It's Been One Year...

Today is June 22nd, 2009 (duh!!)...what is so special about it?? It marks the one year anniversary that I defied odds...I survived.

One year ago at this time (in France) I crossed the Ironman Nice finish line and knew that things were not right. What transpired after my finish is a haze in my head, and, it makes me cringe to even think about what my family/friends witnessed.

However, I do feel it is important to write about this, in detail, because it keeps me grounded, optimistic and feeling fortunate for every day. At this time, one year ago, I crossed the Ironman Nice finish line and was taken to the med-tent with what they thought was dehydration (it was +40 degrees celcius out). They hooked me up to an IV and waited to see what would happen...At that time, going through my head was that I thought I did everything right, I drank enough because I knew i was prone to dehydration. During this time, I knew things were very, very wrong; all I wanted to do was sleep. After one IV, they hooked up another...at which point I threw up water, a LOT of water...and this is where I stop remembering....

Gregory filled me in on the rest; and I am thankful I do not remember. Since I threw up fluids they hooked me up to a 3rd IV! and I did not get better so they called an ambulance to take me to the hospital. On the way to the hospital, I started seizing and would not stop, so they induced a coma. At the hospital, they discovered my sodium/potassium serums (electrolyte balance) was deathly low....so they started infusing me with electrolytes...Simple solution, right? Well, not after you seize and your electrolytes go so low. They were scared I had brain swelling and had brain damage.

I am sooo fortunate..and I don't know why, but my Cat Scan came back normal...That does not mean that I am not crazy! Of course we know I am a little "weird"...Gotta put some humor in this somewhere. In technical terms, I had hyponautremia.

I think that a common theme through my blog is how I take each experience I encounter and try and gain perspective from it. Ironman Nice taught me that I am not invincible! It also taught me that I must appreciate everything I do, and never, ever take anything for grantid. For instance, a 10 minute bike ride might not seem worthy of consideration to an Ironman athlete, but what if that was the last 10 minutes you could ever ride?

Ironman Nice also taught me how important family is...I cannot put it into words, but when you think of losing your loved ones and then realize that they were waiting in the Emergency room wondering if they might lose me...that is perspective!

Cheers to one year of health, happiness and love!