terrible prognosis
Doctors told me I had five years to live. His son was 12 years old at the time. That meant I never got to see him graduate from high school. It was a horrible thing for him to think about. He is my whole world.
My son was a baby, but he had to grow up quickly. I was so sick that I needed him to take care of me. By the time he was 15, if I felt sick in the middle of the night, he had to drive me to the hospital. If my port comes out, he'll call the doctor and say, „Please tell me what to do.“ My heart failure put a lot of pressure on him.
improve your health
I knew I had to make some drastic changes to spend more time with my son. I started eating healthy. I no longer went to fast food restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I was sitting down to eat a heart healthy meal. Instead of having snack cakes or candy bars on the counter, I have bananas, apples, and oranges. I stock my fridge with bottles of water instead of soda.
Exercise also became a priority. In the evening, instead of watching TV, I go for a walk. I teach her fitness classes on the water three days a week and play with my grandchildren to stay active. I make sure to exercise and see my doctor. And they receive guideline-recommended heart failure treatments to help their hearts pump blood more effectively.
I have really great doctors who keep a close eye on me and take care of me. They say I'm nothing but a miracle. They don't have an explanation for how much I can do, but I think it's a combination of healthy living, proper medication, and weight loss.
What I wish I had done differently
If I could talk to my old self, I would tell her that I need to take better care of my body. Looking back, I can say that I should have gone to the doctor more often. I should have done more physical activity. And instead of eating 3 pizzas, I should have had 1 pizza with a salad.
I also should have asked for a second opinion when the doctor recognized my symptoms. If the doctors had discovered my heart failure sooner, I might not have suffered permanent damage. There's a fine line between trusting your doctor and trusting your intuition. If you don't agree with what your doctor says, it's okay to get a second opinion.
If I could do it all over again, I would definitely prioritize my health. I have met many other heart failure survivors who put their health on the back burner and focus on everything else. I should have prioritized my health and looked after myself.
A new outlook on life
Being so close to death has made me appreciate life even more. I appreciate holidays, dinner with friends, sunrises and sunsets, and the sound of rain. I am grateful for family gatherings. I have a large family here in Tennessee. We meet about four times a year. I get tickled every time I see them.
I feel like life is more important now. I know I was given a second chance. I have lived for more than 20 years since I was told I only had 5 years to live. Every day is a gift.