Near Death

We’ve all had near misses in life – narrowly avoided car accidents or other tragedies where with pounding hearts we thank God (or the powers that be) that it just wasn’t our time.

For some of us, it goes a step further into the realm of near death experiences. Yes, the white light, seeing long-passed Uncle Bob, kind of encounter. For me, my near death experience was early in life so I have no real conscious memory but the effects still shape me to this day. A true “life shaping” moment.

How about you? I’d love to hear if you’ve had a brush with the grim reaper and how it has impacted the person you are today.

Here’s the next installment in my story:

Chapter 1 Near Death

Author’s note: A bit graphic, but it was the beginning.

When I was 6 months old, some 55 years ago, I had a severe cold/flu with a 105-degree fever. As I proceeded to throw up phlegm I aspirated, which is when the gunk is inhaled back into your lungs. The diagnosis was “Chemical Pneumonia,” not sure what they call it now. I have never heard of anyone else with this “thing” in 55 years!

This book is not about the medical angle of illness but rather the emotional side effects left behind. Today, if you looked, watched or talked with me, you could not tell at all, well maybe you might think something is wrong, but not from my childhood incident!

Anyway, after I aspirated, the ambulance came and off we went to the hospital, my mother and I. Imagine the fright for my parents, a six-month baby who was blue and almost dead.

If my Dad was not holding me and heard/felt gurgling in my stomach and had the quick thinking to hold me over the sink and try to make me throw up; I wouldn’t be here today and there would no story of my life. So in a way, you all have to suffer through this, because I lived. Good for ME, sucks for YOU!

For some reason, I still think I remember the ambulance, but it is probably one of those weird memories of hearing about something so many times, you think you remember it as if you were there. Pretty scary so far…..

Stay tuned for Chapter 2 - “The Hospital”