Supposedly 500,000
women die a year from heart disease...
I read it once, but didn’t believe it.
Then I died on June 6, 2003.
With radiating pain in my upper back, I went to the emergency room.
My intuition told me something very unusual was happening. Abnormal
EKG's, nitroglycerin administered under my tongue, a lot of blood
drawn, tears running down my face, it didn't seem good. About two
hours later a cardiologist opened the curtain separating me from the
man getting stitches, "You're young and a woman, probably
indigestion; you’ll rest better at home." With that I was
discharged. A few hours later at home I had a massive coronary and
died.
It wasn’t indigestion.
I have missed a lot since then...
• My oldest daughter and her husband had a baby boy, two years later
they had a baby girl.
• My other two daughters graduated college.
• One got married.
• She had two baby girls.
• I had always planned on being a cool grandma (gaga)
• My youngest daughter starting teaching. I knew she'd accomplish
her goal. I'm sorry she doesn't know how extremely proud I am.
• I missed my anniversary – 33 years of marriage. I wished I had
hugged my husband more.
• My mom outlived me. Something that no parent should experience.
• Three reminder cards came in the mail to have a mammogram. The
Women’s Breast Cancer center wasn’t notified.
• Oprah ran a special on women’s heart disease. I liked Oprah, I
would have missed it. I worked full time.
Real version: Barely conscious I was taken to emergency room the
next day.
I needed surgery; I have been given another chance at life.
I am your sister, your mother, your neighbor, the lady you see
panting on the treadmill, and yes that is me you see grocery
shopping on Saturday morning.
I am Lois Trader, a woman living with heart disease. I care that I
was hours away from being one of the 500,000.
