Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Truth or Dare (08/28/08)
-
TITLE: Chocolate Cheesecake, Anyone? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
09/02/08 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
4 am. Scrabble in nightstand for antacids, snuggle back under covers.
8 am. Woozy, nauseated. "Breakfast? Not hungry, thanks." Diet day!
Lunchtime. Saltines with margarine. An entire strip. No breakfast - shouldn't hurt. Mindlessly scarfing salty crackers. I am so hungry.
HEARTBURN! Omigosh - major heartburn! Lie down. Sleep it off.
I'm sobbing now - why such incredible pain? Too much salt, that's all it is. Water might
neutralize the salt! No! Worse! Antacids! Handfuls! Doesn't work.
I'll sleep the rest of today. Lose a pound or two. Pray for tomorrow.
Better today - no heartburn! "Good morning all! Breakfast? Just cold water.
No, not nauseated like yesterday, thank our good Lord!"
No! Heartburn AGAIN! From a tiny sip of water?
My back hurts BAD! I'm being squeezed like an accordian! Lie down!
Sleep it off! I cannot sleep. I can barely breathe.
Sabbath approaching. Fitfully slept. "Hi everyone!"
"You made dinner? Great! No, none for me, thanks. Too much salt yesterday.
Thanks for your prayers! Much relieved."
Please don't fuss. I could stand to lose some weight!
"Water - thanks! I'm really thirsty!" Oh no! Not again! Breathless.
Such heartburn! Oh my back! "I'm okay, thanks."
(300+ causes for heartburn/chest pain. With back pain, one cause.)
Instant denial. Not this old gal's heart! No family history! "Yes love, I'm okay! Just going back to bed for a while. No, don't call the doctor."
Such a terribly long walk to the bedroom.
Worse lying down! No, sitting up! This horrid heartburn will be the death of me!
Should I go to the emergency room? No. Don't give in.
Sabbath is almost here, please don't let me disturb the Sabbath.
Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Thank You Lord.
"Mike! Help! Your ox has fallen into a ditch!"
New taxi driver apologetically forgets the way to the hospital.
So difficult to breathe! Pain's so bad! Bravery is a hard facade to maintain.
If I could only pass out to escape this.
Emergency Room is packed. People suffering dreadfully.
Wait. Can't. Why does heartburn BURN so bad? My back! Forms?
What? Now? Forms blurred by my teary fears.
Heart attack. TWO stents! Totally blocked. Almost died.
I'm told how, when and what to eat. Dire warnings. Four new prescriptions.
I listened for a while. I watched what I ate. Lost weight!
And fell back into old habits.
Chocolate cheesecake, anyone?
=================================================================
Author's note:
This is a true story of what happened to this morbidly obese writer in early April of this year. My first, and prayerfully last heart attack. It seemed appropriate for the subject topic "Truth or Dare" - as, knowing the truth, I still struggle to accept it, daring my body not to turn against me once again for my ill treatment of it. If anyone reading this finds themselves also tormenting their Temple, please learn from my foolishness, and begin today to take better care of what God has so graciously given to you.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
:-)