Picture courtesy of www.123rf.com
This is not the post that I intended to write this week. I planned to write a humorous post about how quiet our house is now that our light and sound ornaments no longer work with the bulbs on our pre-lit tree. Spending Sunday in the Emergency Room with my husband changed that.
Sunday morning, my hubby mentioned that he wasn’t feeling well. When pushed to define what that meant, he admitted to having “discomfort” in his chest and that he felt light-headed. With his family history, I decided that a trip to the ER was in order. A possible over-reaction on my part, but potential heart problems and Christmas make me nervous. You see, this Christmas day will mark the twentieth anniversary of my father-in-law’s death. He suffered from major heart problems for twenty-plus years, culminating in a heart transplant. He also passed his heart problems on to his three sons; my husband is the middle child.
Allen, my husband’s oldest brother, passed away in September 2013 from complications following heart surgery; he was 59. While there are always risks involved in such operations, a lifetime of alcohol and drug abuse did nothing to improve his chances of survival. Allen’s death was completely unexpected. He was so confident in the outcome of his surgery that he hadn’t even told his mother about the procedure. There is nothing quite like having to tell an unsuspecting elderly woman that her son is dead – that is an experience that I could have happily lived without.
Even more unexpected was the phone call that my husband received in February of this year. This call came from his younger brother; he was in the hospital and had just survived a heart attack. He was 49.
I know that my hubby has been more proactive with his cardiac care than either of his brothers; he is on medication for both high blood pressure and high cholesterol. But, I still worry. Now, I’m not saying that I lie awake at night, tossing and turning in fear but I do stay alert for anything out of the ordinary; anything that might indicate a problem.
At the time of this writing, it appears that all is well. All of my husband’s cardiac enzymes have been negative so far. If they stay that way, he should get to come home sometime on Monday, just in time to celebrate our wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve. Having my hubby at home – and healthy – will be the best gift that I receive this year.
I frequently allow myself to get too wrapped up in all of the “must-dos” of the season – I “must” send Christmas cards, I “must” find the “perfect” gifts, etc. I find myself stressing out instead of enjoying the love, joy, and peace that Christmas should bring. Sunday served as a much needed reminder that it is the people in our lives that are important, not the things.
This Christmas I will hold my loved ones a little bit tighter and count myself blessed for having them in my life. If you have read this far, I hope you will do the same.
Merry Christmas, my friends.
“Sunday served as a much needed reminder that it is the people in our lives that are important, not the things.”—So true. Your story is such a good reminder for all of us.
So glad things are looking okay. That is definitely a tough family history. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. I’m sure it will be that much more special now.
It will be, Carrie. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas as well!
Thanks.