Awakening on March 11, 2008 it felt like I had slept wrong as I had pressure in the area around my right shoulder and a bit up my neck.  After taking two aspirin and jumping into a warm shower the pressure did not go away or ease.  Since I never complain about anything we headed to Holland Hospital, probably less than an hour since getting up. 

Seventy nine (79) minutes after arrival at Holland Hospital I had a stent in place and was being wheeled to my room.  Wow!  The doctors and nurses remarked over and over that it was a miracle that I took the aspirin and came right into the hospital. 

Released home on March 13th I took two weeks off per instructions and orders from above!  Having never taken any medication other than an allergy tablet or antibiotic I was concerned about contradictions from the medley of meds I was now having to take.  After two weeks things felt okay, I returned to work and began the cardio-rehab program at the hospital three times a week.

Cards, notes, e-mail, visits from family, friends and my Realtor family really were appreciated along with flowers and gifts of things to read.  One begins to take stock of ones life and the alternatives!  My concerns about the challenging real estate market began to take a different focus as I focused on taking care of me!  Seeing the concerns in the eyes of Sylvia and family really hit home.

Being upbeat most days it has been easier for me to look at the opportunities we have each day and not focus on the negatives that often push into our lives and profession.  Personal time and focus on me is now a priority in order to move forward.  It now is a priority to make use of the time available each day to see if I can make real estate work in 6 hours, 5 days per week using other time for things necessary for my rehab.

So this session is about me and a reminder to my Realtor family to be better planners, be better listeners to your own body and to remember that our rewards come from caring service in the interests of our clients and giving back to our communities time and talents.