A few weeks ago I had a real life-changing, scary experience.  As I sat at my desk doing my sedentary programming job, and I realized that the pain and tightness that I was feeling in my chest might be more than just heartburn.  I started to research what I was feeling online, and I ran across multiple sites advising me to call 911 because it could be a heart attack.  So, being the bull-headed, stupid guy that I am, I decided to DRIVE MYSELF to the hospital (Please, do as I say and not as I do: If you are feeling chest pain, call 911 or have someone else drive you to the hospital!). 

After calling my wife and telling her what I was doing, I drove myself to the hospital.  I began to think…  I thought about how out of shape that I’d become.  I thought, dang; I am only 30, I can’t be having this problem already.  I wondered, Who will take care of my family if I were to die right now?  I made a plan.  I decided, that after I got some answers about what was wrong with me, I was going to change my life.  I decided that I wanted to live.

I arrived at the ER within a few minutes, I was given a vitals check that was slightly abnormal, but not anything alarming, and I waited.  I had a chest x-ray taken and an EKG, everything was normal.  I was so happy, yet confused about why I felt the way that I did.  The ER doctor diagnosed me with pleurisy and prescribed me some pain meds and Prevacid.  I was on my way.  I was not on my way back to life as usual, but on my way to something better.

I scheduled an appointment with my doctor as a follow-up to discuss what was wrong with me, and why I was not feeling well, and his news for me was as expected.  He said that although I was healthy, I needed to consider losing weight, because he said that it was the only apparent risk to my health that I had.  I agreed with him, and went home to start my new plan of eating healthy and living better.

I can say now that I have been eating healthier, lighter meals for 3 weeks and I feel great.  With the help of my wife, Candy, I have had support and meal planning with healthy amounts of fruits and veggies and a controlled portion of other stuff.  I do seem to have lost some weight, and I can tell my clothes fit better.  The biggest change is my view of life.  I have learned not to take people or moments in time for granted.  My appreciation for my wife and kids has never been stronger.  I am being sure to soak up every moment and seize every opportunity to spend quality time with them.  I know that we only have one chance at life here, and we need to make the most of it. I know that my faith in Christ has secured my place in Heaven, but as Kenny Chesney says, “Everybody want to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go now”.  I challenge everyone who reads this to take a look at your own life, and see if a change would do you some good as well.