Joseph’s Brief is a transcript from an interview. As I mentioned he was unwell and unable to write. I went to his house and he told me his story over a cuppa.
The Heart Attack was in the May and it was a pretty normal day. Got up, took the grandkids to school went home pottered about the garden. There was nothing really off, maybe a mild pain in my chest but nothing really major. I mean I could definitely feel it but as I said didn’t really think much. To be fair, I do get a lot of indigestion and heart burn. Just thought it was maybe to do with that. Anyhow, it was about 1 o’clock, the pain was still there maybe it was getting worse. I can’t really remember that well. I remember it was about 2.30 and I was getting ready to pick my grandchildren up from school. The pain at this point was getting worse, like a really bad muscle pain almost like I’d strained it but it was constantly there. I picked them up from school, took them back to ours. It must have been about 4.30 because I decided to phone the doctor. I just phoned the surgery, and said I was slightly worried but didn’t want to come down see the doctor in case it was a waste of time.
I’ll never forget it…the doctor told me to go straight to A&E and someone else had to drive me there. The doctor told the A&E department that I’d be coming. When I arrived the receptionist gave me a paper to sign, then I was taken straight in. I felt really bizarre, all those people were in the waiting room and I took straight away. Fast forward, I was hooked up to all of those drips and all this other stuff. Scans, the lot. Turns out I had a heart attack, its absolutely mad to think about. I was just going about my business picking the kids up from school and I’m having a heart attack. I doctors were all really good, what they can do these days it amazing.
Afterword’s, I there were some mixed feelings. I was obviously happy to be alive but thinking back that could’ve been really bad. I could have dropped dead; I was driving my grandchildren about. I feel an intense amount a guilt about that, I should’ve said something earlier because those kids are my life. The wee ones could’ve seen their papa die. I was faced with some choices, I decided to stop smoking. Which was hard, I has been smoking since I was maybe 14. I’ll be honest I still drink but no were near as much I did. I must be doing something right cause I’ve not had another one.
I’d say now I feel grateful to be here, I the kids go off to university and see my daughters turn 50. Hope to here for more years.
Family Values Project 