Living this Life is a Glorious Thing

Almost a year ago I came down with pneumonia. I kept swallowing antiobiotics to clear it up. It kept coming back. Not good. After 8 months of that my doctor decided something serious was going on and sent me off for an echocardiogram. I was very sure, since I know everything, that it was my lungs and not my heart so I told Steve I wasn't going to go for the test. He said GO. I went. Imagine my surprise when the tech furrowed his brow and left the room, returning with a cardiologist. Mr. Hot Shot doctor looked at the moniter and said words that would change my view of the world forever: "Mrs. Workman, you have a tumor IN your heart". I don't know about you but when I hear "tumor", I hear "cancer". Right then and there I realized that every moment of this life is precious.

I went home shell-shocked. Got on the internet and did some serious study. Learned that cardiac tumors are RARE occurances and even more RARELY, cancer. Relief! Why couldn't the doctor have told me that? Anyway, I spent the next two weeks doing more tests like the delightful, if not delicious, swallowing of the camera for a better look at the "goober" as my surgeon called it. The beast that had been robbing me of my health was about an inch wide and filling up half of my left atrium. My heart could not disperse oxygenated blood to my system and that's why we kept chasing respiratory stuff. We'd been following the wrong ghoul. A merry masquerade!!

Two weeks after those fateful words, "you have a tumor in your heart", I was in surgery. Fear! Trepidation! I came out of surgery with more tubes attached to me than you see on the average car engine. Including an intra-JUGULAR IV. Yeah, I know, gross. More Fear! More Trepidation! And some pain, but surprisingly, less than anticipated.

A few days later, lying in my hospital bed, the most amazing thing happened. I realized my fingers were WARM. I actually took my nurse by the hand and said "feel this". She looked at me like I was stark raving bonkers. I explained that my hands and feet had been numb and cold for Months. Months!! And now, blessed warmth. It's amazing what oxygen does for your extremities. Lots of people out there are worried about air quality these days but I'm here to tell you, AIR IS GOOD!! Fantastic even!

It's now been 10 weeks since surgery and 10 months since the first bout of pneumonia. I feel like a person again! I have energy. I laugh. I stir up all sorts of nonsense at work. My boss says "looks like Kathy's BACK". I haven't decided if he thinks that's a good thing or a bad thing....

Sure, there are lingering issues like the backache that will not die. Sneezing is still not my favorite. But I have learned that this life we have been given is a joyful, if sometimes perilous, journey. Each day brings something new and delightful. The little things that used to cause me stress and worry have been relegated to their proper position: the trash can.

My life is important. It is worthwhile. Not because of what I wear or weigh. Not because of how much I clean or what size my paycheck is. It is a gift. I LIVE!! What a grand and glorious thing.