Every night when we got home, there would be some kind of problem. Complaints from the manager, complaints from neighbors. Always something different.

This night I had come home from work and had to go back out to the grocery store.  Bobby wanted to come with me but I told him no, cause I was only going after a few things and would be right back. He started his normal little fit that he would have. Terry told me that he would take care of it and not to worry and go on to the store. And I left.

When I came back, I could see the flashing blue lights on the section of the building that we lived in. I thought OH Shit here we go.  But I got lucky that the police were at the other end of the building.

I got the two sacks out of the car, and waved to one of the officers that we had dealt with in  the past. I went inside and unloaded the sacks. Bobby was watching TV, and Terry was not around. I asked Bobby where Terry went and he told me that he was in bed. This being really unusual I headed into the bedroom. And I found Terry laying in the dark. I turned on the light and asked if he was okay.  He said no, he didn't feel good.  The more that I talked to him the more worried I got. I asked if something had happened while I was gone. Terry said they had an argument, but nothing major.  I asked why he felt bad. And he said he just felt lousy and came in there to lay down.  By this point he was slurring his words, and his color didn't look right either. I told him that he needed to get to the ER.  And of course he was going to be stubborn and said that he would  be fine after he had a nap.  I told him yeah you'll be fine... but you will be six foot under by then. I told him that he was going one way or another. If he wouldn't get up and go in the car, then I was just stubborn enough to call an ambulance and have him taken there. 

I told Bobby that Terry was sick and I was taking him to the ER. He was to make himself a sandwich and I would call him in a little while. And out the door we went.

After I got him in the car, I told him that when we got to the emergency room that he was to let me do all the talking. And he was to go with the flow. I had worked in hospitals too long. I knew the tricks of getting someone seen right away. I didn't want to sit with him in the waiting room for half the night.  We only lived less than two miles to the hospital.  Which was good.... I don't think he would have done well with me driving like a mad woman.

We reached the ER and I went to the door and hollered that I needed some help.  Being almost eight months pregnant got some immediate attention.  Two nurses and a doctor came out to the car. Terry was having all the classic symptoms of a heart attack, with no pain.

After about two hours and a bunch of tests they determined that it was not a heart  attack, but his blood pressure was high and he was having a lot of stress. The doctor told us that he was on the verge of one of three things. One, a heart attack, Two, a stroke. Three, a nervous breakdown. They put him on medication for the high blood pressure and also a tranquilizer for the stress. And told him to follow up with the family doctor within the month for any adjustments that needed to be made. And they discharged him.