Long time since... and many happenings

[Hercu]

After such a long time since my last post and lost passwords and computer crashes so many things happened ...

On one of my fishing trips at Ponta Muchombe I suddenly and totally got out of breath and could not breath...everybody including myself thought..."Heart attack"..

Due to the fact that we were in a game reserve there was no way to get to a hospital other than 14 km heavy sand 4 x 4 road to Santa Maria where a fishing Charter took us to Inhaca Island where there should have been a proper diving facility with oxygen which we found not to be after a 1 hour trip on heavy seas in a very small fishing boat (Ski boat)

The one and only oxygen bottle was almost empty and I sucked the last little bit out of it.

Next day after a sleepless, sucking for air night was air lifted in a 4 seater Cessna aeroplane crossing the Maputo bay to "Maputo Institute de Corocao" and due to Covid was treated as such on arrival...

The suffering to breath never ended and the tests following felt like an eternity... The CT scan got the culprit..."Collapsed lung"... the poor thing looked like a shriveled tea bag, and only came to life when a Cuban doctor punctured my rib case with a copper tube and 5 mm needle...The air escaping from my Thorax sounded like a tire blow out... with tubes installed I was kept for observation for 2 days and released only to have it collapsed again on day 4 at home...

Decided to go to South Africa as my Medical insurance only covers me to a certain extend in another country...Was immediately taken into ICU were an emergency procedure was done and in medical terms "Pleurotomy and Lobectomy" was carried out...Meaning that half of my left lung was removed and the placenta removed to allow my lung to stick to my ribs as not to be able to collapse again.

Saddest of all is that my paddling days are at a halt. My directors moved me back to South Africa and I am now working on their Avocado/ Macadamia farm in the lush Hazyview area in Mpumalanga (The Province where the sun rises) bordering the Kruger National park

But the best of all I never wanted to smoke again and lost count of smokeless years. Think it should be 8 years now.....and Yes, I did contracted Covid also about a month ago but survived without a huge aftermath... or landing in hospital. Had my first jab before covid and needed to wait 30 days after negative test for 2 nd ...

I am still thankful for that day I decided to stop smoking and so many Specialists and doctors said if I was still smoking after a triple bypass and the Lobectomy and Covid my chances on survival was very slim...

[Putter 1000 Days Smoke Free]

Oh Wow! What a scary time for you and of course your family! So glad you’re on the mend, and I’m happy to have spotted your post! I don’t get to read a lot from this group as I’ve lost access and can’t seem to find it. I’ve received one other post (awhile ago) and they both came in my email 🤷🏼‍♀️Hope you continue on the path of healing ❤️‍🩹

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Aw Hercu , it is so so good to read a post from you, I hope I haven't missed you and you're still lurking around?

I thought about you regularly especially after being unwell previously. Wow! You certainly have been through hell but delighted you are pulling through and on the road to recovery. Thank god!

Unfortunately, I too was very ill there back in November 2020 and ended up in hospital for 4 weeks, 1 week in ICU and 3 weeks in the medical ward. Long story short, I was rushed to hospital (luckily only 4 minutes away!) blue in the face and gasping for air. I was quickly diagnosed type II respiratory failure and pulmonary embolism (blood clots). After several tests and scans I had multiple clots in my heart, lungs and liver (mixture of big and small ones). There were unprovoked so I am on anticoagulants long term and oxygen therapy at night as tests showed I was also suffering from sleep apnea.

Fast forward 10 months later and I am a new woman!! During my 4 weeks in hospital, I had alot of time to think and reflect and realized and told by my fantastic team I am lucky to be alive. I decided to grab my second chance at life with both hands, lost some weight, walking 5km a day and doing my first ever mini marathon in 2 weeks time (10km). But the biggest change I made was to stop drinking as I knew it was making my anxiety so much worse so will be 1 year a pioneer (as I like to call it!!) the end of October and like the smoking I don't miss it one bit.

I will be 6 years smoke free on 17 September and almost forgot until I seen your post. Again Hercu, I am delighted to hear from you and wish you continued strength in your recovery.

[reader2019 5 Years Smoke Free]

Wow is all I can say other than happy to hear that you are on the road to recovery. I also was wondering where you were. Take care of yourself.

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free]

Hercu so happy to read you are OK!!!!

That's some serious stuff going on there, I have nothing exciting to tell other than I'm still a non smoker and still going 😁

I came back just to check in a while ago and didn't see you, I confess I was worried.

These are crazy days we are living my friend!

Melhores dias virão, só temos que esperar!

Stay strong my friend ❤️

[CocoaXChange Valued Contributor]

Hope you are continuing to recover, Hercu. As we age, the benefits to quitting continue to be evident.

Best to you and your family in 2022. I guess the silver lining to being back in SA, is you are closer to your grandchildren?