8 Second - Impact

8 Seconds.,

My life ended with a period and then, began again, with a comma.

8 seconds has left a huge impact on me. In 8 seconds, I died. My heart stopped. Every function ceased. If my life was a sentence, there wasn’t a comma but a period at the end.

My life has always been filled with the unexpected. I wouldn’t know how to live it any other way. I was admitted into the hospital on 1/27/12 due to chest pains for over 2 weeks. The pain and other symptoms brought me there with the hopes of a diagnosis.

In an effort to get rid of the chest pains, I was given morphine in my IV while the medical technician was performing an EKG. I heard the technician ask me to put my arm down as it was propped up on a pillow. I looked at my arm but had no control over it. That was all I can remember before I was gone.

The heart has 3 “internal” pacemakers. When one ceases to function, another kicks in and when that one ceases, the third one acts as a backup. It is uncommon for all three “pacemakers” to cease but mine did. Even more puzzling was the lack of any electrical impulse or function.

As the medical team filled the room, according to Jeff, I opened my eyes. There were gasps and words of amazement. One of the medical team members said, “Wow! Would you look at that?” Later, an RN told my daughter, “This doesn’t happen. To have your mom open her eyes without any heart function is nothing short of a miracle.”

I reflect on those 8 seconds where I died yet I was more alive than ever before. I was looking down from a spectator view of myself. I saw a rebirth of sorts. I watched as my spirit began leaving the “costume” or “shell” of me behind. Every part of me was being pulled upward, away from what I knew as me. With one more leg and foot to go, I was almost free. But, I heard a voice faintly calling my name. I wanted to stay in that present yet, the voice grew louder. I opened my eyes, not knowing where I was. I started to close my eyes again, back to the warmth of what I saw. But, I was told to keep my eyes open. Then, my eyes locked on J and he embraced me and I knew that I was back.

A lot can happen in 8 seconds. You can…

v Eat one French fry (or 3, depending on your fry style)

v Catch a touch down pass

v Sing the first part of Awesome God – “Our God is an awesome God, he reigns in heaven above” (depending on the tempo).

v Kiss passionately

v Scramble an egg

v Greet someone in passing

v Send a text message

v Pick a flower

v Say a prayer of thanks

v Run to the mailbox

v Hammer a nail

v Buy a pack of gum from the store

v Put on a jacket.

v Roast a marshmallow

v Come up with a brilliant idea

v Listen – really listen as someone talks

v Cry

v Run a race

v Say goodbye