The greatest
life lessons learned
from our near death nightmare.
The greatest
life lessons learned
from our near death nightmare.
The greatest
life lessons learned
from our near death nightmare.
Sometimes life can unexpectedly hit you so hard in a split second, and brutally knock you down without any warning - it is a time when you have to dig deep inside, and find the strength within to get through it, and keep pushing forward...
OUR TRUE STORY
Saturday 30th December, Midday.
It was a beautiful bright sunny day, with a cloudless clear blue sky.
It was a perfect day for our 260 mile round-trip, to drop off my wife's mum at her house in South-Yorkshire, after she had stayed at our home in Buckinghamshire in the South of England, for the Christmas holidays.
On arrival, stepping out from the warmth of our car - the air was so bitterly cold, that within a just few steps, my wife Liz started to cough, and struggle to catch her breath.
When we got inside her mum's house, Liz slumped to the floor and became deathly pale, as she desperately gasped for air.
I immediately called for an ambulance; knelt on the floor beside Liz and did my best to assure her, that help would be here soon.
Two paramedics quickly arrived within a few minutes - they gave Liz small white pills to swallow; injected her in the thigh; put a mask on her face with an attached inhaler, while explaining that the medication would help her breathe more easily.
Liz’s breathing got WORSE
We quickly carried Liz into the back of the ambulance, where she was strapped into a chair upright, to help her breathe.
As we rapidly sped-off to the local hospital, Liz was losing consciousness and becoming completely unaware of what was happening to her.
The paramedic gave Liz more injections, as we both shouted loudly - just inches from Liz's face, for her to stay awake.y; it’s products and services - is positioning for preeminence and prominence in your market…
As we abruptly arrived at the local Barnsley Hospital, Accident and Emergency Department. The two paramedics quickly wheeled Liz inside A&E, where they gave a doctor a list of the drugs they had just given her.
Liz was strapped on to a bed that was almost vertical - her head slumped to the side as she became completely unconscious.
A doctor called for help - about 8 doctors and nurses, quickly ran into the room to try and resuscitate Liz.
They made every effort they possibly could to bring Liz back to consciousness - I felt completely sick to my core - there was absolutely nothing I could do to help Liz, but pray that she would survive.
After about twenty minutes a lady in dark blue scrubs took me to one side.
She said:
“Your wife is completely unresponsive to any treatment, I’m so sorry there isn’t very much more, that we can do for her”
She was suggesting that I prepared for the worst.
Extreme grief, heartbreak, pain, fear, and hopelessness, all ripped through me at once - I couldn’t believe this nightmare was actually happening!
How could Liz be dying right in front of me?
When just 40 minutes ago, she was singing to music in the car?
This cannot be happening!
We have so many dreams and plans together - I wasn’t ready for this! Oh God please don’t let her die.
Right at that moment, I heard another doctor behind us saying, look she is fighting to come back to us!
Sometimes life can unexpectedly hit you so hard in a split second, and brutally knock you down without any warning - it is a time when you have to dig deep inside, and find the strength within to get through it, and keep pushing forward...
OUR TRUE STORY
Saturday 30th December, Midday.
It was a beautiful bright sunny day, with a cloudless clear blue sky.
It was a perfect day for our 260 mile round-trip, to drop off my wife's mum at her house in South-Yorkshire, after she had stayed at our home in Buckinghamshire in the South of England, for the Christmas holidays.
On arrival, stepping out from the warmth of our car - the air was so bitterly cold, that within a just few steps, my wife Liz started to cough, and struggle to catch her breath.
When we got inside her mum's house, Liz slumped to the floor and became deathly pale, as she desperately gasped for air.
I immediately called for an ambulance; knelt on the floor beside Liz and did my best to assure her, that help would be here soon.
Two paramedics quickly arrived within a few minutes - they gave Liz small white pills to swallow; injected her in the thigh; put a mask on her face with an attached inhaler, while explaining that the medication would help her breathe more easily.
Liz’s breathing got WORSE
We quickly carried Liz into the back of the ambulance, where she was strapped into a chair upright, to help her breathe.
As we rapidly sped-off to the local hospital, Liz was losing consciousness and becoming completely unaware of what was happening to her.
The paramedic gave Liz more injections, as we both shouted loudly - just inches from Liz's face, for her to stay awake.y; it’s products and services - is positioning for preeminence and prominence in your market…
Now I had some hope, that Liz might live!
As Liz slowly continued to improve, one of the doctors said to me, that they were taking Liz to a high-dependency, intensive care ward (ICU) in the Hospital, to keep her in for a couple of days, as a precaution after such incredibly dangerous and life-threatening asthma attack.
Once we arrived at the ICU, the nurses changed Liz into a hospital robe and wired her up to various monitors and equipment.
I was allowed to stay at her bedside, in a little low-lit private room, adjacent to the main ICU ward, as we were 130 miles from home.
I sat with Liz in ICU, throughout the afternoon, and into the long night as Liz slept.
Liz was utterly exhausted. Her skin colour had completely returned to normal, and thankfully she was now beginning to look much much better!
As I sat beside Liz watching her peacefully sleep into the night, I was incredibly relieved and grateful beyond words!
Just as I thought Liz was safe, our traumatic nightmare was just getting started...
3.00 am, 31st December
Liz slowly sat up in bed, and she asked me to get her a drink of water.
All of a sudden, Liz started panicking and ripping at her hospital robe - saying “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe” and pleading with terror in her eyes, for me to somehow help her - a nurse rushed into the room saying "you're ok, you're ok, you're only having a panic attack".
Liz suddenly slumped onto her left side, with her blue eyes fixed wide open, still staring at me.
The heart monitor behind Liz flatlined...
I shouted loudly for help - terrified that I might have just seen Liz just die, right in front of me.
Within what felt like seconds, half a dozen doctors in green scrubs, who had been on a break in a nearby room, rushed in to help Liz.
The nurse quickly escorted me out of the way, down a long dark corridor, to a small family room, that had a broken light.
I sat alone in the darkness for what felt like an eternity, begging God to let Liz live...
4.20 am
A small lady doctor wearing thick black framed glasses, dressed in green scrubs suddenly appeared in the darkened doorway.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and throat, thinking that she was going to tell me that Liz had died.
She said:
“Your wife’s heart completely stopped due to a heart attack - we lost her for 4 minutes - but I managed to bring her back with CPR.
We don’t know why her heart stopped.
Now I had some hope, that Liz might live!
As Liz slowly continued to improve, one of the doctors said to me, that they were taking Liz to a high-dependency, intensive care ward (ICU) in the Hospital, to keep her in for a couple of days, as a precaution after such incredibly dangerous and life-threatening asthma attack.
Once we arrived at the ICU, the nurses changed Liz into a hospital robe and wired her up to various monitors and equipment.
I was allowed to stay at her bedside, in a little low-lit private room, adjacent to the main ICU ward, as we were 130 miles from home.
I sat with Liz in ICU, throughout the afternoon, and into the long night as Liz slept.
Liz was utterly exhausted. Her skin colour had completely returned to normal, and thankfully she was now beginning to look much much better!
As I sat beside Liz watching her peacefully sleep into the night, I was incredibly relieved and grateful beyond words!
Just as I thought Liz was safe, our traumatic nightmare was just getting started...
3.00 am, 31st December
Liz slowly sat up in bed, and she asked me to get her a drink of water.
All of a sudden, Liz started panicking and ripping at her hospital robe - saying “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe” and pleading with terror in her eyes, for me to somehow help her - a nurse rushed into the room saying "you're ok, you're ok, you're only having a panic attack".
Liz suddenly slumped onto her left side, with her blue eyes fixed wide open, still staring at me.
The heart monitor behind Liz flatlined...
I shouted loudly for help - terrified that I might have just seen Liz just die, right in front of me.
Within what felt like seconds, half a dozen doctors in green scrubs, who had been on a break in a nearby room, rushed in to help Liz.
The nurse quickly escorted me out of the way, down a long dark corridor, to a small family room, that had a broken light.
I sat alone in the darkness for what felt like an eternity, begging God to let Liz live...
4.20 am
A small lady doctor wearing thick black framed glasses, dressed in green scrubs suddenly appeared in the darkened doorway.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and throat, thinking that she was going to tell me that Liz had died.
She said:
“Your wife’s heart completely stopped due to a heart attack - we lost her for 4 minutes - but I managed to bring her back with CPR.
We don’t know why her heart stopped.
Now I had some hope, that Liz might live!
As Liz slowly continued to improve, one of the doctors said to me, that they were taking Liz to a high-dependency, intensive care ward (ICU) in the Hospital, to keep her in for a couple of days, as a precaution after such incredibly dangerous and life-threatening asthma attack.
Once we arrived at the ICU, the nurses changed Liz into a hospital robe and wired her up to various monitors and equipment.
I was allowed to stay at her bedside, in a little low-lit private room, adjacent to the main ICU ward, as we were 130 miles from home.
I sat with Liz in ICU, throughout the afternoon, and into the long night as Liz slept.
Liz was utterly exhausted. Her skin colour had completely returned to normal, and thankfully she was now beginning to look much much better!
As I sat beside Liz watching her peacefully sleep into the night, I was incredibly relieved and grateful beyond words!
Just as I thought Liz was safe, our traumatic nightmare was just getting started...
3.00 am, 31st December
Liz slowly sat up in bed, and she asked me to get her a drink of water.
All of a sudden, Liz started panicking and ripping at her hospital robe - saying “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe” and pleading with terror in her eyes, for me to somehow help her - a nurse rushed into the room saying "you're ok, you're ok, you're only having a panic attack".
Liz suddenly slumped onto her left side, with her blue eyes fixed wide open, still staring at me.
The heart monitor behind Liz flatlined...
I shouted loudly for help - terrified that I might have just seen Liz just die, right in front of me.
Within what felt like seconds, half a dozen doctors in green scrubs, who had been on a break in a nearby room, rushed in to help Liz.
The nurse quickly escorted me out of the way, down a long dark corridor, to a small family room, that had a broken light.
I sat alone in the darkness for what felt like an eternity, begging God to let Liz live...
4.20 am
A small lady doctor wearing thick black framed glasses, dressed in green scrubs suddenly appeared in the darkened doorway.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and throat, thinking that she was going to tell me that Liz had died.
She said:
“Your wife’s heart completely stopped due to a heart attack - we lost her for 4 minutes - but I managed to bring her back with CPR.
We don’t know why her heart stopped.
As we abruptly arrived at the local Barnsley Hospital, Accident and Emergency Department. The two paramedics quickly wheeled Liz inside A&E, where they gave a doctor a list of the drugs they had just given her.
Liz was strapped on to a bed that was almost vertical - her head slumped to the side as she became completely unconscious.
A doctor called for help - about 8 doctors and nurses, quickly ran into the room to try and resuscitate Liz.
They made every effort they possibly could to bring Liz back to consciousness - I felt completely sick to my core - there was absolutely nothing I could do to help Liz, but pray that she would survive.
After about twenty minutes a lady in dark blue scrubs took me to one side.
She said:
“Your wife is completely unresponsive to any treatment, I’m so sorry there isn’t very much more, that we can do for her”
She was suggesting that I prepared for the worst.
Extreme grief, heartbreak, pain, fear, and hopelessness, all ripped through me at once - I couldn’t believe this nightmare was actually happening!
How could Liz be dying right in front of me?
When just 40 minutes ago, she was singing to music in the car?
This cannot be happening!
We have so many dreams and plans together - I wasn’t ready for this! Oh God please don’t let her die.
Right at that moment, I heard another doctor behind us saying, look she is fighting to come back to us!
We’ve had to put your wife into an induced coma. Your wife is also on life-support, as she can’t breathe for herself just now.
There is a potential risk of a brain injury - because her brain had no oxygen for 4 minutes. So we need to allow her brain to rest"
Then the tone of her voice dropped:
“Listen, your wife isn’t at all well.
It might be an idea if you call any family and friends, who might like to see her again.”
As the doctor walked back to the low-lit ICU ward - I stood in the long and darkened corridor, very alone and feeling very afraid, that Liz might actually die this time.
4.40 am
I made the most difficult and painful call, that I have ever made in my life, to our son Josh and daughter Zoie.
I could feel their intense shock, pain, and fear, as I struggled to get out the words and explain what had just happened to their mum.
I asked Josh and Zoie, to drive the 130 miles to the hospital, as quickly as they could, as things were not looking good for their mum.
I felt like my world was coming to an end...
Later that evening, as the clock on the wall slowly clicked towards midnight - it felt like time was slowing down - seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours.
While the world celebrated the beginning of the New Year...
Josh, Zoie, and I sat in the little low-lit ICU room together in the depths of despair, willing Liz to live from moment to moment - as she relied on machines and medical innovation to keep her alive.
THREE WEEKS IN HELL
8.30 am, 1st January
A chest X-ray showed that Liz's lungs were full of fluid!
Liz had unknowingly caught Pneumonia - our local doctor got her diagnosis completely wrong - she had suggested that Liz only had a chest infection.
An ICU doctor told me, that the Pneumonia had caused Liz have bronchospasm the previous night...
He said that the bronchospasm caused Liz's lungs to completely lock - so that she couldn’t breathe in or out, at all - and then caused Liz's heart to stop.
THREE WEEKS IN HELL
8.30 am, 1st January
A chest X-ray showed that Liz's lungs were full of fluid!
Liz had unknowingly caught Pneumonia - our local doctor got her diagnosis completely wrong - she had suggested that Liz only had a chest infection.
An ICU doctor told me, that the Pneumonia had caused Liz have bronchospasm the previous night...
He said that the bronchospasm caused Liz's lungs to completely lock - so that she couldn’t breathe in or out, at all - and then caused Liz's heart to stop.
2nd January, another Bronchospasm.
This time, both of Liz’s lungs completely collapsed.
She was on life-support again.
A couple of days later, as the doctors attempted to take Liz off life-support, both of her lungs completely collapsed again!
Liz was on life-support again to keep her alive.
After an anxious and agonizingly long week, the doctors finally managed to successfully take Liz off life-support!
Liz started to breathe for herself again, and thankfully just narrowly avoided getting a tracheostomy.
As Liz began to recover, she could finally sit up in bed, talk, read a book, and even eat by herself!
After a few more days, Liz was fully discharged from the Intensive Care Unit to a less critical hospital ward.
Then after four days of Liz making daily improvements - we were told the good news, that we would be able to safely take Liz home very soon!
The next day, Liz became noticeably unwell and had severe pain in her back.
Liz slumped into a wheelchair, as we quickly pushed her through a long maze of hospital corridors, for her to get a heart scan.
Just as we arrived at the hospital’s radiology department, Liz had a massive cardiac arrest!
In the blink of an eye, Liz died...
She was gone, for nineteen terrifying and very long minutes!
It happened right in front of our son Josh; our daughter Zoie, and myself.
This time, we thought we had lost her...
All of a sudden there was a sudden rush of 20 or more, doctors and nurses, who sprinted fast as they could, down the long corridor - I recognized a male nurse from the ICU, as he ran carrying a large red medical trauma bag to the scan room to help save Liz.
And, once more I was desperately begging God to save Liz's life - and give her back to us!
They gave Liz an injection directly into her heart, CPR, and 6 separate electric shocks, to bring her back to life.
When the doctors eventually brought Liz back to life, she was put into yet another medically induced coma to keep her alive, this time with bruised and cracked ribs!
2nd January, another Bronchospasm.
This time, both of Liz’s lungs completely collapsed.
She was on life-support again.
A couple of days later, as the doctors attempted to take Liz off life-support, both of her lungs completely collapsed again!
Liz was on life-support again to keep her alive.
After an anxious and agonizingly long week, the doctors finally managed to successfully take Liz off life-support!
Liz started to breathe for herself again, and thankfully just narrowly avoided getting a tracheostomy.
As Liz began to recover, she could finally sit up in bed, talk, read a book, and even eat by herself!
After a few more days, Liz was fully discharged from the Intensive Care Unit to a less critical hospital ward.
Then after four days of Liz making daily improvements - we were told the good news, that we would be able to safely take Liz home very soon!
The next day, Liz became noticeably unwell and had severe pain in her back.
Liz slumped into a wheelchair, as we quickly pushed her through a long maze of hospital corridors, for her to get a heart scan.
Just as we arrived at the hospital’s radiology department, Liz had a massive cardiac arrest!
In the blink of an eye, Liz died...
She was gone, for nineteen terrifying and very long minutes!
It happened right in front of our son Josh; our daughter Zoie, and myself.
This time, we thought we had lost her...
All of a sudden there was a sudden rush of 20 or more, doctors and nurses, who sprinted fast as they could, down the long corridor - I recognized a male nurse from the ICU, as he ran carrying a large red medical trauma bag to the scan room to help save Liz.
And, once more I was desperately begging God to save Liz's life - and give her back to us!
They gave Liz an injection directly into her heart, CPR, and 6 separate electric shocks, to bring her back to life.
When the doctors eventually brought Liz back to life, she was put into yet another medically induced coma to keep her alive, this time with bruised and cracked ribs!
Liz only had a 6% chance of surviving.
I sat at Liz's bedside, every long minute of every long day and night for about another week - absolutely scared stiff that she might die alone, with her unfulfilled dreams and ambitions still inside her.
We soon discovered through an Angiogram procedure, and also an MRI scan - that when the Pneumonia had triggered a bronchospasm, not only did it lock Liz's lungs so that she couldn't breathe - it also caused Liz's heart to over-inflate - tearing a major heart artery and causing Liz to have a massive cardiac arrest (not a heart-attack as the doctors initially thought).
The medical term for this is a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) - this is a very rare and incredibly dangerous condition, that is a major cause of instant death in healthy young women.
The hospital had never experienced anyone suffering from a SCAD before, and feared that Liz's heart could unexpectedly stop again at any moment, due to the artery tear!
We were later advised that thankfully the tear in Liz's artery was relatively small, and would naturally heal without the need for surgery, a stent, or a pacemaker.
Liz only had a 6% chance of surviving.
I sat at Liz's bedside, every long minute of every long day and night for about another week - absolutely scared stiff that she might die alone, with her unfulfilled dreams and ambitions still inside her.
We soon discovered through an Angiogram procedure, and also an MRI scan - that when the Pneumonia had triggered a bronchospasm, not only did it lock Liz's lungs so that she couldn't breathe - it also caused Liz's heart to over-inflate - tearing a major heart artery and causing Liz to have a massive cardiac arrest (not a heart-attack as the doctors initially thought).
The medical term for this is a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) - this is a very rare and incredibly dangerous condition, that is a major cause of instant death in healthy young women.
The hospital had never experienced anyone suffering from a SCAD before, and feared that Liz's heart could unexpectedly stop again at any moment, due to the artery tear!
We were later advised that thankfully the tear in Liz's artery was relatively small, and would naturally heal without the need for surgery, a stent, or a pacemaker.
20th January, we finally got Liz home!
After three weeks of the extreme stress of Liz potentially dying at any moment; hardly eating, and little to no sleep, I was completely empty and exhausted, but grateful beyond words, that Liz was alive!
I was so incredibly proud of Josh and Zoie's bravery and courage, in the face of massive extreme uncertainty, exhaustion, and fear!
A little later, I was shocked to discover that, statistically only one in twenty people who have a cardiac arrest survive to go home from the hospital - and that some of those who got to go home, don't live for any more than thirty days!
The following year was full of many many hospital appointments, heart scans and ongoing medication to keep Liz safe!
It was a year of ongoing painful PTSD for all of us, with recurring flashbacks, and dreams of the very worst moments.
Thankfully, today Liz is out of danger and has fully recovered - every single day, I am grateful beyond words that Liz is alive!
20th January, we finally got Liz home!
After three weeks of the extreme stress of Liz potentially dying at any moment; hardly eating, and little to no sleep, I was completely empty and exhausted, but grateful beyond words, that Liz was alive!
I was so incredibly proud of Josh and Zoie's bravery and courage, in the face of massive extreme uncertainty, exhaustion, and fear!
A little later, I was shocked to discover that, statistically only one in twenty people who have a cardiac arrest survive to go home from the hospital - and that some of those who got to go home, don't live for any more than thirty days!
The following year was full of many many hospital appointments, heart scans and ongoing medication to keep Liz safe!
It was a year of ongoing painful PTSD for all of us, with recurring flashbacks, and dreams of the very worst moments.
Thankfully, today Liz is out of danger and has fully recovered - every single day, I am grateful beyond words that Liz is alive!
The Greatest Life-lessons Learned...
It is in our greatest trials - when we are down on our knees, that we get to know who we truly are, and discover our greatest strengths.
Few things are as powerful, such as waking you up, motivating you, reminding you of what is truly important in life, and fueling lasting change, than connecting with your mortality.
Our nightmare was beyond tough - but it was also a life-changing experience, that started us on a path of reinvention, and inspired a greater sense of purpose.
Our second chance at a life together, made me think of George Bernard Shaw when he was asked on his deathbed - what would you do if you could live your life over again? And, after a long pause, he replied. I wish I could become the person I know I was meant to be.
One of the greatest regrets anyone can ever have is getting to the end of their life, and realise that they did not achieve their dreams, or discover their gifts.
I suggest that it's not too late for you, to become the person you've always wanted to be - reinvent yourself, unlock that next level, and reach your full potential.
Please share this message, with someone who needs to hear it.
Written by
Dave Newton
The Greatest Life-lessons Learned...
It is in our greatest trials - when we are down on our knees, that we get to know who we truly are, and discover our greatest strengths.
Few things are as powerful, such as waking you up, motivating you, reminding you of what is truly important in life, and fueling lasting change, than connecting with your mortality.
Our nightmare was beyond tough - but it was also a life-changing experience, that started us on a path of reinvention, and inspired a greater sense of purpose.
Our second chance at a life together, made me think of George Bernard Shaw when he was asked on his deathbed - what would you do if you could live your life over again? And, after a long pause, he replied. I wish I could become the person I know I was meant to be.
One of the greatest regrets anyone can ever have is getting to the end of their life, and realise that they did not achieve their dreams, or discover their gifts.
I suggest that it's not too late for you, to become the person you've always wanted to be - reinvent yourself, unlock that next level, and reach your full potential.
Please share this message, with someone who needs to hear it.
Written by
Dave Newton
The Greatest Life-lessons Learned...
It is in our greatest trials - when we are down on our knees, that we get to know who we truly are, and discover our greatest strengths.
Few things are as powerful, such as waking you up, motivating you, reminding you of what is truly important in life, and fueling lasting change, than connecting with your mortality.
Our nightmare was beyond tough - but it was also a life-changing experience, that started us on a path of reinvention, and inspired a greater sense of purpose.
Our second chance at a life together, made me think of George Bernard Shaw when he was asked on his deathbed - what would you do if you could live your life over again? And, after a long pause, he replied. I wish I could become the person I know I was meant to be.
One of the greatest regrets anyone can ever have is getting to the end of their life, and realise that they did not achieve their dreams, or discover their gifts.
I suggest that it's not too late for you, to become the person you've always wanted to be - reinvent yourself, unlock that next level, and reach your full potential.
Please share this message, with someone who needs to hear it.
Written by
Dave Newton
Copyright © 2024 IconicU. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2024 IconicU.
All Rights Reserved.