About Ladora's Heart
It is said cactus bloom in the most adverse of circumstances......
A Little Background:
When I Started:
For the past twenty years, I worked as an Executive Assistant, Senior Administrative Assistant, New Reporter, Disc Jockey and a host of other jobs in order to make ends meet. During that time, it has at times been extremely stressful with life's ups and downs, along with fast-paced work environments, perfectionism, financial crises, ill-tempered bosses, plus the death of a beloved nephew whom I considered my son. Life happens.
When I graduated from Oral Roberts University in May of 1976, I thought I would immediately be hired as a replacement for Walter Cronkite. Imagine my surprise when I learned that I had to start as a grunt in the projection room at a television station in Midland, Texas (KMID-TV). I did what was necessary to survive for several years. After suffering a back injury, I became a secretary. I am officially labeled an executive assistant which is the title I have held for the past five years at WAMU - which unfortunately, due to economic conditions went under. You may think that is why I started my business. You would be partly right, but let me give you a few more details.
Foundation for a Heart Attack:
Stress Anyone:
I loved high stress, fast moving, challenging positions with heavy demands and so do heart attacks. I loved my job. For me, solving problems, finding solutions and being up to my neck in difficult situations was what I found exciting. It gave meaning to my job. At the time, I think I knew that high stress, a cholesterol-laden diet and lack of exercise were the leading symptoms in heart disease. But I did not care because it wouldn't happen to me. As the stress became greater and in my personal life, the drama and tension in my professional life doubled. I positioned myself for serious trouble. At work, I became engrossed in various projects and new assignments which kept me at my desk. It kept me feeling that I couldn't leave because I had so much work to do. This is classic executive assistant-itis. Ocasionally, I would come into the office at 5:00 a.m. working as late as 10:00 p.m. and on one occasion I was there at 3:00 a. m. I would work Saturdays and Sundays when I needed to. I wanted to do a good job and the demands were extremely high.
Eating Wrong:
My coworkers and I would order out and order in. The menu usually consisted of my fatty foods (like double bacon cheeseburgers with extra cheese and fries. For a little variety, on Fridays we had Pizza - Meat Lovers, Cheese Lovers, Cheese and Meat lovers with extra toppings - and of course family size - and don't forget the shakes, or the foot longs, or the Chinese takeout or the chili cheese fries). I tried moderation, but got busy and forgot the moderation. I was so busy. Hidesight is 20/20. I was exhausted when I came home - too tired to be concerned about nutrition. I ordered take-out, sat in front of the television, and relaxed. This went on for almost a year. I didn't notice any symptoms - I thought I had a cold and it would go away. I had a heaviness in the chest, a feeling of exhaustion and I was overheated. Then...
Working Long:
I was at work one Friday and I started feeling more exhausted than usual. I kept fanning myself, trying to ease the pain, I guess. The receptionist took one look at me and told me I needed to go to the hospital. He was a retired captain from a corrections facility so I listened to him. I called the doctor, and told her what my symptoms were. She told me to go immediately to the emergency room. I thought, I'll go after work, I'm not really feeling that bad, just a little uncomfortable. Besides, it's Friday and I'll get some rest this weekend. I walked back out to the receptionist and told him what they had asked and he was insistent that I leave. I liked him, but thought he was overreacting. Just to placate him, I decided, I would go in and, I would finish my project when I returned. I was a little perturbed at the prospect of driving all the way downtown. I knew I'd have to sit for hours in the emergency room.
When I arrived at the emergency room, my blood pressure was over 200. The triage nurse was nervous. It amazes me how calm they can be when they think you are about to die. He immediately called for another nurse who took my blood pressure. I smiled at the nurse and told her there must be something wrong with the machine, I felt fine. My blood pressure was okay. She replied, "It (meaning the machine) thinks your blood pressure is high.) The machine was flashing in bold red letters. If it could have talked it would have been screaming. They walked me to the cardiac unit after asking if I would like a wheelchair which I declined. I felt fine, just a little unsettled. It was only when they told me to get undressed and knew I was staying overnight that I thought something might be wrong.
I'm Not Having a Heart Attack:
My heart attack was such a subtle event, that I did not think there was anything wrong with me. The doctor told me later that even if you think it is nothing, go and get checked out. Your embarrassment at being seen for something minor will be nothing compared to a cardiac event. They say time is muscle and the sooner you get in to see them the better your chances are at survival.
The next morning, I had a stress test and failed. The doctor stopped the test and ordered me to sit down. He then started making calls. As I was being wheeled to a different area for a different test, the nurse and doctor said, "Good Luck." That should have been a clue, but, I just thought I would be out of there soon. I had plans. I was going to get a piece of See's chocolate candy with lots of nuts. Dr. Podalack, my cardiologist, kept me calm and quietly told me that I would need to have an operation. I said, "Do I have to have an operation?" He said gave me an emphatic, "Yes." The doctor's nurses were busy getting my next of kin information and a local contact. They were so calm about it that I never realized it was a life and death situation; even when thirty minutes later I lay strapped to a gurney. They ran down the hallway to get me to the elevator and into the operating room. The situation was so dire that the friend I had called was trying to get my cell phone to notify my family as the elevator doors closed on us.
I remember a nun looking down on me, asking if I wanted prayer. It sounded like a good idea to me. I really didn't know what to expect since I had never really been sick and only had colds, and my back injury which are far as I was concerned was healed.
I did hear my doctors when they told me to lose weight and watch my diet, I just partially listened. I lost 30 pounds, and I can say I tried to maintain the weight loss, but other things mattered more. On November 30, 2007, my health became my only priority.
I was later told that I had suffered a heart attack and had a severe blockage in my arteries which led to the triple bypass open-heart surgery on December 1, 2007. A day or so after the surgery, my boss came to the hospital and told me that I might be lose my job along with all of the employees. The day I was released from the hospital, he telephoned me at home to inform me that I along with all of the other employees had been laid off from WAMU.
Recovering:
I discovered pain had a new meaning while recovering from heart surgery. The keloid surgical scar on my chest extends down below my breast bone where my chest was cut open. As a woman, this is one accessory I prefer not to have. After the surgery, if I was offered a pain suppressor, I took it. If they had been testing a questionable new drug claiming to alleviate my pain, I would have begged for it. I'm not really a touchy feely person, but I begged my sister to hold me, because the pain was so severe. I understand how people become addicted to prescription drugs because of the intense pain. Addiction was something the doctors wanted to guard against, so I was told to curtail my usage and switch to Tylenol as soon as I could tolerate it. I did.
Along with the pain, I also had to learn to walk again. Daily I was escorted by the nurses who required me to walk a few feet in the hospital corridor. After doing so, I went immediately to bed and requested medication. Prior to being discharged, one of the nurses made me walk up a flight of stairs. It was good that she couldn't hear my thoughts. No matter what you are thinking, be nice to your nurses.
It was weeks before I could walk tolerably well. I had a stroller, a reach-er and my sister Darlene. The nurses told me that I was a miracle. I thank God every day for this second chance. Part of my second chance involved cardiac rehabilitation. Two minutes of walking, from the bed to the wheelchair seemed like the Olympics at first. Slowly, with a lot of work, I got rid of the stroller, hung onto the walls, cried on my heart pillow (they give you one at the hospital), and I started cardiac rehab.
Next Steps:
At first, it was difficult for me to accept that this had happened to me. Emotionally and physically this surgery takes a toll. I believed this could never happen to me. After all, I prayed over my French fries , my pizza, and my fried chicken too! That lifestyle enabled me an opportunity to develop my vocabulary and meet new people. I never knew what the word cardiologist meant, and now I learned new words: cardiac, cardiac surgeon, cardiologist, pulmonary, triple bypass, simvastatin,metoprolol, angina, and many more.
After meeting with my cardiologist, my cardiac surgeon, my dietitian, my cardiac rehab nurses I was given a new set of rules for living. They all assured me that I would no longer be able to eat high fat foods including but not limited to cheese, butter, anything fried, caffeine and only two eggs per week. Also, they said to limit nuts and fatty fruit. Foods like avocados and olives were now villains. This new lifestyle sounded like a death sentence.
Those first two months, I was totally dependant upon my sister. We learned a new way of living. My sister spent hours at the store reading labels - trying to find the right combination. The funny thing is that I would not eat. (It is not uncommon for patients to lose their appetites.) This was a problem. Since I wanted nothing to eat, the doctors allowed me to eat desserts. That is when I started to cook.
I now have a new understanding, I read labels, study nutrition panels and monitor everything that goes into my mouth.
Why Ladora's Heart:
This is why I created Ladora's Heart. I wanted to give heart patients and anyone on a restricted food plan and low salt intake diet a healthy delicious alternative. Let's face it - a lot of the "healthy" stuff tastes terrible. My challenge was to create something that tasted good and was healthy.
I would not wish heart surgery on my worst enemy. From my heart to yours, my heartfelt desire is that you learn to eat good food, have good health and a good life. I am very thankful for the support that I received. I am especially thankful to the cardiac rehab team at St. Joseph's Hospital (Denver, Colorado). They got me back on my feet, along with my sister, and a lot of prayer. I hope you will look at my experience and choose a different avenue.
Do yourself a favor and exercise (suggested 30 minutes daily), eat your vegetables (have a salad), and for heaven's sake get your cholesterol checked. Your health care professional is an invaluable resource. Please take care of your heart. In the beginning of this narrative, I mentioned the cactus and its fortitude. I am hoping you will take your heart care seriously so that you do not need to rely on that measure of fortitude. I know I'm not your mother, but I've got to mother someone, why not you!
When you want a treat, please consider Ladora's Heart.
Also, thanks to my dear college friend Donna Smith of Smith Organic Chocolates for her support in coordination of Ladora's Heart. Here's a link to her fine selection of organic chocolates: http://stores.smithorganicchocolates.com
Here's hoping you never experience what I've experienced.
From my Heart to Yours...
Ladora
Please join me in daily exercise.
My morning trail.
For Customer Service e-mail:
Please call 303-408-0278 for more information. Thank you for choosing our fine products.
