I’ve been hauling my “Girl Scout” bag with me forever. It’s always loaded with toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, brush, first aid supplies, including an a extra inhaler for me, plus other necessities like flashlights, tissues, etc. This bag goes on all school trips, all scouting events & is refilled often. My bag was filled with a clean shirt, snacks, change, a little cash & extra phone charger & I was off to the hospital. Alone, but with thoughts of another heart attack.
My instructions were to go to Mercy ER, that’s it. The 90 minutes drive gave me time to think back to Lloyd’s first heart attack in November 2004. He had called me on the road after leaving a doctor 20 miles from home. The road was hilly, cell reception was dropping the call. He kept calling and I would hear “heart…”…..”heart”…..”hurt”…”hear”..”help.”
When I figured it out, I blurted out for him to pull over and I would send an ambulance. He thought it was heartburn, but he would keep driving. I was not going to win an argument with him. I dialed 911 & explained the situation & said by this time he had to be close to the city limits, gave the description of the car.
I left work, calling him & didn’t get an answer. I was sure he had wrecked. I went to the hospital & saw his vehicle. He had driven himself & beaten me there. I called the 911 operator to let them know he was at ER.
It was a severe heart attack. A Cath lab was needed. No helicopter could fly due to the fog. We waited for ground transportation.
This time, the helicopter flew. I was worried, but yet I was stronger than 14 years ago. My knowledge of medical jargon had increased over the years & I had also learned to be more vocal, even demanding, if necessary, to find our what is happening.
Driving at this night gave me an odd, eerie feeling that I was all alone on the highway. I was so mesmerized in my thoughts and by the sound of the tires pounding the pavement that I barely noticed the flashing lights of the upcoming stop light just miles from the hospital.
The time went quickly and I arrived at ER. They had a guide direct me to the Cath lab where two cardiologists were waiting for me. I instantly liked their warm, friendly banter with each other discussing which one was more advanced in age. They were both the same age to me. I believe their attempt to put me at ease did just that as I giggled at them before our discussion took a more serious turn. Lloyd was 100% blocked on his LAD. I knew this was commonly called the widow maker heart attack, and I paled with fear knowing that many have not survived.
They showed me the pictures from the cath & explained the procedure of his new stents. He would stay at Mercy for a few days.
The nurses on the cardiac wing are some of the best I’ve ever seen. When I saw the tattoo of a heartbeat rhythm on one of Lloyd’s first nurses forearm, I absolutely knew that the cardiac nurses took their jobs extremely serious & we were at the best possible place for care. They brought a cot for me to stay right next to his bed & meals could be ordered in the room for an extra $6.
Journey By Eskew 