Genius Golfer's mom is a stubborn, fierce, little, octogenarian woman with a golden heart that oozes love for her family. This week that oozing heart stopped twice.
Wednesday, GG's sisters have a standing sewing day with Mamacita. At some point during the day, she felt unwell enough that the girls called an ambulance. While the paramedics rushed her to the emergency room she got worse. Once there, but before the ER could admit her she threw up and lost consciousness and somehow, suddenly had no pulse. One of the crack staff nurses at the ER jumped up on the gurney and began chest compressions. Luckily it didn't take much for her to jumpstart Mamacita's heart. She was admitted to the hospital to find out what just happened, and why.
After several tests, a couple of IVs, and some creative thinking from the doctor--who, to test his theory, squeezed her carotid artery in her neck and flatlined her again--they discovered she needed a pacemaker.
For a little lady who is a retired RN herself, this was a lot of scare for a pretty mundane fix. And we are so grateful. Mamacita has been adamant about no heroic life saving measures for her. She is actually a DNR/DNI patient. But the ER folks did what they did because of their training. We had no idea it was this serious right off the bat.
Yesterday she received a pacemaker to keep her heart beating regularly and we were told it has a 10 year battery life. So, at 82 in a few weeks, that pacemaker could outlive Mamacita. But who can tell?
Genius Golfer rushed north to be with his mom and his sisters so that together they can make important decisions for and, luckily now, with this wonderful lady. So her stubbornness and fierceness are for her good, as well as the family's. And now, she is bionic Mamacita!
