Some of you met my roommate and business partner, K, on the Thoughts Las Vegas Trip, as he was my invited guest.
Yesterday, around 4:30 pm I heard K pull into the driveway. Moments later the phone rang and he requested I come outside to his car. He sounded a bit weak and before hanging up said, "I'm pretty sure I'm having a heart attack." After checking him out I ran in to call 911 and finally got an answer after many rings. (I learned one thing yesterday -- when you live in the City of Detroit proper and face a medical emergency -- you are on your own.)
Robin (my next door neighbor) was sitting at her computer next to her open window facing my driveway. She heard me telling K not to move and that help was on the way. Robin is a medical technician, but having her own husband die in her arms (from a heart attack) on the side of the freeway this past January, totally freaked out once she arrived on scene. She just kept saying "this can't happen to me again -- I can't do this." So now I had a heart attack victim and a neighbor to calm down.
I didn't have any aspirin, as my sensitive stomach can't handle aspirin, so I asked Robin if she had some aspirin and she said yes, so I sent her off to fetch it. I gave two baby aspirin to K and after a few minutes he said the severe pain had eased a bit. Twenty minutes had now passed -- since my call to 911 -- with no arrival of help, so I helped K to the passenger seat and took off for the hospital. I had no idea how long the aspirin would be effective and wanted to take advantage of this "window of time". The only hospital I knew I could get to quickly and easily is not top notch, but it would have to do. I drove 60 miles per hour to the hospital and left the car in the emergency parking bay while I ran in to get some help.
I'm not a loud person, but upon arrival, at the ER, I was literally screaming for someone to help and within seconds many people sprang into action. To make a long story short the doctors were able to open the blocked artery using coronary angioplasty and a stent. K is in ICU and it has yet to be determined if his heart sustained any permanent damage.
The doctor said I took a huge risk driving K to the hospital, but if he had died in the driveway while waiting -- who knows how long -- for the arrival of EMS I would have felt guilty. As I was racing to the hospital I thought to myself -- even if K dies on the way I would have peace knowing I took action and did all within my power to obtain help. I also received praise from the doctor for having the presence of mind to administer an aspirin. I sit here today knowing I did my best in a chaotic stressful situation. Prayers and good thoughts would be appreciated for K as he recovers.
Peace & Love -
Colorado Dreamin
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