The Beginning

This Journal actually began on Thursday, September 4, 2008. I had a friend take me to the ER from work because I thought my gallbladder was about to explode. But within a few seconds of entering the triage room at Baylor Grapevine Hospital I had seven doctors, nurses, techs in my room with oxygen being forced into my lungs and I found myself flailing as if I was drowning in a horrible whirlpool. Thus began my journey into the world of heart disease, heart caths and eventually open heart surgery - all at the young age of 54. This is a place I never expected to be and was even somewhat embarrassed because my career as a Whole Health Manager at a retail store seemed to be quite a contradiction to where my physical body was taking me.

But I hope that as I journal back in time to the present I am able to make sense of these scarry events to myself and help others who may find themselves identifying with my fears, my options and the doctor's conclusions.

I plan to also have a little fun where possible because laughter has truly been a key part of my recovery.

So came into my Open Heart Journal - laugh, cry and pray with me, my family and friends and most important - LIVE.

Kathleen