Overview

Patty O'Mara-Croft's widowmaker heart attack was a cruel assault on her body, threatening the happiest years of her life. Originally misdiagnosed as a panic attack, common among women who suffer heart attacks, Patty's heart suffers permanent damage, and her precarious condition threatens to raze all joy and hope between Patty and her husband, Brian. In a recounting both informative and inspirational, heartbreaking and funny, Patty and Brian share their stories from their own unique perspectives--the first-person account of painful revelations and medical struggles and a loved one's experience of despair, hope, and renewal. Families in medical crisis are getting sucker-punched every day and need help from those who overcame it and emerge stronger than before. The dual voice of both authors represents a love that flourishes, even as Patty's health weakens and is no longer a viable candidate for a heart transplant. Pulse of My Heart is part medical mystery, part comedy of errors, part family drama, and an enduring love story. The field notes at the back of the book focus on: The sometimes-strained relationship between doctors and patient Preparing for anticipatory grief The potential for addiction when narcotics are part of the drug protocol Dealing with familial strife during a time of need Struggling with others' prayers when one's own faith is strained Trying to maintain some level of dignity in an utterly undignified environment Finding ways to be an effective parent in a blended family when illness demands so much attention

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9781933016894

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Brian O'Mara-Croft is the author of Lost in the Hive: Confessions of a Reluctant Drone, a collection of true, humorous essays. Brian is a visual communication consultant - he combines words and imagery in visual maps that provide concise directions to employees and other audiences. His academic background is in public relations/journalism. Patricia O'Mara-Croft teaches high-school art during the day and serves as self-appointed ruler of her chaotic household at night. Her absolute desire to not only to live but to thrive has featured prominently in both her life and her retelling of it. What's more, she's not afraid to laugh at herself. Her hope is that her memoir will provide not only for compelling reading, but will also inspire others to live richer, fuller lives. Brian and Patty are parents of five children in a blended family that resides on both sides of the U.S./Canada border. They live in a suburb of Chicago.

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