An Apple a Day…. can keep you safe

As I travel through this maze of trying to figure out why my brain got stopped up with a clot and shut down my left side, I’ve been able to meet the most interesting people.  Dr’s are still trying to figure out what caused the stroke.   Test here, test there and I’m gladly bending to their will.   I’m now being tested for sleep apnea.    This is something I know a little about as family members and friends have been tested and now sleep with cpap machines.    Yes, I know I snore but my boyfriend has never minded.   He threatens to record me when I go into work-mode.  I guess I hold meetings in my sleep… somewhere around 2:30am.   If you think about it that’s perfect time for India 🙂

Had my sleep consultation session which means she asked tons of questions about me and my background.  Was weighed, blood pressure taken, ensured my oxygen level was adequate, measured my neck, and verified a pulse.    I passed with flying colors!   She wanted to know my story and, for the most part, she looked interested with a hint of “she’d heard every story there was”… or thought she had.    Shared quite a bit about the stroke and my experience at the hospital.   She was moved by the Alexa story as most people I find are.    There’s always a certain point at which the words turn to emotion and my voice catches and eyes tear a little.

After, she just stared at me unblinking for a bit and told me something I already knew…. “you are blessed”.    She had to know who the man was on the other end of Alexa and whether we had met.   Salah is family now, not just the man on the other end of the Alexa and he can pick Maryland crabs with the best of ’em.   He doesn’t know it yet but he’s getting an invite for Thanksgiving this year!!

We had identical Apple watches (S3), right down to the color and band.   I must have done a little noise because she looked up from her notes and gave me an inquisitive look.   I asked, “Do you know why I have this watch?”    She thought maybe for tracking activity and movement.   That is true, yes, but moreso it’s for the special button on the side.  Her brows furrowed as she questioned “the red one?”   Oh no, not that one!  The other one.   She’d never noticed the other button!   That was when I decided to write this blog.   Sitting in that room with someone who had obviously seen many patients, surrounded by technology and never knew the gem she had upon her wrist and how it could save her life.

The Apple Watch has a built in SOS mechanism.   There is a button just below the red one and it is practically flush with the watch itself.   If you click the button one time for about one second then it will show you all of the apps currently open on your watch.  However, if you press the button for about 5 seconds, a screen will pop up where you can select Emergency / SOS.    Since the newest phone has it’s own cell number it can call 911 for you.

This can come in handy as the watch is also waterproof.   Exercising in the pool at night, heading off to the beach, or even taking a shower can pose no harm to the device AND you get the bonus of knowing you’re protected.   If that wasn’t fancy enough, as soon as you contact 911 a text will be sent to your loved-ones notifying them that you need assistance.   There are too many times that we are stuck in traffic on long commutes to work.   How often have you seen someone on the side of the road and thought “poor guy, must be waiting for AAA”.   I’ve come across many people that have had a stroke while driving.  Or had the beginning of a stroke and decided to drive themselves to the hospital!!    No one ever pulls over to help a person on the side of the road anymore.   With this watch, they won’t need to.

 

Everyone has a story and since the stroke, I’ve listened and read so many from others who have survived theirs.   They’re incredible, amazingly brave people.   Just wow me everyday on what they went through, what they’re dealing with, and how they surround themselves with positivity.    One constant we all share is we never knew this was going to happen.     So protect yourself, be prepared for anything.   Nothing saying you are going to have a stroke… but you could fall and hurt yourself… could be in a compromising position…  may need that life-line.   Ensure you have it at your fingertips.