BREATHE!

            “How do you ever sleep again, once your spouse has suffered a heart attack and is now home with you? I feel so responsible for his wellbeing, now that he is lying here with me… no nurse, no call button no machine monitoring all aspects of wellbeing, no sense of security that a hospital offers. I’m just not sure I will sleep, or as soundly as I’d like. :::sigh:::” ANH

 

What a profound statement. This was the reaction of a friend when her husband came home from the hospital after suffering a heart attack.

When I read this, it really hit me. How do you ever sleep again? In an instant, your whole world has changed forever.

BREATHE!

Sometimes life doesn’t go as we planned. A heart attack, a loss of a loved one, a disability. These can all be devastating. You feel paralyzed Why is this happening? A million thoughts go through your head. What if this happens? What if that happens? How am I going to get through this?

BREATHE!

Take a few minute to just sit and collect your thoughts. Write down what you are thinking. Make a list of questions you have for the medical professionals. Talk to the doctors, the nurses, the therapists. Talk to others who have been through it.  They can give you a been there done that perspective on things. Gather as much information as you can from anywhere you can. You can do this!

BREATHE!

There is a saying, “You never know what you can do unless you have to do it.” You have to find a way to get through this. This is your “new normal”. Create a support system to lean on and use it. You will be surprised how many people are willing to help. Things will be okay. You got this.

 

                                                 BREATHE!                                                

In my case, I was born in 1966. My mother was 43 and my father was 46. This was considered old to have a baby at the time. My father was mad at himself because he didn’t think that my mother needed to be pregnant at the time. My mother was concerned about her own health and my health as well.

For one of my college classes, I had to write an autobiography. This was a great experience for me. Being the youngest of five ranging in age from birth to twenty - three at the time I was born, I was able to get insight from them, as well as my parents.

My two older siblings were in seminary and college at the time I was born. My brother in seminary expressed concern for both of my parent wondering how they would be able to handle the pregnancy given our parents ages. When I was born, it was discovered I had Spina Bifida. This was devastating news to my whole family. What now?

BREATH!

At the time of my birth, the medical community was still working on developing treatments for infants born with Spina Bifida. I was born with the normal complications of Spina Bifida, open spine, bowel and bladder incontinence, orthopedic problems. In addition to these issues, I was also born with hydrocephalus (build-up of cerebral spinal fluid in my skull). This issue does not affect every child born with Spina Bifida. 

Things were touch and go for quite a while. I was in pretty bad shape. I had spine surgery almost immediately after I was born, I had a shunt placed in my head to control the hydrocephalus. This had to be replaced a few days after it was placed due to a malfunction. I even stopped breathing once. I was told a member of the medical staff had to perform CPR on me.

Things in life don’t always go as we planned, but there is always a way to get through them. Family, friend, loved ones and of course faith in God will always see you through the dark times. Just step back, take it all in. Things will be okay.

BREATHE!

I followed up with my friend about her husband’s condition. She told me that he has some degree of depression and anxiety. The doctor said this is normal for what he (they) have gone through. She also said that this has been a life altering experience, but they are getting through it. Amen.