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| While Scott admired his cattle, I admired the evening sky. |
Phone call from my sister Karen this morning:
“Are you sitting down? I’ve got some bad news.”
My mind races. Who has died? Has my nephew's wedding been called off? What?
“Gary’s had a heart attack.”
Gary, Gary. Do I know a Gary? Funny how the mind goes almost numb. Of course, our sister Joan’s Gary. Our Gary.
“He was in Prince George and he’s in Vancouver now; they did an angioplasty during the night and Joan and the kids and Gary's mom are going out there in two hours. He'll have two more stints put in on Monday.”
I went for my walk, came home and made breakfast and coffee, and called Joan. She’s all right, but they’re driving and she’d like to get there faster, worried he could have another heart attack before she sees him, although the medical staff thinks the major problem has been taken care of.
Just a short while ago he had a complete physical and was told he had an 8% chance of heart problems developing in the next 10 years. Could stand to lose a bit of weight, they said, but gave him a clean bill of health.
How’s that for doctors knowing what they’re talking about.
Gary is only in his mid forties.
***
And now, I'm off with my former husband to get Emil packed up for Camp Easter Seal.
I've heard about people having complete physicals, being given a clean bill of health, and having a stroke or a heart attack very quickly after. I've always wondered how the medics can overlook it, but it seems they do.
ReplyDeleteI hope Gary will be okay. It's another crisis you don't need, and my thoughts will be with you.
Enjoy packing for Emil, and I hope he will enjoy that great camp! xx
It sounds like they think he will be fine, but Dad said "They're already giving him the lifestyle-change lecture."
ReplyDeleteIt frightening to think of a seemingly healthy man of his age having a heart attack. I hope he does well.
ReplyDeleteMy husband had a heart attack in his 40s and strangely enough, so did my dad
ReplyDeleteMy dad lived to be 82 (ish)
and so far so good for John (I even hate to put it in writing). He's on medication and has been since then. He's 56 now. He quit smoking back then and still struggles with his weight.
But, anyway, send my best thoughts to your sister and her family...it is scary times that I would not like to go through again.