Leon Baxter never imagined that a mere ache in his chest could spiral into such a chaotic journey. At eighty-seven, he had grown accustomed to the occasional twinge, a creak in his knee or a stiff shoulder that served as a reminder of the passage of time. That morning, a sudden, intense pain hit him, almost bringing him to his knees in his cozy little living room. He was just cleaning up, humming a familiar song, when it hit him. Feeling a surge of panic, he quickly picked up the phone and called 911.

The paramedics got there quickly, helping him into the ambulance and strapping him onto a stretcher. The journey to the hospital felt like a whirlwind of flashing lights and wailing sirens, his heart racing in multiple ways.

After arriving at the hospital, the doctors chose to admit Leon for observation and further testing. “We need to be certain about your heart, Mr. Baxter,” they said, their voices gentle yet resolute. He surrendered to the jabbing needles, EKG leads, and the monitors beeping like digital birds. Days slipped by. He understood that he had to reach out to someone, so he picked up the phone and called his daughter, Suzanne, who was living all the way in Miami.

“Dad, oh my gosh, are you okay?”“I can’t believe this is happening!” Suzanne said over the phone, her voice heavy with concern.

Leon attempted to comfort her with his gentle and reassuring demeanor. “I’m okay, sweetheart.” The doctors are simply being careful. “I think I’ll be sticking around for a little while.”