Thank You, Everyone!

How wonderful to be back home where I can sleep through the night without being weighed, poked, pricked, stabbed, and roused from sweet dreams by intercoms and overhead lights. And how delightful to return home to my beautiful greeters who took the time to decorate for my homecoming!

Allison hung streamers and colorful balloons while Jude wrote me a welcome home sign. I was presented with two small bags of peanut M&Ms, stating it was Memaw's turn to have the treat. Then, Baylee quickly asked, "Will Memaw share?" Yes, of course I shared. Sophia was just happy to see us, as usual, clinging to both Papa and me.

I had some meaningful get well cards and e-mails, lots of phone calls and special visitors. Thomas accompanied his Dad to the emergency room and promptly filled in the doctor as to my condition. "Memaw is a little bit, uh, old, and she eats a lot of chocolate." Had I consulted Thomas first I could have saved myself a lot of money. Another Thomasism as he studied the heart monitor with some alarm. "The lines are going like this." (He did his fingers like I was flatlining.) "I'm scared. It looks like the D word." I assured him the doctor would take care of me. And finally, one Peggyism, as I was taken to have the stents placed in my heart: "Please tell my husband when this is all over that I really do have a heart."

Allison went the extra mile and brought in a dozen of huge bakery cookies for the nurses that cared for me. Inside the box lid she wrote, "Thank you for caring for my mom." All the nurses were very grateful for the goodies and came back for more. I thought this gesture was very, very thoughtful. Thank you, Blondie.
This picture of my new heart is not easy to see, but I can tell you that the before and after pictures are worlds apart. The before picture looks like a dark, desolate moon surface, where as the after picture shows a vibrant road map with distinct pathways. No more collapsed arteries. My blood is flowing easily and my circulation and skin color have improved.

This is a good time to remind all of you to never ignore the pain and signs of a heart attack. Like so many before me, I thought the pain was acid reflux or heartburn. I was having an episode daily for 3 to 4 weeks that lasted only a couple of minutes. I went online and researched my symptoms. The only thing I found that matched all my ailments was unstable angina, which the doctor confirmed. Another thing that threw me off was that the pain in my jaw, shoulder, arm, and back were on the right side and a heart attack is more commonly felt on the left. Mine was still a heart attack and it can manifest itself in slightly different ways depending on the individual and their gender. So, please do not ignore a burning in the chest (it might not be heartburn), or pain in the jaw, face, shoulder, arm or back, regardless of which side it is on. See a doctor immediately. Many have died who believed it was heartburn and would pass. Fortunately, I'd researched it and called my doctor to see him. He recognized the signs and told me to go to ER instead.

This was my home away from home the last four days. I must admit, I enjoyed my stays there in the 1970s much more because this is where I welcomed both of my precious daughters, Allison and Angela. Our Jude the Dude was born there, too. A hospital can be a place of extreme joy or sadness. I thank God that my experiences here had great results.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I ask for continued prayers as I make some drastic changes to my lifestyle. My friend Patty came over when I got home from the hospital and gave me heart-healthy magazines that focused on diet. She also brought dinner from Boston Market, lots of steamed vegetables and a chicken. We have enough food to feed us all week!

All of you are awesome and I love you!