We were in the Gila Wilderness. There were less than 200 miles in front of us to complete the world's longest off road bike race. We'd overcome some pretty tough obstacles, always finding a way to keep moving forward but this was different. It was scary. SheilaT did not want me know know she was scared and I did not want her to know that I was.
SheilaT admitted she did not say anything while Luke and Marion were there because she thought that Luke might make her hit the SPOT - hit that small red button on our tracking devices that no one wants to use that tells the world you need help. She did not want to quit. Bavado? Foolhardy? Tough as nails? Lucky?
Though almost all of the numbness was gone, as soon as SheilaT returned home, she made an appointment with her doctor. The riot act was read to her again and tests were scheduled.
SheilaT had had a stroke.
There was evidence that there had been 2 previously, so mild she did not notice.
Test showed that she had a hole between 2 chambers of her heart and that occasionally blood clots were released.
Outpatient surgery was done to install a device that sealed the hole (rather fascinating really).
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| STB's molly bolt |
I have SheilaT's permission to tell this story. Why am I? Because it was a fairly intense event that the story of our race would be incomplete without. And I'm telling it because I have another friend (an athlete) who had a stroke from the same cause. Perhaps there is someone in the small community of readers who will use this to help themselves or someone else. I had just completed a Wilderness First Aid course a few months prior and I did not think that a young, healthy, fit person could so randomly have a stroke.
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