An Unscheduled Stop to The Emergency Room

Wow! What a Monday!

This weekend I had a big flair up with a common chest pain that I have had on and off the last year but for some reason this time it just felt different.  I had also been feeling nauseous a lot and even though I look pregnant at times I am sure that this couldn’t be the case (unless of course I was abducted by aliens and made into an experiment).  So last night I did what most smart people do…I got on WebMD.com to make my own “professional” diagnosis.  The results came back as angina (which doesn’t sound manly at all) or heart attack.  I then did the next best thing I could think of: I went to sleep and decided to call a doctor for a visit this morning.

My appointment was scheduled for 3 p.m. but my chest starting hurting again and I got a really bad feeling. I called the doctor to see if I could get in ASAP and I was told to immediately go to the emergency room. Don’t finish my coffee, don’t do one more design, don’t make whoopee – get there now!!! And I can’t say that I didn’t contemplate whoopee. After all, I am a red-blooded male and figured what better way to die?

Two hours after being scanned, stuck, and hooked up up to a machine like a dead battery I emerged from the emergency room.  The report and tests all came back good and they think it was just a bad case of stress or anxiety.  While I don’t think I am stressed I am grateful to God that is wasn’t something worse. My dad died from a massive heart attack at age 51 and some of my mom’s family have been diagnosed with rare forms of cancer so naturally I was just a little cautious this time.

This whole situation isn’t a new reminder of just how precious life can be; I already know that and am thankful for every breath of every day! But it is a reminder. The hardest thing today was watching my children get upset and that hurt worse than the actual pain.

My goal of this post is not having a pity party for myself. No, this is about telling people how you never know what each day brings and that we must think of every day as our last. Material possessions, awards, job titles, money and bills – they don’t make a damn bit of difference in life.  As John Ortberg’s book title says, “When The Game Is Over, It ALL Goes Back in the Box!” The stuff that does matter and makes a difference is focusing on God, relationships, and loving others.

Please don’t wait before it’s too late to do what matters. Don’t put off being with your spouse, spending time with your kids or family, inviting a neighbor to lunch, visiting the forgotten elderly or sick, telling someone you’re sorry, or stopping just to be present with someone you love. Tomorrow might not come, but today you have every opportunity to do what matters!