And now, I’m going to slink back to my little area “backstage”. But first, everyone reading this, please consider becoming CPR certified!!
I’ve always been a backstage kind of person; I prefer directing, stage managing, writing. I have performed onstage, and although, I enjoyed my experience, I soon realized I really rather be behind the scenes, and then one day two years ago, I performed some impromptu “dying” on the world stage. The “actors”, I have no doubt, wouldn’t for a moment consider themselves heroes. But what is a hero? In the television series Smallville, Clark Kent says, "The suit doesn't make the hero. A hero's made in the moment by the choices that he makes and the reasons that he makes them. A hero brings out the best in people." I just didn’t know what more to say to my heroes who were willing, ready, and able to help a stranger in distress. It’s not like Hallmark makes “thanks for saving my life” cards. (Trust me, I have looked). Nonetheless, thank you – Jesse, Pete, Mary and the rest of the Point Bonita YMCA staff, and thanks Ranger Eddy and Ranger Gibbs and the Golden Gate National Recreational Park Area for keeping me around a bit longer and not letting that morning be my final curtain call. You truly are MY heroes.
And now, I’m going to slink back to my little area “backstage”. But first, everyone reading this, please consider becoming CPR certified!!
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It's funny how the mind works. I could give specific details of things I did on this day twenty-one years ago, but couldn't tell you what I had for dinner last night. . . which was, ummm, yes, now I remember. . . lasagna.
Twenty-one years ago, the evening before, Ed, myself, and our ten month old son, Michael, strolled down the aisles of Safeway putting baby formula and a stacking ring toy into our cart, then later that evening after dinner and putting Michael in his crib for the night, Ed and I went to bed. I don't remember anything else until I woke in the University of Washington Medical Center a few days later dazed and confused. Picking up a phone on a nightstand, I dialed home, and told Ed, "I'm having an out of body experience." I glanced around the room once more. "I am here at the hospital and I don't remember how I got here." I continued to struggle with short term memory loss for several days. The doctors assured Ed and my parents that it was perfectly normal as I repeated questions I had already asked. Nonetheless, I would not be here today if Ed had not realized that during the early morning hours on November 16, I had stopped breathing and had gone into sudden cardiac arrest. He called 9-1-1 and quickly began CPR before Seattle EMT's arrived to our little house in south Seattle. Paramedics were able to revive me and transported me to Harborview before being transferred to University of Washington Medical Center. Again, I can not stress enough of the importance of CPR training. And Ed. . . well, he is now and forever will be my guardian angel and that I will never forget. "I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much" ~ Mother Teresa While delivering my speech last week at the American Heart Association HeartSaver Recognition Event, I spoke of three miracles, but believe I may have misspoke, as I realize there were more miracles in play then I had originally realized.
Miracle 1: My husband. Ed recognized immediately what was happening as he had seen it before. For those who may not know, this was not my first sudden cardiac arrest, but my second. He was able to stay calm and collected enough to quickly find help he knew I needed immediately. Miracle 2: Stay in the car. We had just arrived at the parking lot for the trail head to the Point Bonita Lighthouse. Thank goodness, I never stepped out of the car (Ed had already stepped out and looked over at me and saw me slumped over) or even worst case scenario, I had been on the trail. I believe if either had been the case, the outcome would have been very different. Miracle 3: Point Bonita YMCA. First (I only found this out the other day), the staff were all there for a weekly meeting. Second, Jesse had only recently been recertified CPR/AED qualified a couple weeks before this event. Third, Ed was observant enough to see a van had pulled into the YMCA only moments earlier, so he knew someone was there. What astounds me is that the van he witness pull into the YMCA lot belonged to Pete, one of my rescuers. Miracle 4: Location, location, location. We actually had to push our vacation off by a day, because my aunt and uncle were not available on Saturday, so we left for California on Sunday. Originally, on Monday, we should have been someone on the road headed towards Las Vegas. We could have literary been in the middle of nowhere when this all took place. Miracle 5: Me. I am still here, thanks to the quick action of Pete and Jesse stepping up to the plate without hesitation. Years ago, I had been told by a paramedic that the chances of surviving a first cardiac arrest were slim, the chances of surviving a second were well. . . none. Guess I am too ornery and showed him. All these miracles crisscrossed and lead to the same exact point in time. I mean really, talk about a once-in-a- lifetime chance encounter! On Monday, I was honored to award the two Point Bonita YMCA employees who saved my life back in June with the American Heart Association HeartSaver Hero award. I was so happy to finally meet them and they were just beyond thrilled to see me. . . alive. My good friend, Mary, had the perfect word to describe the whole affair. . . surreal. Oh my goodness, was it ever surreal. Here everyone from the YMCA staff to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Park Rangers who assisted in saving my life talking about events of that day and I knew they were talking about me, but it didn't feel like it was me. Like I was there, but I wasn't there. If that makes any sense. I have to admit, I was super nervous about getting up there and reliving my story, especially since much of it I do not remember. It was a good and well attended event and it was a huge honor to present these men with their awards. Then following the presentation, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association asked if I would repeat my tale in Seattle - date and time to be determined. Egads! I am so thankful to still be here, and incredibly grateful to Ed, who recognized the signs of me going into cardiac arrest. Then to Pete and Jesse who stepped up and did what they had to do to keep me alive. They did not know me, but that did not matter to them. I feel I will have a special bond with them for the rest of my life. They truly are my #YHeroes. Then to the rest of the YMCA staff who assisted in many ways and made Ed and I feel at home, and to Mary Perkins, who reached out to us, letting us know about this event. Again, just so glad I was able to witness the recognition they so rightfully deserved. Also incredibly thankful to the Ranger Eddy and Ranger Gibbs who also performed CPR on me and got me breathing on my own even before paramedics arrived. And of course, to Marin County Fire Department and Southern Marin County Fire Department and the doctors and staff at Marin County Hospital. Not very many people can say they have survived a cardiac arrest and without the quick action of Pete and Jesse, I would have never survived my second attack. Thanks for being there guys! And I can't stress enough those who are reading this, if you have not learned CPR, do it! Seconds really do count. Interview on channel 7 (ABC) - San Francisco: Cardiac Arrest Victims Thank Rescuers For Saving Them With CPR
I am glad I was finally able to take an epic trip with Ed to San Francisco (Take Two) - after our last failed adventure. Had a great time riding the cable car, driving down Lombard Street, and walking along Fisherman's Wharf. The weather was perfect the whole time we were there. Thanks to my friends Cheryl and Jerry who gave us a place to stay. We stayed up super late the first night, just laughing and talking. Wish it had been a longer visit and hope to see you guys again soon.
Also am grateful and ecstatic I got a chance to meet the YMCA gentlemen (Pete and Jesse) who saved my life back in June and present them with the American Heart Association HeartSaver Hero plaques. They truly are MY HEROES. Happy we finally had the chance to hike down to the Point Bonita Lighthouse. The hike was a little harder and longer then what I thought, but was so thrilled to say, we finally did it! Thanks so much to the Point Bonita YMCA staff who made us feel welcomed. In addition, I was pleased to meet Ray Hanvey. The two of us decided we belong to an exclusive club. He is alive today also because of quick acting YMCA staff members having performed CPR and the use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). I felt very humbled in his presence - as the employees at the Stonestown YMCA are truly his family. Ed said it best as we pulled into the garage last night - this weekend gave us a change to beat California. We no longer afraid of her. “What symptoms were you experiencing?” asked the nurse. I looked over at Ed, and he glanced up at me, and we both sighed.
It was supposed to be a vacation of a lifetime. Ed had just turned 50 a few days prior and we were about to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary. We had decided to go on an extended camping trip without the kids, just the two of us and visit family, friends, and a couple of national parks, including the Grand Canyon, which had been on my bucket list for a long time, with a quick stop in Las Vegas. On Sunday, we left Portland and drove all the way to Napa, California to visit my Uncle John and Aunt Gail. That night we had steak, baked potatoes, and salad, and caught up on family news and events. The following morning, we packed up the car with our suitcase and pillows, and headed for San Francisco. I was really looking forward to visiting the city on the Bay, as Ed had never been to San Francisco, and I had not been back since my grandmother passed away several years prior. We left Napa and drove to the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. It was a beautiful sunny California day. The weather was gorgeous, with early morning fog lifting off the water, surrounding the bridge and we could just make out the towers and car deck. We stopped at the first view point and took pictures and then a quick hike around the old military batteries, followed by another stop at a second view point. We had then decided to take a short hike to the Point Bonita Lighthouse and we pulled into the parking lot. . . that is the last thing I remember. “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.”
There are people in our lives who instantly touch us and we are drawn to their sweet spirits, as if we have known them forever – they are like precious jewels amongst life's treasures. These words describe my friend Lisa who touched me in so many ways. She always had a bright smile and never heard her say an unkind word. She made me laugh and I always felt welcomed in her presence. A few years ago, I reconnected with Lisa, an ‘old’ high school friend, via Facebook. We had lost contact since our days at West Linn High School, but I immediately felt drawn to her again and it was as if the years had not passed. I remember her as a beautiful and talented friend. We were involved in leadership and worked on several drama shows together. And I remember being in awe of her performance as Miss Havisham in Great Expectations. After reconnecting, I was pleasantly surprised to discover, we shared many of the same life experiences; graduating from college, marrying our best friend, our eldest child born on the same day, our youngest being the same age, and we both continued to be involved in community theatre when we could. A few months later, she told me she had breast cancer. She was first diagnosed with cancer about eight years ago, which she had successfully battled and went into remission. Regretfully, the cancer returned and by the time doctors had caught it, the cancer had spread to her bones and brain. Lisa faced death as she did life, with humor, bravely, compassion, and always a smile on her face. Even with photos, she posted on Facebook with her wearing silly hats, her hair gone, that magnificent smile was still on her face, and it left a permanent mark on my heart –she left a lasting impression on my soul. One more thought, back in our senior year in high school, she nominated me for Most Inspirational Senior, I think that award should have gone to her –she was my inspiration and my hero! Rest in peace, Lisa. |
"Hey. . . it's me."I live in the shadows of the Olympic Mountains in the state of Washington and I love camping, boating, kayaking, hiking, and hanging out with my husband, our three adult children, and our Bernese Mountain dog, Henry. Tags
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