The untinkable, unimaginable happened last week. I experienced a TIA (transient ischemic attack or “mini-stroke”) due to a blood clot in my brain. While putting away groceries with my grown kids, I experienced swirling vertigo then a rapid numbness that moved down my right side from cheek to toe. Darkness loomed and fainting was eminent as paralysis set in. Kudos to the rapid response of my son who was quickly at my side and moving his slurring, nonsensical mother to a chair where symptoms reversed and I recovered within minutes.
My son then promptly and calmly made a phone call relating the details of my episode to my sister (a surgeon) who called ahead to the ER and had a stroke team waiting. The next few hours were critical. There is a three hour window in which stroke victims need to get to an ER to be assessed and begin treatment. (If you ever experience symptoms of a stroke... get to an ER immediately!) Timing is critical!
The next 24 hours were filled with every test known to modern medicine for my heart, head, history and habits, yet to no avail. Everything came back healthy, clean and clear. It remains a mystery why someone with absolutely no risk factors would have a stroke. Thankfully, there was no permanent damage but the chance of a repeat performance remains.
Was it a fluke? Maybe.
Preventable? Most likely.
Prescription for the future? A baby aspirin a day keeps the neurologist away!
It is a general recommendation given by physicians... at age 45 a baby aspirin (coated, 81mg) be taken daily to keep blood moving (rather than clotting in our brains) as we age. If you have hit the magic number '45 years of age' and you are not yet taking a baby aspirin, I implore you to do so.
There are no guarantees that life will continue down the path we have planned and envision for ourselves. Our days truly are numbered. How we choose to live them is the legacy we leave to others.
I have been given a second chance to re-evaluate what is important in life and I intend to make the most of it...to honor, love and serve. HONOR my Lord in every aspect of life. Take care of and LOVE my family well. SERVE others (especially those who are 'down & out') at every opportunity. The details of those goals will be hashed out in every day life. I look forward to figuring them out one step... one day at a time.
Choose to live well, my friends.