This is Wednesday, and the roads are mostly clear from the warm temperature yesterday. I’ve still got a lot of snow in the yard, and some piles where Erik pushed it to clear the driveway in case I needed to “get out.” Didn’t even venture out to get the mail until yesterday.
I read the article “Heart Attack Deaths Spike During Winter Holidays” in yesterday’s paper. Let me tell you my personal scare. About a week and half ago, I had fallen sound asleep in my recliner. I felt there was someone or something watching me, woke up and threw up my left arm to “protect myself,” but there was no one there. The girls said, “Maybe it was Dad teasing you like he used to do.” It was on Dean’s birthday, so who knows.
Anyway, about two hours later I had a pain under my left shoulder blade and down my left arm, got up, took 3 aspirin and went back to sleep. Two hours later the same thing happened, and I took 2 more aspirin and went back to sleep. Two hours later, same thing, so I got up thinking maybe it was a heart attack because the two attacks Dean had was pain under the shoulder blade and down an arm. So I called both the girls and 911 and after all kinds of tests, they said it didn’t show any heart attack. (The only heart attack that was close was when the nurse asked me how many aspirin I took and told her 5. She asked said, “baby aspirin?” and I said, ‘no, regular’. I thought she was going to fall off her chair! She said ONE regular aspirin would have been enough!
The pain was gone until the next morning when I felt muscles in my neck and arm were sore and tight! I must have really thrown that arm up fast.
Thank you to the 911 dispatcher, ambulance and responders, for being here so fast, MDH, and to my family. Anyway, don’t fail to watch the warning signs.
Now, another thank you. I haven’t written about what happened a year ago on the 14th...it wasn’t my story to tell. However, it is now. My son-in-law Steve Onion had a stroke while driving the pickup in their driveway. The pickup caught fire, a friend of theirs was coming to visit, saw the smoke and fire and a partially opened door, pulled Steve out of the truck (which was completely destroyed). From there, it was MDH, St. John’s and a touch and go situation.
Fast forward to this year. After extensive rehab at Quincy, and rehab continuing afterwards, he was able with Austin’s help to plant the last few acres of a field of corn this spring, work this summer, and drive the combine all fall.
These are their words: “thank you to all who texted, called, left messages, sent cards, fed, and prayed and continue to pray for us over the past year. It is humbling to have people tell you, ‘we’re praying for you,’ but it makes all the difference. WE’VE, NO DOUBT SEEN ONE OF GOD’S MIRACLES.” To that, I add an Amen. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night, AND KEEP PRAYING.
Sharon Chenoweth is a resident and farmer of McDonough County. Her column focuses on rural life and will be featured every other week in the Community News Brief Friday Edition.
