Hello friends. In the early hours of Dec 10th, I experienced a tightness in my chest, a shortness of breath, and a pain in my left arm. After an hour of trying to wish it away and deny the obvious, I finally called 911 for a ride to the hospital. In the brief window before the ambulance arrived, while I was sweating & struggling to breathe, I filled out a Time Off Request form for my shift later that day, with the note "sorry for short notice, having heart attack rn."

I'm sure many of us can relate to the stress of trying to keep your life in order even as your body is screaming at you to PAUSE, REST, AND RECUPERATE. I managed to push my luck too far, and my heart made the time-out decision for me. My doctor said I need to avoid strenuous work for at least 10 days. I'm now out of the hospital, and I'm spending this week making follow-up appointments, figuring out a low-sodium diet, and shopping for a pill organizer to suit my new lifestyle. Not strenuous, but also doesn't generate income.

Now, THANK GOODNESS my medical coverage is going to shoulder the costs of the hospital visit, etc. But unfortunately, I have already missed a few shifts of work, and will likely miss a couple more due to my parade follow-up appointments. I am asking for donations to provide financial relief while I take the time needed to recover. Any amount you could pitch in will alleviate mental & cardiac stress, which will absolutely have a positive impact on my recovery. Think of it as indirect somatic therapy!

Of course, any help you can give, even a share, is greatly appreciated. I'm already so grateful to simply be alive.