The first time it happened was trying to beat out a grounder in a softball game. Blacked out, just dropped to the ground. Diagnosis was an electrical problem, one side of the heart beat faster in certain conditions. The affect was reduced oxygen to the brain. The brain said "Take a nap, now". We tried medication which worked for a year. Then it happened. 30 seconds to go in the first half. Punt, raced down the sideline....clock operator described it best "Picture perfect, squared off, approaching the rolling ball, waved arms to stop the clock, blowing whistle, then, as if someone shot you in the chest dropped on your back." Immediately woke up, trainer holding me down ( he irritated me, but meant well ) paramedics arrive, then the ambulance...everyone asks the same questions over and over ...name, day, where are we? Ambulance Paramedic stops mid sentence "Ray from Cross Bayou?" "Don't tell me you were one of my ball players" "No, Blue Jays, but we all wanted to play for you." "Good, cause all my kids are in prison"
Load me in the ambulance, Judy driving, John in back with me. I asked, no sirens and just flow with the traffic, no hurry. We stop at a traffic light, I asked "At the next light can you switch with Jill?" " Why?" "Because she's much better looking than you and I do not want to hold your hand." From the front we hear "I heard that." John stayed in back all the way to the hospital. Jill at the head John at the feet, they get ready to lift me and set me on the bed in emergency. "Stop, wait," they relax I look up at Jill. "Are you sure you can lift me? I don't want to be dropped on my head!" "Shut up or I'll drop you on purpose." They get me on the bed, she goes to get paperwork signed...John packing their stuff ...I didn't see her at the door " Hey John is she always that difficult to tease." She replies "Everyday, I especially like teasing dirty old men like you." She starts down the hall, John picks his stuff up ..." Good luck with her, you need it" from down the hall "I heard that!"
The verdict comes in, my Cardiologist delivers the news "I think it's time we put in a pace maker." " Is this the end of football?" "End? This keeps you vertical on a football field, I'm tired of 10pm phone calls from Emergency and ambulance rides. enough already." No problems since.