FROM DEATH TO LIFE
Nearly 6 weeks ago now, I felt unwell.
Had 2 short stays in hospital but nothing was found.
After going home, I collapsed on the floor. Something must be wrong, wouldn’t you think? LOL!
A trip in the ambulance back to the hospital and action was immediate. Amazing how ambulances have that effect!
After more than a few tests, I ended up in a big room in ED, surrounded at a distance, by a group of medical people. Apparently, I was of interest to them. I couldn’t think why!
In strides the Cardiologist. He purposely comes over to me and says in a loud voice, “You’re dead”! The audience tittered, as it was not PC, in our modern PC world!
“Am I”, I said surprised!
“But I can help you”, I was so glad to hear.
“This is can what go wrong”. He told me 3 things.
Well, as I am dead, they seemed not to matter too much!
I signed the piece of paper with a signature I would never recognize again, and off he went.
After some local anaesthetic, He invaded my chest with a piece of wire, about 9” (20cm) long. Twisting his weapon round, he went through my chest into the sac (pericardium) that encloses the heart. “Most interesting”, thought I, watching the whole thing as if from a distance. But it was me!
Over this he placed a white tube attached to a syringe. Then he started sucking out my precious blood! A full litre of it! With each suck I felt lighter and better.
The tubes were then withdrawn. It was all over, and I had my life back again.
Quite a relief, as I hadn’t realized I was dead anyway!
Afterwards, I asked the Cardiologist, how many of these operations he had done.
“About 100 over 30 years of practise.” “And how many have gone wrong?”. “None”, he replied.
I am sure glad I wasn’t the first!
This show was over, and I went to the Ward for a 2 week stay.
For the medical amongst you I had had pericarditis, likely caused by pneumonia I had had a few weeks earlier.
Rest time 3 months, before I am allowed fully back into exertion. Ah well. At least I am alive when I was dead!
FROM ASLEEP TO AWAKE
Not being one who does things by halves, the next afternoon I took a snooze. Quite reasonable I thought with what I had been through!
I slept to pleasant dreams. And slept! And slept! It was a lovely sleep!
Others, however, didn’t share my pleasure. They thought I should wake up! Spoil sports!
An alarm was raised, and all the doctors came running.
They prodded me, punched me and couldn’t awaken me from my dreams. Finally, they put a needle in my wrist, which is most painful!
I gradually came to.
Questions followed. “Where are you, who am I what is your name and date of birth, and many more”
Finally, they realized I was as normal as I ever am and had not suffered a stroke.
For me, my beautiful sleep had been disturbed. Ah well, you can’t have everything, can you?
The rest of my stay was uneventful. Kathy and I are so grateful to the staff of Tauranga Hospital, and particularly the Cardiology Department. Your service could not be faulted. And, of course, to our Lord who oversaw all that happened to me.
May God bless you all.
I am here to fight another day, and to do what the Lord desires me to do.
