SEASON THE HEART JOURNEY
My Story
Hi, Nancy here, mom of two amazing teenage boys, Walker and Bayler, and a wonderful wife to Jeff, I know he will agree! In addition to being a mom and wonderful wife, I added Heart Attack Survivor to that list this year. And yep, I’m only 48 – I know, “Too young and a woman.” It can happen to anyone.
June 20, 2019 was going along like any other day. My cousin and I had been working on a house that we were flipping, so it wasn’t odd for me to ache in my back. I had been holding a paint sprayer most of the day over my head. It wasn’t odd for me to be exhausted, I had been for the past few months.
That evening, while waiting for my sister, Lisa, who was visiting for the weekend, my husband and I joined our neighbor Candice for a glass of wine. I mentioned that I felt like I was getting a chest cold. We decided it was because I had been around sawdust, paint, and everything else you’re around when re-doing a house – that was probably affecting me. I believe Candice’s words to me were, “Buck Up” (that is now a running joke – still love you Candice).
By the time my sister got in I was exhausted and felt like I was having a panic attack, which I started having when my dad’s heart issues began a few years earlier so I figured I would go to bed and get some rest.
In the wee hours of the morning I awoke and told my husband something didn’t feel right, I had another panic attack coming on and asked him to get my sister. When they came back in our room I was laying on the floor of our bathroom. I had begun sweating, as if a bucket of water had been dumped on me. Things get a little fuzzy for me here – although, I do remember my sister yelling at me – she said later, “It was because I love you.” I was taken to the hospital and then airlifted out of our local hospital and transported to the University of Missouri Hospital. Shout out to a fantastic cardiac team there!
I now have one stent in what is considered the Widow Maker. I was blessed it was just below where the true Widow Maker happens. This is what has brought me to Season the Heart.
Season the Heart
Season the Heart is my heart journey with food, gardening and living a new life. When I was considering doing a blog about my journey, I wasn't sure it was the right choice for me. I love sharing about food and gardening, but writing, that is something that was not screaming “do it.”
One day I was having lunch with my youngest teen, Bay. I was talking with him about this possible blog. I told him I couldn’t decide what to name it. I said, “Of course the easy titles were, ‘Mom Had a Heart Attack’”, and after a few not so exciting titles I said how about, Season the Heart? He came back with, “Sure, or you could just call it ‘Gods Plan’, because it will work out.” These kids are smarter than we give them credit for, and they sure know how to “Season the Heart.”
My father had extensive heart disease so I had practice in making low sodium dishes for him and now I will continue in the journey of finding heart healthy meals and lifestyles with you.
Please enjoy what I share with you in Season the Heart and would love to hear from you, so post your comments or shoot me an email. The more we share the more we grow.
- Nancy Smith