Over the weekend, our friend SHU had a very scary experience while running a race. Her story is here. She didn’t do anything wrong, and had no way of knowing she had this underlying condition. She got up that morning to run a race, and ended up in the hospital. This was a potentially life threatening situation, and we’re all so glad she’s okay.
This could happen to any of us- probably not this specific condition- it’s quite rare- but any one of us could have our lives changed in an instant. Facing life or death situations makes our current political situation seem NOT QUITE as important. And… maybe it really will work out in the end.
There are obvious drawbacks to thinking that way. We could look at Germany and say “Hey, that whole Nazi thing really worked itself out! It wasn’t such a big deal, in the larger scheme of things.” No, we have to care about what happens. But just for a day or two I’m taking a step back and appreciating the fact that my friends and family are alive and healthy.
Top photo is the mug from my Secret Santa, Birchie!
26 Responses
Yeah, the political stuff is really hard right now. I had dinner with my Republican friend last week, and she told me she has some kind of nodules or growths on her liver that she has to get figured out, and her son’s kidneys may be starting to fail, and while I cannot stand her politics she has been my friend for about 47 years and I can’t bear the idea of anything happening to her.
I went over and read SHU’s post, how terrifying! Thank goodness there were medical tents and that she got help when she needed it. What if she had been on a long quiet run alone? SCARY.
Yes I know- she was very lucky. VERY! She got very quick medical attention.
I read Shu’s ordeal and my god, it really puts things into perspective. Things can change in an instant (although I truly hope Shu is going to be ok and continue running!).
I’m pretty sure she’s just glad to be alive and will be able to return to her family- I think if that happened to me, my main concern would be getting back to my kids. Hoping for the best possible outcome!
That’s really scary. A friend of mine discovered her hip had fractured half-way through a marathon and I thought that was bad enough. As to the politial situation, I’m trying to avoid the news as it makes me feel panicky. But now my own political party here in the UK is cutting foreign aid and considering cutting welfare and I’m going to have to mobilise around that of course, urgh. Love to you and your friend.
Yes, I know other countries are struggling right now as well (although the US is astonishingly concerning….) A fractured hip… ouch.
That is very scary. Hopefully it’s nothing serious. It could happen to any of us.
I think it was VERY serious at the time! Luckily she had quick medical intervention. Now she’s waiting for more answers, but she will be okay.
I am with you Jenny. Sarah’s issue is affecting me. For two days I felt pressure on my chest, anxiety driven. I hope she gets the diagnosis and treatment plan soon.
Yes, she is on my mind constantly! Thank goodness she got medical treatment and is okay right now.
Yes, any of us could have our lives changed in an instant, and the reality is that everyone of us will. That’s why it’s so important to appreciate what we have, and to savor the small moments. Oh wait Elisabeth was ahead of us with Project FIG.
We do have to care about world events, but as much as possible I would advocate for not letting them make us miserable. Yes support the causes that you care about, yes look for ways to “think globally act locally”, yes take a second to say “that’s messed up”, and yes yes yes vote, but other than that it’s out of our hands.
It is true that some of this (or, most of it?) is out of our hands right now. It’s hard to say “I have no control over this” but unfortunately that’s the truth.
It’s really a balance. Obviously we need to care about what’s going on in the world BUT our individual worlds are really important too. All our individual worlds make up the world. What a scary thing to have happened, it is a good reminder, as you have been saying, that every day counts. If someone so young and healthy (I mean, how incredibly healthy is Sarah!!!) could be so affected by a heart condition, well, anything can happen any time.
I know- who is healthier than Sarah??? If something like this could happen to her, anything could happen to any of us.
That’s so scary, and health issues really put things into perspective! Hopefully everything is ok.
The political situation is just getting to be too much, and it’s exacerbating my anxiety around every day issues. I wish I could just go off the grid somewhere for like a month and forget about all these problems!
Imagine if you had gone off the grid a month ago, and came back now to see what was happening. WHAT????? Crazy times.
Yes, health issues really put everything else into perspective. Especially when things happen to people you know- it really drives it home that it could happen to any of us.
I feel like multiple things that have happened in my life remind me that life is precious, and not to be taken for granted. One never knows what’s around the corner! I still can’t get over what happened to Sarah. It’s so chilling to see that someone who is so incredibly healthy could’ve died!! I’m so glad that she was near a medical tent when this happened and got the care she needed.
“Chilling”is the right word. It just goes to show- no one is immune. I won’t really stop worrying about Sarah until she’s out of the hospital- hopefully tomorrow???
I thought about this a lot when my husband was hospitalized last year. We were laughing about how we were overreacting on the way to the ER and it turns out that we weren’t (or maybe the hospital overreacted – I realize I am not sure if I’ve written about that on my blog and I’ll add it to my list of potential topics). Life can change in a quick moment.
There are competing responsibilities in this life. On one hand, we must take care of our immediate circle – our family, our friends, our community. But on the other hand, we must also be good world citizens and that means knowing what’s going on in outside of that immediate circle. It’s hard to find the balance, especially in times of crisis, either with the immediate or world circles.
Are you talking about the rhabdo? I would definitely be interested in hearing more about that! Yes, that’s another crazy thing that you don’t expect to happen to a healthy person.
BALANCE is just what I’m struggling with right now.
You’re so right that life can change in an instant, and that perspective is valuable and necessary. Balancing our gratitude for all our individual blessings against our need to participate in/bear witness to what’s going on in the world at large is so very hard. I constantly feel like I am failing on both counts.
Yes, me too! I’m definitely not suceeding.
I just now realized that I went over to read Shu’s post and I forgot to come back here to comment. Duh. That sure was a scary thing and it never occurred to me until I read Julie’s comment – what if she HAD been on a solo run in the middle of nowhere. Sheesh.
Each day counts. Things can change in an instant. I agree though that so much of what’s going on in the government is not within our control right now. I’m trying to get control over some of the things happening under my roof. I trust things will work out, eventually in our government.
Yes- it could have been fatal. VERY lucky everything worked out the way it did!
OMG that is so scary and I’m so glad she went to the medical tent and got treatment.
Yes- although her symptoms were so severe, I don’t think NOT going to the med tent was an option. Lucky she had a friend and her husband there to help her as well.