Earthquakes and a heart attack, all within days of each other. There is nothing quite like someone close to you suffering a heart attack to put a little old earthquake into perspective, among other things...
While Christchurch was facing the aftermath & aftershocks of the earthquake, I found myself face to face with mortality.
At around 12.30am last Wednesday morning I found myself with an Ambulance in my driveway & paramedics in my lounge. My partner Allan (known to some of you as the mailleman) was, very calmly, in the throes of having a heart attack. It's not really possible to describe how someone can 'calmly' have a heart attack, but he did. His controlled manner, even when I could see & hear he was in considerable pain, kept me calm & thinking clear enough to do everything I needed to do quickly & efficiently without giving way to the panic that was quickly rising in every fibre of my body.
To be honest I didn't need to do much apart from make the choice of not listening to his request of 'dropping him off at Accident & Emergency because he had a chest pain' & instead dial 111.
I can't praise the manner & actions of the emergency operator & the paramedics highly enough.Thanks to everyone concerned he was in hospital & being treated within 30 minutes of the first pain which had woken him from sleep. Within 12 hours he had undergone an angioplasty & had a stent placed in the left anterior descending artery to his heart.
He's recovered so well from this that he came home on Friday, with a new lease of life.....
Why am I writing about this here, you may ask. Simply because I have been somewhat preoccupied, inconsistent in responding to emails & answering questions, remembering to publish blog comments & pretty much everything in between. My mind it seems has turned into mush, I have the concentration span of a gnat & less focus than a blindfolded bat. I know that I'm in a state of serious forgetfulness when I forget one of the first dances I learned at dancing & fail to notice red lights!!
My apologies in advance for any vagueness people may encounter .
I'm hoping it's temporary :)
"Boom Boom Goes My Heart" - or as line dancers know it, "Chica Boom Boom"
You have both been through a stressful time. Rest and calm is what you both need. I hope he is doing well now, and that you can both take some much needed r & r.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb, just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and glad that Allan is recovering well. Hugs x
ReplyDeleteHi Deb, just read your comment about your partner, whew! Not nice is it, having sort of been there and done that, really feel for you and hope all is ok now.
ReplyDeleteOh Deb - I think that is enough now, huh?! It's time for you two to relax. I'm not surprised you are forgetful, it's like having PTS. It will pass but it will be awhile so please, just take it slow and steady...hug the mailleman a whole lot!
ReplyDeleteHoly Cow, Deb, you've been through a lot! I hope he's better now, and that things truly return to normal soon for you. How frightening that must have been for you both. I just can't imagine. Hugs to you both!
ReplyDeleteHey thanks everyone for your lovely comments!
ReplyDeleteAllan is doing well...really well!! He's like a new man & when he's allowed to drive again & exercise a bit more than the 'taking it easy restrictions' they have placed on him he'll be a happier new man.lol!
He reckons at the distance he's allowed to walk on the treadmill daily right now - it would take him 22 days to walk to work.lol! During summer he was walking 11kms (about 6.9 miles) per day.
omg dear Deb, it´s such a long time I was on your blog and you had so much stress - I hope that things will get to normal and you two will enjoy a new way of life less stressful.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of you both,
xxxxoox Manuela