February 28. 2006 was Tuesday

And on the morning of this day in 2006, I'd been wheelchaired to the 9th Floor, aka the Neurology Floor. I guess that meant I wasn't going home any time soon. A nurse came in and told me her name was Carolyn. In her arms were a gown and a breakfast tray. I hadn't eaten anything since the morning before. I reckoned the IV's stuck into my arm, during my wondrous stay in ER, amongst folks that coughed and gagged and nobody in my court even knew I was there, musta curbed any hunger I might had.

Hungry now tho. Carolyn told me to change into the gown-yea, I wasn't going anything where THAT day-and eat my breakfast. Carolyn said she'd be back in minute because she forget the thingy to take my blood pressure. I sat in defiance to not put on the hospital garb.

In a flash, Carolyn was back as I buttered my toast. As she pumped up the blood pressure cup, Carolyn said, "I bet you had a stroke. Uh-huh. I bet you did."

I stopped in mid-chew of my toast. What? After Carolyn's diagnosis and blood pressure check, she then ordered me to put on the gown.

Any appetite was gone. Carolyn left as a parade of doctors entered. A neurologist and his students stood before me. I heard clear speech in my head, unfortunately, it wasn't so clear coming from my mouth. The neurologist, who within 30 seconds I knew I couldn't stand, gave me simple directions to do--well, on a normal day anyway. Today wasn't so normal. I was informed I had a stroke and you want me to touch my nose with one hand and tug my ear with the other?

I couldn't do it. Then the doctor wanted me to say "Huckleberry". I heard him, but couldn't muster to say the word. Who says "huckleberry, " anyway? Due to my failure of those two non-Olympic tasks, the doctor figured I just couldn't understand the tests ahead for me.

Wrong.


OK. Fast forward to this day in 2010. Why is it Pastor Rickie Rush, of IBOC, had a message so right up my alley? How the gifts YOU think you have just effect you, while God's gifts to you effect everybody? Pastor used his desire to be a lawyer and started college as such, for an example. As he went on, he realize it wasn't what he was gifted with. I can so relate to that. I made a decision to go to not one, but two travel schools, because I loved geography and thought it would be cool to send folks traveling, if I couldn't do it myself.

Wrong.

Pastor Rush also spoke there may be a period of separation from those you may hold dear. But the thing is, they may stand in the way of your gift, because you do hold them so dear. You love them, yet they have issues with you trying to get somewhere. I instantly thought of three people, and thought of the separation between us. I fathomed it must be all for a good thing. And the woman beside me said I felt the message, I am anointed and remember God's arm is around me. Well, me thinks I need both arms...

Anyway, I got long winded and do not apologize for it. Got words in my mouth so I say 'em, because I can and there was a time I thought I never would again.

I am blessed.

February 27, 2006 was Monday

On this day in 2006, I was wheeled into the ER at approximately 11am. I didn't leave until 7:30 the next morning when I was taken, cot and all to have a CT Scan. Got paranoid as I had to lie still. After about a half hour or so there, I was wheelchaired to the elevator, which stopped on the 9th floor of the hospital. As the elevator opened, I bout bust an artery when I saw "Neurology" on the 9th Floor. And nobody--friends or family knew where I was.

Little did I know I wouldn't leave until March 24, 2006.

Fast forward to this day in 2010. Sun shines. Cat is in the open window. I'm headed to a chum's Bridal Shower. The same chum who sat with me, for hours on end, in the hospital. This chum admitted she feared I wouldn't make it.

Well, I'm still here.

I'm not the most traditional person when it comes to showers, so since my chum asked for a peach pie--I baked one. It's cooling now.

So if you excuse me, I gotta go get ready.

More life left to be lived.

I am blessed.

March 13, 2006 was Monday

You remember it well.
Twas the eve of your open-heart surgery.
To repair or replace your heart's mitral valve.
You didn't even know such a thing existed.
Only until much blood, tests and x-rays were taken.
Even then your neurologist said, "There's nothing wrong with you. Why are you here?"
But there were lesions on your brain. Why?
Endocarditis.
A disease you never knew existed until that moment.
That's what you get for no grade "A" in 6th Grade Life Science.
Bored, yet eager to get on with it.
Had to wait 6 days til your date with the surgeon.
Sat in the hospital. Made friends with nurses and some doctors.
Chums call and visit. Flowers arrive.
The last person to see you this night was Movie Man.
He stayed until 9 pm or so.
You walk him to the elevator, your arm thru his.
Movie Man has on real clothes, while you in faded, hospital gowns.
Would pay ransom to have on real clothes and leave this place.
Tears and fright cloud Movie Man's eyes.
You smile to console and reassure him that
You'll see him soon.
A hug seals the deal and Movie Man gets on the elevator.
You tell him again that you'll be OK.
Your eyes lock as the doors close.
You stand still and wipe your own eyes.
Then turn and walk back to your room.
You repeat your mantra: Psalms 50:15
Promise to give Him all your troubles.
He will rescue you.
Just give Him the glory.
Tomorrow life will change
You are blessed.

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.