Saturday, December 1, 2012

My Second Lease Of Life

I don't know where to start. This is going to be a heavy post. So skip it if you are looking for something light-hearted.

It is Saturday. I am sitting in a hospital room in Little Rock, with an IV still in my hand, the nurse's call button by my side. Everything is bittersweet right now.

On Monday, my best friend (who was visiting me and Baby Jack Harrison from Singapore), baby Jack Harrison and I went to an aunt's house for lunch and visit with the other visiting aunts. It was shaping out to be a good day - good weather, Baby Jack was getting sweet loving from all his grand aunts and little cousins, delicious home cooking (chicken and dumplins', turnips greens, pumpkin cake). Then, I hemorrhaged. And it won't stop. It didn't stop. I couldn't move because blood would be dripping everywhere. Thank goodness my best friend came looking for me. I asked her to call one of the aunts. Then, I blacked out.

Two aunts and my best friend drove me to the hospital where the boyfriend's dad was at. Another two took my baby in my vehicle and followed. My blood pressure was dropping rapidly. I was cold. I was tired. I was bleeding. They gave me a lot of fluids and blood. Dad (what I called my boyfriend's dad) tried to fix me, he wasn't able. So I guessed I was transferred to a hospital in Little Rock in an ambulance. Think they were gonna fly me to Little Rock but the weather was not good.
Once I was in Little Rock, I went into surgery. They gave me more blood. Nineteen units of blood.
They fixed the problem. I was on the ventilator, intubated, hooked up to all kinds of machines and IVs. I was in ICU for a few days, moved to a step-down progressive care unit, and then to a regular room now.

My heart is heavy. I was so close to losing it all. The doctors are still trying to figure out why and how it happened., especially since I was 4 weeks post-partum, feeling good, and showed no signs of
anything bad.  Almost feels like I ought to have a second birthday. I still have some recovery to do. I am still scared. But I am still here.
I can't wait to see my baby (he is being taken care of by family right now).  Oh gosh. I miss him.
I will get well enough to run. Just hang in there with me.
I believe in prayers. So, if you pray, I selfishly ask you to pray for me and my little family.

16 comments:

  1. Christina! How lucky you are to be alive. I am so glad you made it. You and your family will be in my thoughts this month.

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  2. Oh my goodness! I am so glad to hear that you are doing OK. That is very scary. How lucky you are that your friends and family were able to act quickly to get you the help you needed. And thank God for the care you received and for all the blood donors, because holy crap girl, 19 units is a lot. We've never met in real life, but I feel like I kind of know you, and I just feel so relieved that you are recovering from this. You and the family will be OK, but I'm sure you really miss your little guy right now. Keep healing, and you'll be back home with your family soon. Praying for you and your full recovery!

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  3. Omg Christina! I don't even know what to say, I'm a little shaking now. I'm so glad you are in good hands and everythings turned out well. I hope they figure out soon the reason, so you can live in peace again. Right now, i just wish i could be there and give you a huge hug! I miss you and i keep you and your family in my prayers.

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  4. I am so glad that you are ok! I will be praying for you and your little man!

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  5. OH my goodness. Wow! So glad they fixed you up. BE with your baby soon!

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  6. I am REALLY glad you are okay. Phew!! Don't worry about your little man, I'm sure he's in good hands with your family right now. Just rest and heal. You lost a lot of blood and won't be back to normal energy for a while.

    FYI - I, too, hemorrhaged after my son was born and almost died. For me it happened closer to the birth, but was a very scary time, afterwards even more so when I realized how close I cam come. So I empathize (I think) with what you are feeling. Try not to be too freaked out, just remember that every day is a gift and seek to enjoy it! Sometimes we forget that small fact.

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  7. Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you are ok! I know that must have been so terrifying for you. Thank goodness you were surrounded by family and they acted quickly to get you the best possible care. Hope you continue to feel better!

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  8. thinking of you and sending healing vibes your way!

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  9. Oh Christina I am so very glad you are ok! Prayers coming your way!

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  10. Glad you are ok! Hope things continue to ge better - You will be in my thoughts

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  11. CHRISTINA!!! OMG! i am so glad you are getting better. its good that you were around people and not alone. Big hugs to you and your family. keep us posted! xoxox

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  12. I'm so glad your family was there. You (and family) are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  13. Scary stuff lady! Running will be there when you're ready. It's fatihful like that so, don't worry about that.
    I'm *so* glad you're ok and that there were people around to take care of you.
    Rest well and get better.

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  14. Wow, that's scary. Thank goodness you were with family. I am glad you are on the mend.

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  15. That's very scary. You're getting lots of prayers from me. I hope you are doing better.

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  16. An experience like that is no doubt life altering! I will pray! And it's so not selfish to ask for prayer i believe Jesus even asked for prayer :-) and the beauty of the running community is that we all have big hearts for each other!!! I look forward to following you and hope for a speedy recovery so you can get back at it! Prayers!

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