of Pepto-Bismol, and 16mg of Loperamide. I lay in bed this morning while the Grandboys played in my living room. Just as they were leaving I ventured up to make my way outside to tell them bye. Then I did my best to toughen up so I can get in this final day of work at COOSA. So I am here. Two of the prettiest days you will ever have in August, lost to me.
On July 31st, I died.... After having several weeks of discomfort in my neck and jawline, I made an appointment to see my PCP to determine what was going on. The consensus seemed to center around a gall bladder problem. But he suggested that we should rule out cardiac. Once I got over to the hospital, I had a wait of 20 minutes or more before I was sent up to my room. Immediately I was taken for a chest x-ray. Once I got back I saw my nurse and the lab tech were there and I lay down to let her get the blood. As I leaned back, I felt a wave of nausea and everything went quiet and dark. I became aware again after a short period of time, I'm unsure how long. and from there it was a lengthy process to be transported to Grandview where I received a heart catherization and ultimately, bypass grafts. It was literally like hitting the off switch on your computer.