On 10/10/2010 Robert collapsed at home with his first AF attack. Apparently that is the luckiest day in the chinese calender.
When we met the pharmacist on the ward the next day, he told us, that 90% of initial AF attacks end fatally. He said it again – 90% don’t survive the first attack. He told Robert he was lucky to get a second chance, and to do everything the Doctors told him.
Today we had a small tea party – just us and the kids – Charlie said ‘Congratulations on still being alive, Dad’ – out of the mouths of babes!
Last week, after being off ill in the middle of a recession, Robert got a job – he starts tomorrow. It was a huge lesson for us to learn as a family. Health scares happen, and it can take a year to get over them – but Robert, god bless him, has gotten over his scare.
He has regular check ups at the warfarin clinic, attends out-patients appointments, he goes to his GP if he feels unwell. In short he looks after his health, and it has paid off.
Ironically my late Father had AF as well – he took his first heart attack in his early 50’s and like Robert he too followed the doctor’s advice to the letter and lived until he was 80.
So we are celebrating doubly today – Robert is still alive! And starts a new chapter in his working life tomorrow!
Well done Robert!!! Perhaps the chinese are right and tenth of the tenth 2010 was indeed a lucky day for all of us especially Robert!
Always the positive and upbeat Joan!!!! Good luck with the new job and keep up with the blog and writing.