N.B. I’ve been doing my utmost to keep the word count low-ish. This post went past the mark. Apologies. I just couldn’t wrap it more simply. The next chapter might be less, though. Fingers crossed. BUCKET LISTS continued Valentine’s Day 4:30 a.m. The pain in my chest, upper back, and each arm was back with a vengeance. The stent had failed.

continued... For both our sakes, I’ll condense the tale of my time spent on CCU into this one post. Also, of note, bedpan is one word. Apologies. I’m writing quickly and not editing these posts carefully so mistakes will be rife. Eek. Feel free to correct me you fabulous spelling and grammar geeks.  Day two et cetera... Each day would start with a harsh jolt when whoever-it-was hit the switch to illuminate the ward.

For anyone who has had a medical emergency, I'm sure you can relate to all, or parts, of my story, BUCKET LISTS. Survival rates for heart failure in women are significantly lower for women, than for men. “Women of all ages who experience a myocardial infarction are at particularly high risk of a poor prognosis,” said study author Dr. Mariana Martinho of Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal.

I have to start by thanking all of you who reached out yesterday. Your caring thoughts shared with such supportive words and gestures are forever imprinted on my healthier heart. There is much more to my story, though. If you read on, hopefully you’ll find answers to your questions, eventually. BUCKET LISTS continued Once inside the ambulance, I had to take my sweater off so a cannula could be inserted.

Waking up in pain wasn’t common for me. I mention it only because age brings, sometimes, achy joints after lying relatively still in sleep. Truth be told, I’d slowed down a bit but was still pretty capable until that morning when my body let me know things were going to be different. Rolling over, I knew I could no longer ignore what was happening.

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