Why we decided to follow our dreams...

Three years ago today, I had a heart attack at the age of 33. I had just turned 33, thirteen days prior. My heart attack was caused by a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD).

A quick overview of SCAD from the Mayo Clinc site:

“Spontaneous coronary artery dissection — sometimes referred to as SCAD — is an uncommon emergency condition that occurs when a tear forms in one of the blood vessels in the heart.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can slow or block blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack, abnormalities in heart rhythm or sudden death.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) most commonly affects women in their 40s and 50s, though it can occur at any age or in men. People who develop spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) are often healthy. Most don't have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can lead to sudden death if it isn't diagnosed and treated promptly. For this reason, seek emergency attention if you experience heart attack signs and symptoms — even if you think you aren't at risk for a heart attack.”

September 20, 2016 was just a normal Tuesday. My husband and I needed to run a few errands together so my in-laws came to watch the kids that morning. After Miles and I finished our errands, we parted ways so I could run to Target to do some last minute shopping for our upcoming beach trip and then go grocery shopping. I made it home a little before noon and loaded my groceries inside all while talking on the phone with Meg. While I was finishing up my conversation with her, a very strange and uncomfortable pain moved down my chest. It stopped me in my tracks so I quickly and casually got off the phone as to not alarm her.

I moved to sit down in my office chair in the next room as the pain escalated quickly. Thank God my in-laws were there with me and the children because I told my mother-in-law I was having chest pain and she asked me if I needed a Tums. Once I said no, her very next question was whether she should call 911 and I said yes. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, I moved to the floor trying to get some relief from the crushing pain but was unsuccessful. All the while, my mother-in- law was on the phone with the 911 operator and my father-in-law was trying to keep my four year old son from seeing me in such a scary situation and was also calling my husband to let him know what was going on. Thankfully my daughter, who was one and a half at the time, was down for a nap.

Once the EMT’s arrived, they were fairly certain I was just having a panic attack. I had no clue what was happening but I was pretty confident it was not a panic attack. Too make a very long and dramatic story short, they took their time getting me to the hospital. No lights, no sirens, driving the speed limit, stopping at all the lights.

Miles had rushed to the hospital from the other side of Nashville and thankfully his face was the first thing I saw when they opened the back of the ambulance up. Upon entering the ER, it was quickly confirmed that I was, in fact, having a heart attack. Thank God again, that the cardiologist on call had seen one other patient before with SCAD and immediately knew what was happening. He rushed me back to the cath lab where he placed a stent that saved my life but the stent wasn’t enough to sustain me long term so I was rushed by ambulance to a larger hospital for an emergency double bypass surgery. I was in the cardiac ICU for 7 days and the hospital for a total of 9 days.

Walking for the first time following open heart surgery.

Miles and I while I was in the hospital.

It was a loooonnngggg road to recovery. One that I am still on today. Because of the length of time that the EMT’s took in getting me to the hospital, my heart was severely damaged and every day I deal with having heart failure with a low ejection fraction. It’s something that I will always deal with, but I am thankful to be alive and to be here with my sweet babies and husband. I’m thankful to be surrounded by my family and friends who help us tremendously and tirelessly. We are all slowly figuring out this new normal.

Which brings me back to the point of why Meg and I decided to follow our dreams! Though this whole journey, our family has learned the hard way that you only live once and life can change in a blink of an eye so you better do what you want with the life you have. Meg and I always dreamed of owning a business and working together and The Tidy Home is that dream come to life!! We are forever grateful for everyone that has supported us so far for helping us make our dream a reality!

Thank you for reading and following along!! <3