Jeanne’s Essay

My day started out like any other day with my husband driving me to work on his day off. The night before I had some chest pains that I thought were just acid reflux heartburn pains and it had improved the next morning but excruciating pain started when we were halfway there. I could hardly breathe. The pain continued to get worse. My husband turned around and, instead of pulling in a parking lot and calling an ambulance, we chose to drive to the nearest hospital; which is what too many people do in not realizing what’s happening. I had just had a good checkup 4 months earlier. He had to drive almost on the curb to get through the traffic. We reached the hospital and they took me immediately to the surgery area. Previously; I had 3 stents and now this heart attack. When I was told I needed bypass surgery; it really scared me. I took to the computer immediately and searched heart surgery. I found one article that mentioned it could be done through the side ribs – so being motivated by fear, I asked my Cardiologist if he could do it that way and he said “no” I’m sorry but you need the open chest procedure.

Checking in the morning of the surgery was one of the things in my life I will never forget. Saying goodbyes to my husband, my children and my grandchildren cannot be fully understood unless you have walked in those shoes, just the same as in many of life’s circumstances. With lips quivering; I remember being wheeled into the room and trying to imagine my hand in the Lord’s. My surgery went perfectly; but later I had a rare bad experience with a woman working in the Intensive Care section. She did not realize or just failed to tell me how to press the pain button. She had me sit up and said “and don’t you scream”. I never even spoke while lying there. No one knew the pain I was suffering. Later, I told the hospital about the incident and they knew the person on duty. Hopefully and prayerfully, she will not experience lack of compassionate care in her life.

What miracles are done every day in the field of heart surgeries! We live in a miraculous country and time. I had a long recovery but; with the heart rehab provided, I came out a more thankful for life person than ever before. I joined Mended Hearts and visited several people giving them and their family members hope and strength. I am seven years past surgery and, after every yearly checkup, I still cannot fathom the depth of my miracle!