...It was time for the nurses' shift change and I was waiting to see who I would have as my nurse for my last night in the hospital. Shortly thereafter, the door opened and the nurses' computer cart appeared in the doorway with my day shift nurse. Then Tiffany Britt came in and I was thrilled. She had been my nurse before and was very attentive and responsible. As soon as I saw her I started cheering. "Yay, I get Tiffany to be my nurse!" I cheered, while I punched the air above me.

I was very excited to be going home the next day and was even making plans of what types of foods and over the counter medicines would help me lose all the water I was retaining. I recall taking a shower and washing my hair and getting all cleaned up so I wouldn't need to waste time the next day getting out of the hospital.

I took a long hard look at my body in the mirror. I really hadn't had a chance to since prior to the original gall bladder surgery on the 19th. I was shocked and appalled to see how I looked. I looked like I had just delivered a baby, my whole body was swollen. I tried to put my pajamas on and they were too small over my thighs. I pulled out my black stretch yoga pants and even they were uncomfortable, but I had to wear something.

I called or sent a text to each of the kids to tell them that I loved them and would be going home the next day. Then I called and talked with my husband. I told him that I was worried that I couldn't believe how much water I was retaining. I told him about talking to each of the kids and that they were all ok. This was sort of weird for me to report back to him on contacting the kids. It's almost like my subconscious knew that my body was dying.

Later that night, I got up to go to the bathroom and felt really weird, so I called for the nurse. Tiffany came in and I told her I was having some heart problems. She called for a "Rapid Response" and had me lay down on the bed. I remember two male nurses from the ICU came in and gave me nitroglycerin and I felt a little better. The "Rapid Response" team went outside to fill out their paperwork, Tiffany stayed with me to make sure I was okay. While she was with me I had a sudden cardiac death (arrest) within five minutes. Tiffany called a code blue and began CPR. The "Rapid Response" team came running back in and found my heart was in torsades de pointe, a fatal heart rhythm. The team continued CPR and giving me defibrillating shocks. After 40 minutes of CPR and 6 shocks the doctor called it and someone called out "try shocking her one more time" and I came back.

I owe my life to Tiffany Britt who was compassionate enough to stay with me to be sure I was stable. Her presence made my death an observed code and I received CPR the exact moment that I died, otherwise they would have stopped the CPR much sooner. By giving me CPR right away it gave my vital organs the blood and oxygen that they needed to survive. My heart, lungs, and brain received what they needed.