By Kim Lewis, told to Stephanie Watson
As a single mother, I juggled a lot. I had an active son and a job in a health and sports facility. I was busy. Making time for doctor’s appointments and taking care of myself weren’t high on my list. I learned the hard way how important it is to be proactive about my own health.
A little over 20 years ago, when I was 32, I caught a cough that wouldn’t go away. I had so much trouble breathing that I had to sleep upright in a recliner to get enough air in my lungs.
I kept going back to my doctor and telling him that the cough wasn’t getting better and I couldn’t breathe. He diagnosed me with all kinds of things — pneumonia, walking pneumonia, bronchitis. Finally, after the third or fourth visit, I told my doctor, “I think I need to see a pulmonologist.
The lung specialist immediately sent me to the hospital, where I fell into a coma. When I came out of it 3 days later, my doctors told me that I had an inflammation of the heart muscle called myocarditis, which was caused by a virus. I was in heart failure.
A frightening prognosis
The doctors told me I had 5 years left to live. My son was 12 at the time. That meant I couldn’t see him graduating from high school. It was horrible to think about. He is my whole world.
My son was my little boy, but he had to grow up quickly. I was so sick that I needed him to take care of me. When I was 15, he had to drive me to the hospital if I got sick in the middle of the night. If my port came out, he would call the doctor and say, “Tell me what to do. My heart failure put a lot of pressure on him.
change my health
I knew I had to make drastic changes if I wanted to spend more time with my son. I started eating healthy. There was no longer a need to go to fast food counters for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I sat down to heart-healthy meals. Instead of keeping cakes and candy bars on my counter, I have bananas, apples and oranges. I fill my fridge with bottled water, not soda.
Exercise has also become a priority. Rather than watch TV in the evening, I go for a walk. I teach a water aerobics class 3 days a week and play with my grandkids to stay active. I make sure to exercise and see my doctors. And I take guideline-recommended heart failure treatment to help my heart pump blood more efficiently.
I have these really amazing doctors who watch me closely and take good care of me. They say I’m nothing less than a miracle. They don’t have any explanation of what I’m able to do, but they think it’s a combination of healthy living, good medicine and weight loss.
What I would have done differently
If I could talk to my old self, I would tell her that she needs to take better care of her body. I can look back now and say that I probably should have gone to the doctor more often. I should have been more physically active. And I should have had a salad with my slice of pizza instead of eating three slices of pizza.
I also should have sought a second opinion when my doctor ruled out my symptoms. If the doctors had detected my heart failure sooner, I might not have had any permanent damage. There’s a fine line between trusting your doctor and trusting your instincts. If you are not comfortable with what your doctor is telling you, you can seek a second opinion.
If I had to do it again, I would certainly have prioritized my health. I have met many other heart failure survivors who have also put their health on hold while they take care of everything else. I should have put my health first and taken care of myself.
A new outlook on life
Coming so close to death made me appreciate life more. I enjoy holidays, dinners with friends, sunrises and sunsets and the sound of the rain. I enjoy family gatherings. I have a very large family here in Tennessee. We meet about four times a year. I get tickled every time I see them.
I feel like life is more precious now. I know I was given a second chance. After being told I had 5 years left to live, I did over 20. Every day is a gift.