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Post by morningstar on Aug 20, 2007 22:36:14 GMT -5
I had someone ask me to post this as they couldn't find it here. I thought when Phil first started this he ask me to post it and I am sure I would have if The Fearless Leader would have wanted. But I have looked and I can't find it. Please excuse me if you have read it. And I hope the ones who wanted to read it understand me a little better. Please let me know if you find it twice and I will gladly delete one. Thanks Rose
It was March 4, 2006
I awoke like every other morning - It was about 3:47am and as usual, I reached for my cigarettes. I keep a fan blowing on me winter and summer to help me breathe, so I turned my face into the pillow with my o2 on my face as usual. Flick, flick, finally it lit but boom was the next thing I heard, and fire going everywhere, my face included. I yelled at my husband Tom who was sleeping beside me. But it was too late. I was on fire including my face where the o2 was concentrated. The smell was terrible. I was scared to death because, just one year before my Mother had done this and was burned in the lungs by inhaling the fire.
All I remember saying to Tom is I have 3 days to live because that is what mom had lived. He got the fire out, and changed my clothes. We headed the hospital to have them see what they could do. Once there I went through the usual things of an ER. Finally they wanted to send me to Pittsburgh Burn Center, but I refused to go, so they admitted me. I put in some hard time the next 3 days.
Little did I know the hard times was yet to come. Well I passed the 3 day mark, but the o2 level in my blood was dropping and making me very sick.
A week went by and I got worse. Some days I don't remember at all. I have been told that I was out of my head. I do remember being moved to another room and the hospital staff telling me they were life flighting me to the Burn Center in Pittsburgh. By that time I could have cared less, I guess from the drugs. The men from life flight was there to get me and I went. From what I remember I enjoyed it. Once there they tested and tested and punched and prodded until I just didn't care any more. Thank God I needed no plastic surgery and the burn seemed to heal with the creme they put on it. So after 5 days there they send me home.
I didn't feel good but I was home and I would get stronger -- wrong. The health nurse came on Wednesdays. That week, my sats were way down so it was back the hospital for me. In the ER, the took one look and put me in a room. When ask why, I was told my lungs were infected from the o2 burns and I wasn't responding to treatment. The left lung wasn't holding any air and appeared to be not working at all. I have days I don't recall at all. The doctors had given up on me living. By then I couldn't walk, or turn off of my left side.
From then until May 24th, that is where I was. I was only being able to come home then because the doctors said I only had 2 days at best to live.
But through a lot of love and great care I live to tell this story. My habit of cigarettes caused all of this. Smoking with your o2 on is not smart! You might think that it won't happen to you -- it can and it will. Cigarettes will kill you one way or the other. Thanks to them I forever wear o2 all the time and have shorted my own life - all for the puff of a cigarette.
Please think what your doing. It's not easy to quit but it is the only way to live!
Rosemarie Leatham
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Post by spike99 on Aug 20, 2007 23:21:25 GMT -5
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Thank you for sharing your story. Every time I read it, it makes me stop in my tracks. Your above post (on a differn forum) was one of main drivers to make me quit "Cold Turkey" last year. Thank you for trying to positive influence many others as well.
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Post by Joyce7 on Aug 21, 2007 8:07:25 GMT -5
My goodness you went through a terrible time and so frightening too. Many will learn from it and be helped. You showed them though, and when they said you had only two days to live, your determination kicked in and also your will to live. We all do stupid things that can cause us harm whether it is smoking, not wearing out seatbelts or not having smoke detectors in our homes, so it's live and learn..and thank you for posting your story.
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Post by cocojax on Aug 21, 2007 9:47:48 GMT -5
Wow Rosmarie, they warned us at rehab about that, gave me shivers. When I smoked I used to have a cigarette before I even got out of bed, can't even imagine that now...Glad you got better my friend...
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Post by bobbioh on Aug 21, 2007 17:52:27 GMT -5
Rose I have read your story before and it touch's me deeply. Im so glad your here today to tell your story! Bobbi
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Post by John on Aug 22, 2007 17:49:04 GMT -5
All I can say Rose is you must have direct contact with the powers upstairs ! Sure glad you made it Thur
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Aug 22, 2007 20:21:04 GMT -5
Thanks for posting that and reminding e'one Rose. You've been through a lot but just like the timex..... Good for you!
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Post by morningstar on Aug 22, 2007 20:43:02 GMT -5
Hi gang,
It is funny about this story. I was ask to repost it because I had told her and her friend that is was here. I couldn't find it. I had it on the Laptop not this one. So the hunt was on. One copy on the net I knew had been deleted not long ago. The only other one I could think of was at C I where Cg had first ask me to right it. And sure enough there it was. So I copied and paste and tada there we go. I can honestly tell you all it still makes me sick to read it. But, I thiank all of you for you kind and loving words.
Jackie the ladies have now read it please feel free to delete it. I would but I don;t know what to do with all the kind post that was written.
Rose
P.S. The reason for wanting it the one ladies husband is on o2 and smoking. The other had read it but didn't remember where.
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Post by virginia on Aug 23, 2007 12:47:58 GMT -5
Rose after reading Spike's post, I would not delete it ..You never know you might help someone else , that reads and not post ..I think its a scary thing to go through..So glad your still around to tell people about it...
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Post by mary57 on Feb 16, 2009 12:40:51 GMT -5
Rose, I have just read your story and would not want to see it deleted, It can still do so much good to people who read it. You are one brave and awsome lady to have survived so much and with such grace. Bless you.
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Post by larrynz on Feb 16, 2009 17:44:30 GMT -5
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Feb 16, 2009 18:27:39 GMT -5
Hey Mary;
I'm vv sorry.
We left this thread here (you can see by the original dates) for a reason as Larry mentioned.
Please don't feel badly; it's out fault....the admin.
What you DID do was give us thought again....some of this/these posts, should be put into an "Archive Section". I thank you for that; I really do.
Thank You ..... Jackie/Admin
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