March 11, 2006 was Saturday

This day in 2006, I still remained in the hospital. Had visitors in and out. My open heart surgery was scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday. Looking back, maybe they wanted to get in what they thought might be their last words to me. A friend, later on said, she thought they were going to lose me. Well, I had other plans.

On this particular day, Bear was one of the last visitors. Turns out Bear was kinda ticked at me. Why? Well, because I didn't tell him first thing I was in the hospital. I'd been there a week before I told him. Bear felt because of our past, I would have told him. Well, in my opinion, because of our past is why I didn't tell him. At that moment in time, Bear and I had little to do with each other, for weeks and months. Why would I want to share anything with him? Yet, I knew it was the right thing to do. I knew Bear would pray for me, and I needed all the prayers I could get!

I recall, I sat in a chair, donned in my faded hospital gown while Bear sat across from me. We've never spoken of what he thought that day. Looking back, I do believe Bear was scared. Except for the gown and being in a hospital and getting my BP checked about every hour, I was still me. Bear had a hard time with my illness--as time wore on, to a degree, I think he still does. You see, his dad passed away of heart issues at a young 58. There are times I wonder if Bear sees his Dad in me--which is only something Bear can answer. I've tried to reassure him of my health...

Fast forward to this day in 2010. Another gorgeous almost Spring Day. Received some good words from my classmates in this online class I'm in. That made me feel good. Gotta get my trash to the curb, chow on some salad, pet a cat and settle down to my Thursday TV watching--this is a night for me.

I am blessed.

March 8, 2006 was Wednesday

On this day in 2006, a doctor, who would definitely not be confused with any Doctor McDreamy from Gray's Anatomy, bounced into hospital room and blurted, "I've got good news for you! You're surgery is Monday!"

I looked at him and asked, "What's the good news in that?"

He looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. The good doctor explained the surgery would get me fixed up and out of there. With that he exited, as I sat there to digest his words. Yet, he was back in less than 5 minutes.

Turns out there were too many surgeries on Monday, so I was pushed back until Tuesday. And with that, the doctor left again. I sat there. Wished he'd come back and tell me all this was just a big joke. How my eight days (and counting) in the hospital was just a way to keep me away from sampling all the Blue Bell Ice Cream in Dallas....

Alas not to be. So, now I had six days to ponder my date with a scalpel and whatever would be needed for my open heart surgery to repair or replace my mitral valve. A valve I didn't even know existed until a week before.

That's what I get for not paying enough attention in my 6th Grade Life Science class...:)

Fast forward to 2010. Gotta paper that must sparkle for my college instructor, then I'll pet a cat or two, munch a salad topped with Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette dressing (YUM!) and then off to my church, Inspiring Body of Christ Church, to help celebrate Pastor Rickie Rush's 50th birthday and count down to my own birthday in 31 days...

I am blessed.

Wednesday Road Trip

I go to Wal-mart. And I know not everybody does, but I do. There are locations I like better than others. Tonight I journeyed to the one I like best. The problem is, this Wal-mart is by the apartment where I use to live. It's the Wal-mart, where I frequented, especially the day I was sprung from the hospital, almost four years.

Yep, the day Movie Man picked me up and I inhaled my fresh air for the first time in three weeks, and we headed to this location to get my meds and groceries. That was the day, plus a couple others, I drove the little cart in the Wal-mart. Ran over everything-people and shelves as we made our way to the pharmacy. Yes, people did laughed.

To get to the point, today I drove a good 15 miles--(more miles when I drove back to my house) to get to this Wal-mart. Sure, I have one just down the road from my house--NO. Then one, right by work-MAYBE. So, knew I had gas in my Pumpkin so off to the Wal-mart I LIKE, I zipped. The speed limit is 70 mph, so there in now time. The speed limit also prevented my Blue Bell Butter Pecan Ice Cream to melt....

I digress.

The point is, this Wal-mart has been remodeled. I LIKED it before it got gussied up. Now I LIKE it even more! Clean, wide aisles, bright and just inviting. I told the cashier, I didn't live in that part of town anymore, but this was my favorite Wal-mart, and I had to visit it. She smiled and said, "It is very pretty, isn't it?"

So if you will excuse me, I have ice cream to savor --and yes, I drank ALL my water today--and my ponder of the next 'roll back' to the old neighborhood...

February 28, 2006 was Tuesday

Remember it well. After spending all of the 27th day and night in the ER, and having a MRI or was it a CT scan?--it doesn't matter I had them both--first thing the morning of the 28th, I was taken to a 9th floor room in the hospital. "Neurology: was on a sign to welcome me. My speech was hit, miss and slurred. Once in my room, a nurse figured I'd had a stroke. She told me this as she put down my breakfast tray, gown and readied me for an IV.

Petrified.

At that point, nobody knew where I was. Looking back, I had an emergency contact. My best friend. She was not notified.

The stroke, was not really a stroke, yet a symptom of endocardities. A piece of that infection broke off and traveled to my brain. My brain burped as the Neuro Doc said, hence my speech became hit,miss and slurred.

The endocarditis damaged my mitral valve-until this adventure I had no idea we even had such a thing-so it needed to be replaced. My scar reminds me everyday.

I left the hospital on March 24, 2006

Fast forward to 2009. I'm headed to Winstar Casino in Oklahoma. To try my luck on the penny slots---yea, I live dangerously--

Some folks think I already have.

I am blessed.