Different outlook on fishing
Spent the morning fishing on Burnt Mills last Wednesday (12/14) and went to shoot sporting clays in the afternoon. Had been having some burning feelings with a little exercion during the last week, but chalked it up to indigestion, muscle pull or some other thing (most of you over 60 understand). The symptoms didn't conform to any discription I had ever heard of for a heart problem. Had one "incident" in the morning while hooking the boat up and another while loading back up. At the shooting ground, it happened to me again twice with very little exercion. My buddies (thank God) called paramedics, took my guns, boat, truck, etc. and called my family. From OBICI Sentara, I was transported to PNH. During catheterization, it was discovered I had a 99.9% blockage to my right coronary artery. While installing one of the stints (4 were put in) my artery lining seperated from the wall causing a 100% blockage and subsequent heart attack. They were in process of sending me by Nitengale to Norfolk Sentara when they finally got things under control. More pain than I have ever experienced in my life. Wound up with three catheters including a baloon to take some pressure off my heart.
Needless to say, both me and my family have had a rough 3 or 4 days. I am back home today and doing well. Doctors say to do whatever I feel like doing when the soreness subsides.
I am not writing this for any sympathy, but to share some insight I now have both on life in general, but also with regards to safety. I have had a couple of days without being able to move which gave me plenty of time to think things over. I can't help but think about being out there on the water by myself (there was only one other boat on the lake that morning that I saw). There's very little doubt in my mind that I would have been in dire straits had things gone wrong on the water. I don't plan to live "scared", but I plan to think things out a little more thoroughly in the future. I also went into the operating room totally unprepared to meet my maker. I hadn't even said a proper goodbye to family, even though they were in the waiting room. I couldn't help but remember coming home from overseas for my father's funeral and how I regret to this day leaving many important things unsaid. You can bet that I won't let any opportunity go by to tell those close to me how much I love and appreciate them.
With the thread earlier in the week about the fellow who went missing at Prince, I had already been giving much thought to thinking "safer". I dug out my Mustang with plans to wear it religiously when out on the water by myself.
Enough rambling. Just thought I'd share. Hope to see many of you out on the water in the future.
Think about safety,
Mike
