At 21, It Was Either Life Or Death
25 October 2002
I am 24 now, but 3 years ago at 21 I had an Aortic Aneurysm rupture in my chest. I have so many emotions, stronger toady, than I did at the time of my surgery. Their was no warning, their was no preparation, It was either life or death. I will tell you a little bit about my story, for the most part to let some of the emotions roll off my weighing mind.
Only 3 months after my 21 st birthday I was at home, around 11pm, I had just came home from work. I attend the University of Connecticut and had just finished the spring semester. I took a shower laid on my bed and proceeded to watch TV. Only this night something was different. Before I start let me fill you in on a little background.
My father past away of his second major heart attack at the young age of 38. I was 8 years old at the time and would never forget that moment. Myself, along with my sisters were taught how to eat properly and encouraged to exercise. I played baseball, football, and basketball in High School and realized when I was 15 (by mere coincidence) that I had a heart murmur. This was fine I was told, the only thing I was required to do was have a yearly eco-cardiogram and take antibiotics when having dental work done. I lived a normal teenage life.
In college played baseball, but was Redshirted because of an Ankle injury. I thus became an avid weight lifter, with the admiration of professionally competing someday. I new my body, I ate 8 meals a day worked out 7 days a week and took care of myself. Of course I had a few drinks with my friend, but that was the extent of my leaser.
To bring you back to the beginning of this story, I was laying on my bed watching TV, when an awful sharp pain hit me right in the middle of the chest. I had worked out earlier at the gym and assumed that it was from something I had done there earlier that day. I ignored it and for a split second it went away.With in an instant breath the pain came back, this time 10 times worse, The pain quickly shot through my neck and into my jaw. Immediately following was shortness of breath and wheezing. At first my mother thought it was heartburn, but my body told me different. As she got ready to take me to the hospital, I couldn't help to think of dying, but worst than that to leave my sisters behind. They had already lost their father and the thought of leaving scared me so. I didn't want to end up in my fathers shoes, It terrified me, I was in shock. Keep in mind that all these thought accumulated in a matter of seconds.
Upon arrival at the hospital I was admitted immediately and observed by the doctor on call in the ER that night. The ran all the standard test on me, not knowing what was wrong. Well my EKG reading seemed to be peeked in some spots, the thought behind that was from my strong conviction to the gym.
As 1am came around (with help from my Mother) I decided to stay at the hospital that night. Since a stress test was scheduled for me later that day. Upon waking up, what seemed only 5 minutes later I was having my third CAT scan and in the ICU. My cardiologist, the one that was monitoring my heart murmur, insisted that I had (fluid around the lungs), but after failed attempts to give me antibiotics for the condition, a new doctor came in (the cardiologist on call) who, read my CAT scan and realized that my Aorta was two times its normal size, also, it was apparent that their was more than one hole in my Aorta. The Doctor told my mother that If I wasn't taken to another facility that I was not, going to make it.
The LIFESTAR helicopter took me from New London, CT to Yale New Haven Hospital, where the greatest cardio-thoracic surgeon on the planet, heads that unit. Dr. John Elefteriades saved my life. However, he proclaimed that it was more of a miracle then for human intervention. Regardless of what he said, I believe I was being watched over, and this man, this doctor, was to guide me through. That he did, and to him, I am forever grateful.
This is only part of my story, I am 24 know, and struggle with traumatic reoccurrences of that night and the proceeding days. It is not common, in the least bit, for a young man my age to have a life altering surgery as this. It has been a struggle to find someone around my age, that has gone through the same or similar situation. Not that I hope to find one either, 21 on is the beginning of your adult life, I would not wish an experience like this on my worst enemy, it is truly humbling.
Even when I go to my cardiologist I feel like an out cast, everyone there is 50,60,70, and so on. If I tell one of my professors or colleagues that I have a doctors appointment, or need to have my blood checked, (protyme) People look at me in disbelief. I look healthy, but inside that couldn't be farther from the truth. My heart may be fixed, but my mind still needs time to heal.
Just remember, If you have something like this happen to you, or a loved, always, always remember that your never alone. God has a plan for you, and live every moment for what its worth. I would love to meet people that have dealt with these circumstances, so that I could express my feelings and share my story further.
Here's a little something that I always tell myself, "It's up to you."
Discussion, comments, or questions: William Linski
© Copyright 2002 William
Linski
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