One Hour……..
February 28, 2023 was typical Saturday. I was a bit tired from the work week. But went about my day as normal. I noticed I was a bit more tired than normal and serious jaw pain. I tossed it up to stress. Went to Hobby Lobby and purchased new yarn. I love new yarn for new crochet projects. I saw the old fashioned lemon drops at the check-out counter. They are sour and figured maybe that will elevate the jaw pain. Salvia glands can dry out with stress on top of benadryl! I carry on my day. Suddenly, the jaw pain became intense. So, I dig into the medicine cabinet and found a hydrocodone, from previous appendectomy a few months earlier, and took it. Sit down and begin to crochet my new project. After an hour, the pain was less intense but still in pain. I jump into a hot shower in hopes the pain would subside with the heat. No luck but while in the shower, I did feel a bit faint. I assumed it was due to the pain medicine. I get out, change into my jammies and lay down. I don’t know why but something kept me from closing my eyes. I call my sister to pick me up and take me to the ER. I assumed it was stress and perhaps I had a TMJ or an infected jaw issue.
Upon arriving at the hospital, I was quickly admitted after explaining my symptoms. It was not busy so I didn’t think much about it. ER Physician sees me and gets me set up with an IV and IV pain medications to help reduce my pain and in-turn my blood pressure. He states he is going to run an EKG just in case. I thought to myself, seriously? I told him he was being over dramatic. He looked at me and said well, do you mind and I said, sure. But you are so being over dramatic. Meanwhile I am talking to my sister and laughing. I remember telling her, they are so over dramatic. I just want the jaw pain to go away and back home. I have things to do LOL. Physician comes in and tells me i am having a heart attack. I looked at him and told him he was being way over dramatic. By this time, he was not happy with my jokes. He told me “you are having a heart attack and THAT’S THAT” and stormed out. So, I am sitting there thinking, okay buster. Then he tells my sister he’s called the helicopter to transport me to the larger hospital.
By that time, here come the team of nurses, the pilots, the entire ER ward. It was so busy and so many things happening at once. I had to stay focused in my strength and humor. I’m being fed aspirin, by the handful (it seems) and me having to take off all of my clothes and into the hospital gown. I have a catheter placed, two IV’s, pain meds (which were kicking in) and really assisted with the pain. However, during the entire process of chaos, the ER Physician comes back to me. He tells me and my sister, YOU have ONE HOUR. ONE HOUR to live. It sunk in somewhat but I am still, in my mind, thinking this ER doc is really dramatic. But a part of me was scared. So, I tear up and ask my sister to call our mom. She looks at me and says it will be okay as she’s my eyes tear up. But I never once was scared or should I say, I was for a split second. I don’t know who or what shielded my spirit but I couldn’t go there.
So, the pilot’s come and get me. I am shuffled through the hospital. As I am moving through the sections, I glance and notice nurses and people staring. I am thinking, what kind of contraption stretcher am I on. I had these huge ear muffs on to cancel the flight noise, no makeup. I can bet I looked like a true freak of nature.
I’m loaded into the helicopter and i can hear the pilot’s and radio chatter. Again, I hear “one hour” and I couldn’t get that out of my head. After a few minutes, the helicopter nurse leans over and talks to me inside my headset. He reassures me that we will make it and not lose time in the one-hour window. I asked him, what is that? What is a “one-hour window”? I am assuming it’s a flight safety issue, etc. I was not expecting what he said next. He said to me very calmly and reassuring, “you have one hour to live. If we can’t get you to the hospital quickly, the doctor will have a very short window to save your life. One hour is the max time to survive a heart attack as it is happening. You are very lucky you came when you did. So, let’s conquer the one hour.” Now, imagine being on that stretcher, in a helicopter, seeing the city lights flicker as you look around and make sense of what I just heard. So, as I am laying there I am thinking, one hour. I kept repeating that in my mind. The reality hits you. It was like a movie because you hear the words, but you can’t panic. You have to remain strong, brave and beat this! I’m not one to back down to a challenge. But, as it sinks into your mind, you begin to think. One hour! I may never hug my son again, my dogs, my sisters, my loved ones. Or will my dad, grandparents and friends see me soon in heaven? the 15 minute helicopter flight, made me think of my life (past and present) and i have one hour. All of the stress, the need for control, all left my soul. Two words transformed my mind and heart in 15 minutes. ONE HOUR.
Upon arrival, there is an entire team waiting for me. I am asked to do nothing other than lay there and relax as much as possible. They inject my IV with some type of muscle relax drug or something because i felt relaxed. I still had jaw pain, but my focus was not on that pain. My focus changed to the noise, the conversations, etc. I wanted to hear what the doctor was saying and of course, she wasted no time talking to me. But, in the middle of all that chaos, I am thinking. These could be the last people I see. I was scared and I asked a male nurse, who was there speaking to me, to hold my hand. I needed something to guide my life that I could physically hold. Soon, I noticed my jaw pain was completely gone. That is all I remember. The next few days were very blurry. After coming to norm and in a regular room, after ICU a few days) i was told of what happened. A widow maker. A widowmaker heart attack. 12% of people survive. I conquered the ONE HOUR. It felt like a dream. I kept telling myself, don’t think about the damage. You conquered that ONE HOUR. Don’t focus on the damage, focus on the new.
ONE Hour. Ask yourself, ONE HOUR to live. What are you going to do? What is important in life? Prior to the event, I would stress about everything.
I am so grateful I was able to survive and for the hospital, nurses and cardiologist.