Well.....

2010 hasn't exactly gone the way I had hoped...BUT, I am still here! :-) I had hoped to keep more current on my blog, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, I just haven't had the energy nor the mindset.

On March 19th, I suffered my 8th heart attack. Looks like they came early this year as all but one of my heart attacks have been in April. Guess that's pretty normal for cardiac patients to gravitate towards the time their heart attacks first started happening.

I was driving home from a meeting I had in Lincoln when the chest pains started. I was pretty upset about how the meeting had gone and on my soapbox in my head about how there doesn't seem to be any justice left in the world today. I made it to Wahoo to get gas in my truck and was spraying Nitro under my tongue in hopes that this was just an episode, and if I could just get home and lie down, I'd be okay.

I had called my dear friend Barb when I left Lincoln and told her I was having chest pains and vented my frustration toward the meeting I had just had, but due to not many cell towers in the area, we were cut off. So I continued to drive. I made it past Meade and was about 5 miles from my home when I realized that this was not just a heart episode...it was the real deal, and it really hurt!

I tried to call Barb and let her know what was going on and to have an ambulance meet me at the Cubby's station in Yutan, but the connection on my cell was just too bad. I managed to get to Cubby's and called the ambulance. That was the longest ride of my life even though they were traveling under a code 3. Dang, I got all the bells and whistles and didn't get to enjoy the ride! :-)

At the time, I was not aware that my Blue-tooth was still on and I was connected with Barb. My heart goes out to her every time I think about what she must have been going through to be hearing everything going on, and not be able to help me. She heard them say they were taking me to Lakeside, and then called my sister Kathy. They arrived shortly after the ambulance brought me in and I was able to see them as they wheeled me into surgery. The stent they had put in last Spring was completely occluded.

I don't do well under the influence of drugs....so hopefully this will serve as a blanket apology to those who were on the receiving end of my trip to "La La Land"!

A day later, I swelled so bad and kept telling the nurses that my urine was brown. They kept telling me that it was just 'concentrated'. I knew better. They finally ran some labs and discovered that my liver was failing. At this point, I had visions of what my dad had gone through before he died. My poor sister Kathy said she didn't even recognize the person lying in the bed. My stomach had swelled to where I looked like I was pregnant, as my liver was enlarged and distended. I hate that my condition could cause so much pain and grief to those who love and care about me. The love and support I received from friends and family was incredible. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel to this day.

The docs got everything under control (so they thought) and released me only to have me show up back in ER 10 days later having my 9th heart attack. So I got to add yet another stent to my collection. :-) I was realeased and then back in the hospital on April 3 with more elevated heart enzymes. Luckily, this was not heart attack #10.

So here we are in May....so much has happened in between, but I'm still here trying to enjoy each day as it comes as you never know when it may be your last. Each day I count the many blessings God has given me, and most days there are far too many blessings to count. :-) I thank God for the love, joy, laughter, and yes, even the heart-aches He has placed in my life. "But for the Grace of God, there go I...."