The first sign of trouble fell out of my mouth. My speech was drunken, it was such a slur. I was sober at the time – it was bedtime. I felt a slight panic as I plopped on to my bed, grasped the phone and called both my son and daughter with the garbled news, “I am not normal.” They were almost speechless.

I slept in worried segments, and awoke to stagger to the bathroom. I made a sloppy cup of coffee and fell into thought, mystified. It was a sunny morning and I looked out at my young flowers. The pansy plants smiled at me from their planters. Soon a friend showed up and I greeted her with my slurred speech. She works as a nurse and became ashen-faced. I was ordered into a chair. The ambulance was soon on its way. Things were in a swirl as items were stuffed into a bag without my opinion. Tightly buckled down on the stretcher and not wearing any shoes, I was ready to go in no time with my wallet, spiritual book, and a six-foot-long staff that I wouldn’t leave without. Why the staff? Who knows?

The ambulance left hurriedly while I recited as best I could my name and date of birth to the burly, uniformed attendant. The sun shone brightly through the back windows as my home melted away behind me. Who would care for my dog? My flowers had to soldier on without me. My dog would have to go on somehow without a decent goodbye. What was going to happen, and how would I cope? I prayed that I would be back home soon. Home with friends, happy hour, flowers, and health returned.

Editor’s Epilogue... After Manzanita suffered her stroke she shared with us how she also faced a near death experience while she was in the hospital. Told by a doctor that, “things were not looking good,” Manzanita said a prayer and much to the amazement of her caregivers she awoke the next morning much improved. She has since undergone physiotherapy, and the most wonderful news is that at the time of writing this, she is back at home getting about with the help of a walker and enjoying her little dog and her posies. Manzanita sends out her heartfelt thanks to all those people in the community who have been so very kind and helpful.

If you or anyone you know is showing signs of FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness or Speech difficulty, remember, it’s Time to call an ambulance. As 911 is not available on Haida Gwaii, call 1-800-461-9911.