What lesson is taken away from this?

[Cheyanne]

I am struggling with this dear Pixies, and I find myself turning to you all to express what I am feeling but cannot really express to anyone other than Cobalt.

I received a phone call this morning as I was getting ready for work from a friend/co-worker this morning about another friend/co-worker.

She and I had been worried about this friend for a while - she had been appearing tired and run down the past couple of weeks and was experiencing what we thought was either the flu or hopefully not the return of her cancer she went thru and beat a little over a year ago. We both had been encouraging her to go to the doctor and she didn't (no insurance). Finally, she did go and her potassium levels were really low and she was extreemly dehydrated. The local hospital kept her overnight and rehydrated her and then sent her home the next day. She stayed home for a couple of days and then last night around 11:00 p.m., drove her 3 daughters to her friend/babysitter and dropped them off and then drove herself to the local hospital.

At 11:30 p.m., she experienced her first cardiac arrest. The local hospital called for the life flight helecopter, but it wasn't available so they put her in an ambulance and drove her to the major hospital that was 50 minutes away (if going 70 mph). On the way, shortly after leaving the local hospital a little after midnight, she expereinced her second cardiac arrest. They brought her back. About 15 minutes away from the major hospital, she experienced major cardiac arrest and they couldn't bring her back.

She was 34 years old.
She has 3 daughters - 1st grade, 4th grade and 9th grade.
Her husband wasn't at her side, but on his way to her (he is an over the road truck driver)

I can't seem to wrap my mind around this.

[gekkogecko]

Lesson #1 is a harsh one:

Living thing die, and there's nothing you can do about that finality.

Lesson #2:

How you deal with the death of living things emotionally close to you is largely dependent on how you live your own life.

Lesson #3:

Sometimes, people need hugs.
((Cheyanne))

[jbh3]

She must have been one special woman for God to go to such lengths to take her from us.

We all have our "time" to go.It sure would make life easier if we all knew "when".But , we don't and thus he relies on our FAITH IN HIM to make the right decision.

It was great to see you here again Chey . Perhaps next time it will be in times of joy

--jbh3

[Lilith]

((hugs)) sometimes there is no sense to be made

[Oldfart]

Just a reminder that all you have is "now", and how you use the now is the most important thing of all.

Rejoice in what she was and achieved, not what you perceive she missed out on.

[Cheyanne]

Thanks guys... this is all so fresh that I simply can't wrap my mind around it. My office is next to where she sits. I just have to look out my door and see her and I found myself working and running across stuff and looking out my door to tell her and she wasn't there.

This is the thrid parent in the district that has died all within 3 weeks. One auto accident, one suicide and now this. Grief counselors and area priests, ministers and pastors walked the halls all day

What I am taking away from this is what most would. Appreciate EVERYONE surrounding you - not just the people you like, but also the people you don't like so well because there are others who love that person and would miss them if they were gone. Be thankful for EVERYTHING that you have. When you think things can't get any worse it really can. If you want to do something then do it ... don't wait until next week, or the week after. I am sure that I will think of more, but you guys get the idea.

[IowaMan]

I don't know that there is any single lesson to be taken from what has happened. About all I can say is that what you said is a very good foundation for all of us to consider. Life is a very uncertain thing at best and we really do have to appreciate everything and everyone that we have.

I'm so incredibly sorry Cheyanne.

(((((Cheyanne))))))

[sodaklostsoul]

((((((((((((((((Cheyanne))))))))))))))))))))

[osuche]

(((((Chey)))))))

Hold your loved ones a little bit closer, because you can.

[WildIrish]

I'm very sorry to hear about your coworker and friend. My heart cries for the children. News like this is very hard for me to accept...and I will never understand it.


((((Chey))))

[wyndhy]

((((hugs)))) chey

[Belial]

*gives Chey a long warm hug* ((((((((((((((Chey)))))))))))))))

[Aqua]

(((((Chey)))))))

My wife lost a co-worker a few years ago. Not anyone she was close too, but she had still worked with this person for MANY years. He was a hard worker and rarely called in sick, but wasn't exactly a snappy dresser and inadvertantly exposed a little 'plumber's crack' from time to time. He also had musical tastes that were about 180 degrees from most people in the office, including my wife. One day he didn't come in to work, nor did he call. No show the next day as well. When it was finally checked out, he had apparently suffered a heart attack at home and died alone. After that my wife said she actually missed his unsightly crack and horrid music and would gladly take that over him being gone.

The point of this story is it goes along with what you said, Chey. Appreciate everyone... you never know when they will be gone.

[Cheyanne]

((((Everyone))))

The visitation was yesterday.
The funeral today at the school. The place was packed. I don't think people realize how many souls that they touch in such a short period of time.

The cancer that she had was cervical cancer. This is the same type that this new 'shot' is supposed to help prevent. Her 3 girls are going to get the shot.

We found out that the cause of her heart failure was due to her cancer coming back and spreading throughout her body. They had no insurance so she didn't go to any of her followup appts - they still owed from her treatments before and was getting sued by the hospital for the past due bills. I assume that the doctor and hospital would have kept treating her, but she was under the impression that they wouldn't see her (according to her husband) if they didn't pay half of what was owed. She was going to have a full hysterectormy, but was trying to save the money for the surgery.

I intend to take my daughter who is 12 to the doctor and find out more about this shot. If this one little pain can stop something like this from happening to her, then I believe it is well worth it. In fact, after finding out more about this, and researching it, I firmly believe that this is something that all young girls should do. Perhaps that is this young mom's legacy.

[Lilith]

Maybe her daughters will tell her story and help other young women to protect themselves.

[TinTennessee]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}]] Chey...you know I'm here if you need me. I love you!

[LixyChick]

(((((Cheyanne)))))

I don't have much to add to the above except to say that your compassion shines through here and so it must be a bold comfort to those you are in personal contact with (ie:the family of the co-worker/friend you lost).

[flutelady]

(((Cheyanne))), first I want to tell you how very sorry I am for the loss of your friend. It's horrible to hear that she was so ill and felt that she was unable to get treatment.

You said her potassium level was very low. This is called hypokalemia and extremely low levels can lead to cardiac arrest. Hydrating her would help, but I'd be very interested to know what they did about her potassium deficit as rehydration alone doesn't replace lost potassium.

[Cheyanne]

Flutelady.. they rehydrated her and then sent her home. What bothers me the most is that is how they found her cancer to begin with.

(((((((Thanks Everyone))))))))