So sorry about your friend, rockvillemom. I lost a friend a few months ago in a similar circumstance. He collapsed after having lunch with his girlfriend and didn’t recover. It seemed random, and horrible. He was a bit overweight, but nothing you would consider dangerous. I’m glad your friend has a chance, although waiting is hard for everyone.
A good reminder to live in the present and take nothing for granted.
This story is very reminiscent of my poor grandfather, who passed away in his forties the exact same way. He was the head of a large company in his area, and lived a life of luxury and excess. He had been brought up in a village in Scotland and wanted the best for his kids.
My father, my age at the time, was devastated because he had gotten close to his constantly working and strict father. I notice a lot of these parallels with my father, even though he has now outlived his father and is more Americanized. He smokes but does not drink like his father, and is not as overweight. As a result, I was famously named for him but never met him. I’ve only heard stories about what a great man he was and how I would’ve loved him, but there’s always that emptiness of never knowing him myself.
In short, its a scary thing, but a wake up call. I’ll have to make some sacrifices to curve the poor tendencies in my family, but I’d take being able to see my kids and grandkids grow up over a sedentary life any day.
It’s not just sedentary life but smoking will kill you. Two of my brothers smoke when they were younger. The one died of heart attack also smoked up to his 30, at least.
rockvillemom, I had an echo six weeks prior to my heart attack and an EKG ten days prior. No signs of a problem. Climbed Masada three weeks before the heart attack!! I had lost 45 lbs in the year prior to the heart attack – good thing, or I probably would not have survived. I had a 100% blockage.
Don’t forget to review your life insurance coverage!
Yes, reviewed that I continue to have no life insurance, as always.
H’s life insurance is on autopilot–one policy fully paid up on premiums and actually returning excess premiums back to us annually. The other automatically deducted monthly from pension.
Many folks are reexamining cost ca value of life insurance as premiums rise with increasing age and opting to self insure.
A young friend who is a vegetarian near ideal weight and works out often and a vegetarian had his 2nd heart attack at age 40. Fortunately he survived and seems to be pretty healthy, but scary.
I tell him the only reason he and I are alive is that we’re so dang healthy, otherwise we would both be dead or at least severely compromised.
Still waiting for an update. I just wish we had some indication of how this was going to go.
^^Stay busy & focused. I battled breast cancer & had radiation treatments during my younger S’s Bar Mitzvah time 6 years ago. It was such a relief I had a focus on something positive like the planning of a joyous event. I really believe it helped get me through that period.
Well, my father was just taken by ambulance to the ER - so now I have a new focus. Truly the week from hell.
OMG, RVM. SO sorry. Yikes! A week from hell indeed. My week from hell has been going on 13 years but we’re almost through the light at the end of the tunnel and can see an end in sight. Then my stress can de-stress a bit. Wow, hope it’s nothing serious with your dad and just a precaution. Keep us posted. Keep busy & focused!
So sorry, Rockvillemom…
ugh…so sorry. Cyber hugs and warm thoughts coming your way.
I’m so sorry, Rockvillemom. When it rains it pours. I hope your Dad and friend are okay.
I have several close friends die from accidents in their early '20’s, and now that my high school class is preparing for 40th reunion, we arw hearing about more than I would have expected who have died.
Mostly cancers.
So much is genetic. H has all kinds of bad habits, but at 60, he is apparently healthy and both his parents are doing well in their mid-80’s, whereas both my parents died years ago at much younger ages.
It’s sobering.
I’m so sorry Rockvillemom. My BIL passed away in a car accident in 2002 at the age of 47. It is just a tragedy so young. I’m hoping the very best outcome for your friend!!
Thinking of you Rockvillemom and sending extra prayers for your dad and your friend. I hope the next big thing that happens is a good one. Keep faith!
Thank you. Father’s situation is just pain mgmt at this point.
So sorry RVM - rough week for you.
Thoughts and prayers are with you and others who care for him, RVM.
I hope things start looking up, RVmom. My friend seems to be doing much better now, but it was a scary night.