Life Changing Experience

Have you ever had a life changing experience. Have you ever felt like your life was perfect? On June 21st, 2001, I felt as if I were living the perfect life. At least for a few moments that morning but unknown to me that day, my life was about to change forever. Just to take you back a few months before that day to show you why I felt I had the perfect life. I had gone thru a divorce a few years earlier and never thought I would meet anyone I could "trust" again, let alone fall in love with. Watch out when you're not looking girls! On November 21st, 2000 I met my best friend, Steve. Steve and I talked for hours the first night we met and I felt like I had know him forever. When I left after dinner that night, I knew in my heart I was going to marry him. Steve didn't know it, but he soon would! I was also a single mom raising my 6 year old daughter. Things were going so well, I didn't think life could be any more perfect. I had no idea at that time what I was about to face on June 21, 2001. On that morning, I woke up to find myself extemely bloated. I had been off work that entire week due to what doctors said was a bad "asthma" attack. That morning, however, things felt different. My face was puffy, I was extremely tired and I could not walk across my parents living room floor without needing to sit down and rest. I couldn't fit into my own clothes that morning as I was extremely bloated. I knew something wasn't right so I had my Dad take me to the emergency room. In the emergency room, I was greeted by a physician that I had worked for at one time. I'll never forget his words that day. He took one look at me and said, "Has anyone ever checked your heart?" I thought he was kidding. I mean, come on, I had been to doctors several times over the past 2 years with complaints of being tired and short of breath. Doctors told me I was doing too much and advised me to slow down. They also said I had asthma. I just "assumed" they knew what they were talking about and that they had covered all possible avenues. Sadly, I was mistaken. I had no idea at that time that fatigue and shortness of breath were symptoms of heart problems. If I had, I would have insisted they do a thorough check of my heart. That is what I advise anyone to do today! I told the ER doctor no one had ever checked my heart and that I was pretty sure I was just having a bad asthma attack. He knew better. After a few quick tests, he came in to my room with a look that said it all. I knew the news was not going to be good. Since I work in the medical field, I know medical terminology and once he told me the diagnosis, I was in shock. I thought he had to have gotten my results mixed up with another patient in the ER. This couldn't be me, could it? Up to this point, I had done everything right. I ate right, I exercised, I was at my best weight ever. I was fit and I was young. I learned very quickly that heart disease does not discriminate! The ER doctor told me I had congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy. My heart funtion was 5% at the time of my diagnosis and I was told I needed a heart transplant. The ER doctor asked me which cardiologist I would like to use and I didn't even know the name of one! I had never had to use a cardiologist. My perfect world quickly changed in just a few short minutes that morning. I felt as if I had stepped onto a roller coaster. I was being tossed from side to side and felt a rush in my face that made it difficult to breath. I never liked roller coasters! I remember calling Steve at work that morning from the ER and telling him I needed a heart transplant. Needless to say, he was in shock too. We had only been dating for 7 months so I realized at that point that he may not stick around for this. This was not the life neither of us had signed on for! I knew I needed him, but didn't know what he would do. My family was told, I could die at any moment and I was given just days to live.

To be continued......