An update and a birthday bash

It has been more than one month now since my heart had major problems.  During this month I have basically stayed at home and just rested as I was left very weak.  At the beginning of this week my son and his family invited me out to Swiss Chalet which I really enjoyed.  I did not take any pictures at that time as I needed a new camera as I ruined the old one!   It was entirely my own fault, I should have sprayed the cleaner onto a cloth and then wiped the camera but alas, my brain was not working properly, and I ruined the camera.  A lesson learned! 

Yesterday afternoon and into the evening I along with nine other people celebrated our friend Mohamed's birthday.

Mona, his workmate, her husband Felix and their son Amiel arranged a wonderful gathering to celebrate Mohamed's birthday.

I only knew Mona and her husband and Mohamed so I had the opportunity to get to meet some lovely new people.  

Amiel picked me up and brought me home again for which I am most thankful!

Here are some pictures.

The  birthday boy at his home

Felix, Sanjeet and Mohamed

The birthday cake  - Mona standing beside Mohamed

Two cousins from Egypt

Mona and Mohamed's cousin 

These pictures are taken by me and I am not altogether satisfied with them as the room was a little dark for my inexpensive camera.

Other people used their cell phones to take pictures so hope to see them eventually.

Mona had asked me to say a few words so I tried to make it as funny as I could and thankfully people got my sense of humour!

All in all, a lovely party and Mohamed enjoyed it very much as did we all.

Thanks for dropping by.

A not so pleasant event happened the morning 6 a.m. of February 25th, 2019

I got up early that day and took my time in rising so I would not get the vertigo which oftentimes hits me when I rise up to fast.

As I was turning off the fan in my bedroom, all of a sudden without warning or feeling ill, a current of electricity went through my body which made me stagger and almost fall.  I screamed with the shock and the pain.

I thought it might be a faulty fan as it is old - perhaps over 25 years old and used every day.  As you can imagine, I was frightened.

Within the next twenty minutes, two more shocks happened and I was nowhere near the fan.  The electric current was so fierce that when I touched anything metal sparks came off.  I realized then that my heart was acting up and each time the shock hit, it was  so severe that I screamed. 

 I was afraid to pick up the phone to call 911 as I did not want any more sparks flying as there might have been something metal in the phone so I went to my front door, and the last one hit as I opened the door. I screamed again and called for help but it was 6 a.m.  By the mercy of God, my neighbour across the hall whom I know only very casually heard me and came out.

She called 911 and stayed with me and got a few things organized for me before the paramedics came.  Those guys were great, so kind and so gentle.  They put me on my walker so that they could put me on the stretcher which was outside my door as my place is very small.  They bundled me up into a blanket but I had no coat, no clothing except a pair of slacks which I had just put on and only a tea shirt.  It was a terrible wind day that day and the blanket kept trying to flap off but fortunately we got to the ambulance okay and took off with the sirens blaring.  The paramedics told me my heart rate was far too high and I needed immediate medical attention.

We got to the Hamilton General in lickity split time and I was taken immediately into a bed in the emergency ward.  I remained there for many hours while they did some tests including blood work.  The doctors decided it was not safe for me to go home and that I should remain in the hospital on the cardiac floor for which I was most grateful as I was afraid it would happen again.  My son Ken took time off his new job and came to stay with me for a short while and then he went to work.  Once I was on the ward, he brought me some clothing plus my coat and my cane which was a marvelous help to me, plus, of course, Gemma the cat needed looking after so he did all that.

They found out that I had a virus (RSV) it is called and so I was put into a beautiful room with my own bathroom and a view from two big windows to die for.  I saw not only the lower city but also the mountain and although it was winter, it still was very breathtaking.

Once I was stabilized with my heart,  the head doctor thought it would be better for me to go home as there are so many viruses in the hospital.

I was told that I would have to remain until at least Friday - admitting date was 7 a.m. Monday morning, but the head doctor changed that due to the number of viruses in the hospital.


My neighbour John came to pick me up and he arrived just as my Pastor Dani arrived for a visit, so between the two of them, they wheeled me downstairs in a wheelchair and got me into John's truck.

John made sure he settled me in the apartment and then he walked up to the pharmacy to get the prescription which was a necessity to continue stabilizing my heart and got me some fruit while he was out doing that.

For the last few days, I have rested most of the time.  I had to call Paramed to say I had a virus as I did not want anybody else to catch it so my PSW was not allowed to come due to me still being contagious.  I have no idea how long I must remain away from people so need to find that out still.

I was left feeling extremely weak and it took a lot of courage for me to be alone again in case it happens again.  

However, my heart seems okay now and I just have to fight this virus which started with a sore throat and went to my chest and I could not stop coughing.

It is Friday today and I remain indoors but thankful to be alive, at home and for the wonderful care I received by all the medical team and my beautiful neighbours on this floor.  My club sent over food for lunch today and I plan to order from Grocerygateway.com perhaps today.  

Much to be thankful for.  

Thanks for dropping in.