Earlier this year, I was at the airport waiting in line with my family.  At the counter, a man was working on a new itinerary for himself and his two kids.  The boy was about nine.  The girl was around eight, very pretty with a nice smile and probably weighed about 130 pounds.  The boy was about the same size, both looked like they had kegs under their shirts on top of average sized legs.  

I have a "different strokes for different folks" attitude and really don't like to judge others.  I was busy trying to keep my own kids in check and eventually made it to the counter and changed our flights.  Since we had some time to spare, we headed over to Wings (the cafe at ACK Airport is not really called Wings but I call it that based on the old sitcom) for a pre-flight lunch.  Of course, life sat us right next to the girl.  

My wife would confirm that I'm not much of an eavesdropper.  However, I was very distracted this day as the waitress delivered a few corned beef hash w/ egg platters to the next table and heard the dad bragging about them being "Hash Connoisseurs" to the couple that joined them.  I had worked out earlier that day and my body was starving for food but if I'd have even eaten half of one of those platters, no doubt that I'd have felt awful and deenergized all day.  In fairness, while I LOVE food, I personally don't eat large portions but trust me that this was a LOT of the wrong kinds of food for anyone, especially an eight year old girl who actually made quick work of the task before sopping up the plate with the toast that dad buttered generously for her.  

I still think of that girl often, wondering how her life will unfold.  Of course I couldn't have said anything to the dad, could I?  That's ridiculous and none of my business...right?  I've imagined what would have happened if I had told the dad that I have subject matter expertise on nutritious eating and asked if I could help.  Those scenarios typically end up with him telling me to bug off or even taking a swing.  Occasionally though, he says yes.  

The experience is a motivator for learning.  I want to ensure that I'm as able as I am willing to help when he does ask for help or when others say that they are off their ideal path and want to be empowered to right their ship.  

Hospitals can’t give information on patients due to privacy laws but how else would we know for sure if Michael had survived?  

My future sister-in-law, Ashley, joined me for a morning run while on a family vacation last year.  We came by a group doing Plyometric exercises near the beach and gladly accepted a kind invitation to join them.  They were all in the same family and the class was led by an energetic 40ish year old Michael who had become a fan of P90x programs.  

Michael led his wife, young nephews, other relatives and the two of us through a fun, moderately intense workout with lots of jumping.  He warned us that the one legged cross jumps were difficult and not his favorite.  We finished the right leg but never made it to the left one.  Michael dropped dead right before our eyes.  I’ll never forget the sound of his head connecting with the wooden floor when his body collapsed.  

Policemen amazingly arrived within only a few minutes and began CPR.  EMTs poured from an ambulance only two to three minutes later and quickly were shouting “CLEAR” as the defibrillator tried shocking Michael’s body back to life....over and over.  Nothing.  The look of shock and disbelief on his wife’s face will be forever imprinted in my mind.  It never changed from the moment he fell, through the time that the EMTs were saying that they were “getting nothing”, to when she was getting into the ambulance behind the cart and driving away to our heart felt cheers of encouragement. 

We all had tears joining the sweat still running down our faces....Michael was fine only ten minutes ago and now he was dead.  We didn’t say anything to each other.  Everyone just kind of walked away like zombies.  

That night, we called the hospital and asked for an update, not knowing his last name.  The receptionist told me about the privacy policy.  I begged to just confirm if he’d pulled through.  She asked what I thought and I said no.  She said that I might be wrong about that and hung up.  It would be great to confirm that Michael made a full recovery but it was enough that night to get a little hope to go along with another reminder of how life can change in a moment’s notice.  

Lying in the emergency room bed not knowing what was wrong with me, I honestly thought that my time could be up.  The end of the ride.  My mind was racing with the worst thoughts.  Would I not be around long enough to watch my kids grow up?  Would I be able to grow old and accomplish all of the plans I have with the amazing wife that I cherish so much?  Would she eventually live my dreams with another man that my kids would someday hug and call Dad?  Would he escort my daughters down the wedding aisle?  Did I waste the precious time that I had been given?  What would be my legacy?  Did I make the world better?  No way that this was happening!  I was freaking out.  This stuff happens to other people, not to me right?   

Describing the pain as a 9 out of 10 to the nurse when she came in, I tried to communicate that my entire focus was needed to inhale small and painful breaths.  Eventually, the Doctor's tests would lead to a diagnosis of Costochondritis, which is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the rib cage to the sternum.  It causes sharp pain and seizing feelings that mimic those of a heart attack....but (phew) it was NOT a heart attack or something fatal.  

Physicians have since told me that there is no apparent cause for that condition but my extended family (who will tell you that they know more than those doctors:) was convinced that it was a result of a stressful job.  I’ll never know for sure but both the job and the condition completely went away together within a few months of the emergency room visit.  This was a few years ago and today, I can say that I've never felt better.  Yet another reminder though that life is unpredictable.  I won't take for granted the opportunity I have to spend time with the best family...and keep that other dude out of my shoes:)