I Graduated Yesterday

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Added: Wed. Dec 30, 2009 7:51pm
Posted in: Conditions & Diseases

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There was no cap and gown—no pomp and circumstance–just sheer joy and renewed hope. On Tuesday, I became a graduate of the Cardiac Heart Failure Program at Duke University Medical Center.

When I signed up back in September, I saw this as my last hope. I was taking medication but didn’t feel I was getting any better. When my doctor suggested the program, I knew it was something I just had to do.

For the past three months, I went to the facility for cardiotherapy and nutrition assistance, faithfully, twice a week–24 sessions in all.

I’ll never forget how hard it was to walk a few short feet from my car to the gym without being out of breath for the first couple of weeks and how often I cried because I was so embarrassed to be the youngest patient there.

But as time went on, here’s what I learned:

Stay out of the pity pool: It’s too easy to jump into but hard to get out of. And some well meaning folks will keep you there if you let them.

Don't take your health for granted Heart Disease is the number one killer of women over 40. It's no joke so DO NOT DISMISS those little chest pains you may be feeling. I'd rather be thought of as a hypochondriac and live than to ignore the problem and be six feet under.

Cut the dead weight from your life: When you're dealing with any kind of battle in your life, the last thing you want are naysayers. Keep positive, inspirational people around you---even if you only have ONE.

The mind is powerful: In order to achieve it, you must first believe it. Getting healthy required a strong, positive attitude and a determined spirit and will.

You reap what you sow: Bad habits of any kind will eventually catch up to you.

Be a testimony: Use your trials and tribulations to be a testimony for someone else so that they may be encouraged.

Never, ever give up!

As a final requirment for graduation, I had to take a test and I’m happy to report I did a little over two miles in 39 minutes and had NO shortness of breath!

Yes, I will live the rest of my life with congestive heart failure but how I choose to live will be totally up to me.