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 I  visited Myrtle Beach, SC  at least three times a year for more than 30 years. I had visited during pretty much every month and season of the year. A few times the weather had not cooperated but it had never been anything that completely ruined my visit. I always hated going back to Knoxville and the unpredictable weather. I always told all my friends and family that when I retired it would be at some beach, somewhere. I had considered Myrtle Beach but really thought I would end up in Florida.
I retired from my job as a Child Abuse Detective in 1998 and was staying busy with my Consulting Business, doing security work and even selling real estate. I enjoyed traveling and spending time with our two poodles Dolly and Penny. I found myself on the go constantly and enjoying every minute of it. I had this little nagging problem that I called "falling like a tree" but I never let it stop me. I would just get up brush myself off and wait for the "feeling" to come back in my left side.
On September 22, 2005 (my wedding anniversary) my whole world changed. I was dressing to go speak  at a luncheon for the league of Women Voters and I "fell like a tree."  I managed to regroup and barely arrived in time to speak. I noticed several times I had trouble connecting my words, the "feeling" had not completely returned to my left side and my right knee was killing me from the fall. If anyone in the audience noticed I couldn't tell. I mingled and shook hands for a few minutes before excusing myself to the comfort of my car. Once inside the car I had the feeling that I needed to get my knee checked out and I decided to do that before my husband and I went out to celebrate our anniversary.
I arrived at the hospital around three o'clock and told them what had happened and took a seat to what I figured would be a long wait. To my surprise I had not even finished the paperwork when a nurse called my name and took me back into the ER. She started the routine of blood pressure check which she couldn't seem to get right. She kept asking me if I had a blood pressure problem and I told her no. She kept saying that it was low and should be higher. I informed her it was always low. The next thing I know they are sending me for a CT  and I kept asking why because it was my knee that hurt. After a CT and a quick ex-ray of my knee I was seen by a doctor who appeared very serious. I was making jokes about a having a CT when I come in for knee pain and being late for my dinner date. He did not appear amused. It was about then  that I began to worry a little. Then he delivered the bombshell that he believed I had suffered a stroke and that I would be admitted for further testing. To this I argued that I was fine and had things to do. In the end I was admitted and called my husband to fill him in. The next day I was seen by a neurologist who explained to me the test that would be done and I was ready to get them over with. A Clerk came into my room to get insurance information and when i told her I had no insurance she excused herself and did not finish the paperwork. Within an hour I was told by the unit nurse that I was being discharged. I was surprised to say the least after just being informed of numerous tests but was glad to go home.
I  had a very busy week and never worried about my health. I was not surprised that this particular hospital had released me simply because I was uninsured. They were not known for their great medical technology anyway. They were simply convenient to where I lived. Exactly one week later on the 29th of September I had awoke early and was sitting in my favorite chair with Penny sleeping in my lap.She began to be fidgeting which was not like her. She seemed to want to smell my face and this was also out of character for her. She had always been able to tell when Dolly was going to have a seizure (Dolly had Addison's Disease) and I was thinking that was why she was acting strange even though Dolly was still in bed with my husband. I decided to get up and take her outside. I got up and walked around the side of my chair the few steps to the french doors and fell into the glass and wrought iron dining room table..I had suffered a massive stroke.