Re-Life Day

A year ago today, I woke up to someone telling me to cough...

They had removed the breathing tube from my throat, I had survived the open heart surgery. Next was to survive sitting up, more painful than one may think at that point. I was in a room full of others who had also had some form of OHS, and they too had to cough and sit up. I recall my Mother In Law there to encourage me, while my husband and daughter waited to see me. Other than fighting to sit up, fighting against the pain of breathing (the movement of my chest hurt) and the fact that so quickly after the surgery I had to do anything, I recall very little of the day.
Most of the people got moved to the 8th (or was it the 9th ) floor where most of the DeBakey Heart patiences were I do not remember, but know that I spent the next two weeks there. I fought tooth and nail to get released, just so I could go outside, go off the floor, get away from the heavy heart monitor. I finally to got go home (well my MIL's) where she gave me my Lovanox shots and hooked me up to my IV bags (antibiotics ), and made sure I was taken care of.
A week later we went back to Houston, and I was put back into the hospital. I was slowing drowning... My lungs were filling up, and no - one suspected until my cardiologist took and examed me. According to the doctors, once my heart sac was broke the area reacted badly to the gloves that were used during surgery (happens quite often), and the fluid just gradually built up until I could hardly breath or talk at the same time.
So, After 4 days of Heprin They removed 13,000 cc of fluid from my lungs. And believe you me, that is a lot of fluid for an area that should be getting oxygen.
The day that I was released, and felt much much better, and have been feeling stronger, and better than I have in many many years. I did not know that I could have so much energy.
Now, I take my blood thinners every day, and thank the Gods and Goddesses that I have been granted a renewed life. So, I say Happy Re-Life Day to me.