Shortly after my last post, I started to have some serious health issues. My primary doctor told me I just needed to hit the gym, but ran some tests and referred me to a pulmonologist. The pulmonologist thought it was asthma, put me on an inhaler, and sent me on my way. Things got worse. She added a steroid, and sent me on my way. Things got worse. She increased the inhaler dose, stopped the steroids, and ordered more tests. It got only slightly better, so she referred me to a cardiologist for some MORE tests. In the end, we found out that I had something called an "atrial septal defect" (ASD). Translation: I had a hole in my heart. Apparently, judging from the images that they could see, I was born with this hole in my heart, and had lived with it my entire life until now with no problems - until now. I was referred to a specialist in hopes that an outpatient procedure would patch me up and have me back to 'normal' in no time. But, another curve ball came when they determined (after additional testing) that the only way to repair the hole was through open heart surgery. In the weeks leading up to surgery, my mind was reeling. Initially I cried - a LOT. And then, I eventually called on the "village" of family and friends to help pray me through. I didn't know what to expect, but by the time December 8th, 2015 rolled around, I was ready (or as ready as I could possibly be). Surgery was a success, and I was out of the hospital in 4 days. I even had one of my best friends from high school as my nurse!
The road to recovery has been fairly uneventful, but it's been a difficult process. What's gotten me through some of the hardest days is something that one of the nurses told me. After surgery, I was assigned a visiting nurse to come and see about me. While we were going through my medical history she asked about my fitness level. I told her about my aspirations to be a runner, and shared my survival story of the 2013 Bridge Run. Her reaction will stay with me forever. She stopped and looked at me and said, "You should have been dead!" She explained that many people who do not know that they have an ASD and do something so physically demanding usually drop dead, and no one knows why until later. The only thing I heard was, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD.
I should have been dead, BUT I'm not.
Needless to say 2015 ended with a LOT of reflection, and 2016 has come in much the same way. If I've learned nothing else, it's that I have a purpose to fulfill. Why else am I still here? I could have been dead in 2013. And yet, here I am. And so, armed with this new appreciation for life, I have declared that 2016 is the year that I begin to live on purpose. A friend posted a status on FaceBook about being intentional, and that stuck with me. She spoke about not merely making resolutions for the New Year, but setting goals, writing out plans, and MAKING things happen. I'm taking her sage advice. I've created a map for my year. I've set tangible goals. I'm getting my emotional, spiritual, and physical house in order. I hope that you'll join me for the amazing journey that's sure to follow.
Let's make this the year that we drop our excuses, act with intention, and live on purpose!
What have you committed to doing this year to help you live on purpose? Leave a comment below.