The moment TIME STOOD STILL...

Everyone reads my blogs as it makes them laugh if but for just a moment. But today is different....continue on....

It was Sunday morning. Robin and I completed our run almost 24 hours ago (8 miles). What occured next that morning was something I was not prepared for.

Robin gets out of bed and is complaining that her stomach hurts - an ailment that seemingly was with her for the next several minutes. She sat down and slowly put her head into her hand - I could see the color quickly escaping her face. Her hand is turning red as she messages her temples. She says, "I feel like I am going to pass out. Can you get me a wet towel".

I run to the sink and grab a towel and soak it with cold water knowing that this will help somewhat. No sooner than I turned around, Robin spoke again. "I am about to, about to....pass...oooo.....". I barely catch her before she hits the floor. She is BURNING UP....head, neck, shoulders, everywhere.

Running over to the sink, I get another towel and soak it with extremely cold water. When I get back to her, I hold her head up and look into her eyes. She was catatonic...no response, eyes wide open and dilated - and dripping in sweat.

I place the towel over her head and behind her neck trying to cool her off and at the same time, slapped her face to snap her out of it. That is when I decided to check her pulse...it was almost non-existent. I mere 3 beats in the ten seconds I counted. This was the most scared I have ever been in my life...I really thought I was loosing me beloved wife. I didn't know what was happening. This was not simply the signs of "fainting" or "passing out".

A few seconds later she started to shake and I just held her close and whispered in her ear that I was here for her. I could tell that she was very disoriented as she began to wake up (roughly 1 minute she was out). Her eyes started to blink and I assured her that she was ok. I helped her to the floor and ran downstairs to get some ice...her temperature needed to come down.

I force fed her alot of water, continued to cool her off, and she slowly started to recover and was then fine enough to get into the bed and relax. She continued to drink water.

The first thing I thought was that her iron level was low....a typical trigger for passing out. But according the doctor, my wife had a "heat stroke". She did not suffer from "heat exhaustion", she was well beyond that. Her core temperature was so high, her body began to shut down, until she lost all her strength.

She is fine now and she will have to monitor it from now on as she has now become more succeptable to future heat strokes as a result of this one.

Heat strokes can come at any time...Robin's was almost 24 hours after she completed her run. She is in top shape and knowledgeable in the field of running and treatment...and "it" got her.

I send this message to EVERYONE READING....DO NOT RUN ALONE in the heat, pay attention to warning signs (upset stomach, cold sweat, etc.). Drink plenty of fluids as much as 2 days before a long run (per doctor's advice)....and whenever you get a chance, hug you wife or husband.

Life is WAY TOO SHORT to be a hero and pretend you are immune. Nobody is and nobody every will be.

Additional reading related to heat strokes:

http://www.health.am/diseases/more/heat_stroke_hyperthermia/