My Heart Muscles Are Growing Stiff
What does that mean for a multi-transplant patient?
With shaky fingers, I dialed 9–1–1 and waited for an operator to pick up.
It was around 5 A.M. I leaned against the wall of the bedroom I share with my fiance. Every time I laid down, I couldn’t breathe. The night before, I coughed so much I puked twice. I banged on the wall and laid in the middle of the bathroom floor, too exhausted and in too much discomfort to move.
She swallowed her fear and helped me up. We both didn’t get any sleep that night, and she called out of work the next day to keep an eye on me.
I tried to stay calm as I explained what was going on. The ambulance was in front of the house in less than five minutes. I threw some stuff in my dialysis bookbag, grabbed my dialysis blanket, and kissed her on the forehead. Then I hurried out the door to meet the paramedics outside so they wouldn’t startle Ginger, our dog, too much.
My oxygen level was low at around 80. Concern filled their eyes. As soon as the oxygen machine got into a smooth rhythm, my levels came back up to a healthy level. They asked me a handful of questions, then we headed for the emergency room. I had to put on two masks because I had Covid symptoms. I didn’t have a…
