Today we celebrate my husband's "Second Chance Day". One year ago today, my husband was in the emergency room. He had come home from work and asked me if his face looked funny. It did. The left side of it wasn't moving. He proceeded to tell me that he had noticed it the night before when his lips wouldn't close around a straw. I know, right??? He had hoped it would go away and went ahead and went to work. When it didn't go away, he got worried enough to ask me about it, but still not worried enough to do anything about it. After several phone calls, a trip to the Walgreen's clinic, and a few hours of me pleading, he agreed to go to the hospital.
They ran some tests and gave us the news we dreaded, but expected; he'd had a stroke. He was admitted to the hospital for testing and further observation. As you can imagine, we were both scared (terrified). After the horrible blow our family had been dealt over the summer, this was too much.
Over the next 24 hours, they ran tests and sent in specialists. His heart was fine and they couldn't find any blockage. The doctors were concerned that they couldn't find an obvious reason for the stroke. When Mike asked if it could have been caused by stress, the neurologist said yes, but it's rare and only under extreme stress. Mike then explained that he had lost his son just three months earlier when he was struck by a train. At that point, both doctors (the neurologist and cardiologist) looked at each other and agreed that was the probable cause. They explained that the stroke had occurred in his brain stem (one of the worst places for a stroke to occur) but because there was no physical cause for it, he could go home.
We have learned all to well, how fragile life is and how quickly it can be taken from you. My husband was given a second chance that day and we will be forever grateful that God has allowed us more time together. We are jam packed with activities this weekend, but will be very aware through every single one, just how lucky we are.
