Side-stepping death for now................................

I have (at least) one more thing I want to share about the weekend, but I want to put it aside because my gut is telling me to share about a couple of other people. Since the last time I ignored it I almost ran out of gas, I figured I had better listen, even though I don't understand why I am suppose to share.

The phone rang the other day, and it was one of the marketing people that come out and visit me on a regular basis to assure that if I need home care services for a resident I will pick her company. She is a very sweet person. For this story, you also need to know that she is also in good physical shape. She began by apologizing for not having been out as of late. Seems she had been in the hospital dealing with some serious medical issues concerning her lungs. She continued to tell me that it began with her being out of breath when going up the stairs, or getting more and more winded while she was running. As we all do, she ignored it thinking it was seasonal alergies or something else that would clear up on it's own. When she FINALLY gave in and went to the hospital emergancy, she was told had she waited a few more hours, she would not be with us today.

The night before last, the phone rang and it was my brother calling to tell me that my sister had had a heart attack. (She is fifty-four years old.) I instantly got angry (Remember anger is just a cover for fear, but my fear spilled out in anger.) (About) a month ago, she called me (I guess I should tell you they both live several states away from me.) because she was really "sick with the flu." I had her discribe the symptoms to me, and I tried to convince her I thought she could be having a heart attack. (Sorry for the interuption, but our oldest brother dropped dead from a massage heart attack at age fifty-two, and she also has other risk factors.) I tried to tell her that warning signs are different for women than men, and most women don't have the typical sign we all know; the radiating pain down the left arm. I tried to get her to hang up and call 911, but her fear got her angry at me. I finally convinced her to let me at least call her son and have him come and check on her and she agreed to this. She ended up feeling better in a day or two and never ended up going to see anyone about the symptoms. (And yes, she was still talking to me, even though she said I worried her son for nothing.)

The symptoms of her heart attack were EXACTLY the same as she had prior, (Discribed as a BAD case of the flu.) only this time she said she was also cold and clammy. She said she had very little pain. Of course, in spite of feeling ill, she still went to her job as a teacher. They made her go home, and yet she waited and waited, finally driving herself to the doctor twelve hours after having the first symptom. (This part is funny, I think) The doctor comes into her room and says "I don't want to worry you, but I have an ambulance waiting outside to take you to the hospital. You are having a heart attack. My sister's response. "Well, how much is that going to cost me? I am trying to make double car payments each month." (Yup! Were related!)

Why my anger/fear? Because had my sister listened to her body (and/or me..... The first words out her mouth to my brother were "Patty is going to say I told you so.") and been checked out for heart trouble, she might have been spared the pain and heart damage she suffered two days ago. I am not ready to loose my sister. I am especially not ready to loose her when it can be prevented, and can freely admit the idea terrifies me.

A while back, my yoga instructor shared a really great quote with me. I finally remembered to ask her who the author was, so I could share the quote, and give credit to the author. She sent it to me, and I accidentally deleted the e-mail, so I still can't give credit to the author. (Sorry!) Here is the quote:

"If we don't take care of our bodies, where will we live?"

Pretty powerful stuff if one listens to what the quote is saying.

As I said in the beginnning, I am not sure why the insistance was all given to me to share with you. If there is one person reading this that keeps pushing back that nagging feeling "that something is wrong," please listen to it. Not be scared or worried about it, just listen and then do what you are led to do. Maybe you are meant to act on it so you will meet a really great person that will change your world for the better. Maybe you will meet someone that needs your help. Maybe ______________. (You fill in the blank.)

As a whole, women tend to be care takers of everyone but themselves. Another thing that was stressed at the training was the fact that if we don't take care of ourselves, we are not going to be good to anyone else. Instead of listening, we often put things off saying "I'll just do this, and then I will take time for me." Problem is, the just doing this usually ends up being one more thing, and one more thing, and....................

So.............. It is out there, do with the information what you need to do, and if I can help in any way, please let me know.