It was exactly 3 months since I had my heart attack, and things were going well .. . . till I had my first setback.
I was exercising every day, walking, lifting weights, swimming, going to work, and all of my normal activities. Then, all of a sudden, one night I was watching a Boston Celtics vs. NY Knicks game lying down on my sofa, and then I became extremely dizzy and felt like passing out. It was a scary feeling because it was unexpected, and I didn’t know how serious this incident was going to be.
My wife, Cida, immediately called the paramedics, and they arrived at my house within 2 minutes (Sugar Land has great municipal services). Fortunately, everything checked out fine with me. The paramedics checked my blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and even did an EKG. I was relieved, but Iwas wondering what prompted this episode.
Since it was late in the evening, I could not contact my cardiologist to discuss further. I had to wait till the next morning. This was an uncomfortable situation because I really didn’t know what was wrong with me. Scary thoughts went through my mind for the first time, such as, “what if I don’t wake up?”
I knew this was the evil one trying to instill fear in my mind, leading to despair. If I didn’t have self-awareness of this, I may have been drawn towards despair. Thankfully, I did not.
A few things to think about afterwards:
First, I had to remind myself that a setback is a reminder that healing is a journey and not an immediate thing. Seeking a cure is short-term and something that is physical, such as an Achilles Rupture Tear. This type of physical injury will eventually get better. The cardiac arrest with my heart, both in a physical sense, but more importantly, in a spiritual way, is a matter of healing. This can take much longer and is dependent upon the Graces of God. The theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity are absolutely essential for healing.
It also helps if you surround yourself with positive people who follow the Faith. Pray the rosary and ask for their prayers too.
