In June of 2006, I was blessed with a tremendous wake up call. At 46 years old, I appeared to be good physical shape and had what appeared to be good health habits. I had a TIA; a transient ischemic attack, more commonly known as a mini stroke.
I was at a nearby lunch spot eating when all of a sudden I couldn’t see. I literally couldn’t see and I felt weak. I couldn’t even get out of the lunch shop and drive my car just across the street to my office where I knew if I could lay down I’d be okay. I sat at the lunch booth for another ten minutes hoping to be able to drive. My vision didn’t improve, but I had patients to see and needed to get back. This is where the ego comes in: I can’t see, but I’m going to get across a major street! I decided to literally stumble out of the restaurant to my car. I started the car, still not seeing clearly, and pulled out of the parking space. I drove maybe 25 feet when I realized it was impossible and stopped. I waited another 15 minutes and felt like I could drive with one eye closed and get across the street to lie down. All I wanted to do was lie down.
I got there, by the grace of God, and laid on one of my treatment tables feeling like I would be better. However, still not feeling better, I got ready to start seeing patients again. The first afternoon patient came in and as I was treating them I felt like I was about to fall to the ground. I stopped, went to my desk chair and slumped over my desk. My assistant came in and said, “Doc you look terrible, are you OK?” I said, “No,” which was very uncharacteristic of me. I said, “I am having trouble seeing, my face is numb and my left arm is really weak. I need to lie down.”
As I laid there she said, “Doc, you are having a stroke? I watched this happen to my Aunt.” She went and called her husband who was an EMT and they suggested I get an ambulance to the hospital. I told them to just drive me. Her husband helped me out to the car. During the course of the ride, I felt like I could no longer speak and knew I was really in trouble. We arrived at the ER in about 15-20 minutes and I wasn’t able to exit the car on my own. I needed a wheelchair, was slurring and was so very weak.
In the ER, as the staff got me hooked up to the IV, drew blood and starting asking history questions. I had to admit that this had happened about ten days before, as I dropped my daughter off at school. I was unable to drive out of the parking spot due to not being able to see and I experienced weakness. However, it was not nearly as severe as this time. After waiting for about 45 minutes my eye sight began to improve. I had things to do, patients to see and wouldn’t “play into” any problem. What occurred was just as my life had been. I had to just keep going. So, I let that one go. I thought I was in charge!
After much deliberation and time to rest and think, it became evident to me that I was in “what appeared to be” good physical health because I looked “good.” The problem was that I was disease free, but not necessarily healthy. Everything was based on physical health.
I began the exploration of the real state of my health and it made me look at what I now call the four pillars. It became evident that my life was not balanced and was filled with stress from every angle.
On average I slept three to four hours a night. I kept going, because I had to. All the days just ran together. My life was filled with stress. My daughter’s father was deceased and rarely played a role prior to his death. I had financially lost everything due to a business deal gone badly. My daughter was always my priority concern, so raising her was more important to me than money. Regardless, with that came added stress. My thought was as a parent you can’t call “do over,” you’re either there in the moment or you’re not.
My wake up call was to re-evaluate and look for balance and look at each area of what I now call the four pillars and take that second chance while walking the walk and talking the talk.
My Story
In June of 2006, I was blessed with a tremendous wake up call. At 46 years old, I appeared to be good physical shape and had what appeared to be good health habits. I had a TIA; a transient ischemic attack, more commonly known as a mini stroke.
I was at a nearby lunch spot eating when all of a sudden I couldn’t see. I literally couldn’t see and I felt weak. I couldn’t even get out of the lunch shop and drive my car just across the street to my office where I knew if I could lay down I’d be okay. I sat at the lunch booth for another ten minutes hoping to be able to drive. My vision didn’t improve, but I had patients to see and needed to get back. This is where the ego comes in: I can’t see, but I’m going to get across a major street! I decided to literally stumble out of the restaurant to my car. I started the car, still not seeing clearly, and pulled out of the parking space. I drove maybe 25 feet when I realized it was impossible and stopped. I waited another 15 minutes and felt like I could drive with one eye closed and get across the street to lie down. All I wanted to do was lie down.
I got there, by the grace of God, and laid on one of my treatment tables feeling like I would be better. However, still not feeling better, I got ready to start seeing patients again. The first afternoon patient came in and as I was treating them I felt like I was about to fall to the ground. I stopped, went to my desk chair and slumped over my desk. My assistant came in and said, “Doc you look terrible, are you OK?” I said, “No,” which was very uncharacteristic of me. I said, “I am having trouble seeing, my face is numb and my left arm is really weak. I need to lie down.”
As I laid there she said, “Doc, you are having a stroke? I watched this happen to my Aunt.” She went and called her husband who was an EMT and they suggested I get an ambulance to the hospital. I told them to just drive me. Her husband helped me out to the car. During the course of the ride, I felt like I could no longer speak and knew I was really in trouble. We arrived at the ER in about 15-20 minutes and I wasn’t able to exit the car on my own. I needed a wheelchair, was slurring and was so very weak.
In the ER, as the staff got me hooked up to the IV, drew blood and starting asking history questions. I had to admit that this had happened about ten days before, as I dropped my daughter off at school. I was unable to drive out of the parking spot due to not being able to see and I experienced weakness. However, it was not nearly as severe as this time. After waiting for about 45 minutes my eye sight began to improve. I had things to do, patients to see and wouldn’t “play into” any problem. What occurred was just as my life had been. I had to just keep going. So, I let that one go. I thought I was in charge!
After much deliberation and time to rest and think, it became evident to me that I was in “what appeared to be” good physical health because I looked “good.” The problem was that I was disease free, but not necessarily healthy. Everything was based on physical health.
I began the exploration of the real state of my health and it made me look at what I now call the four pillars. It became evident that my life was not balanced and was filled with stress from every angle.
On average I slept three to four hours a night. I kept going, because I had to. All the days just ran together. My life was filled with stress. My daughter’s father was deceased and rarely played a role prior to his death. I had financially lost everything due to a business deal gone badly. My daughter was always my priority concern, so raising her was more important to me than money. Regardless, with that came added stress. My thought was as a parent you can’t call “do over,” you’re either there in the moment or you’re not.
My wake up call was to re-evaluate and look for balance and look at each area of what I now call the four pillars and take that second chance while walking the walk and talking the talk.