October 23, 2008
6 years ago, on October 23, 2008, Pamela E Smith, owner of Roadrunner Florist had 5-way bypass surgery.
She had a heart attack at the flower shop on Saturday morning. I know, because I was there. I watched as her blood pressure soared, her temper flared, and there was nothing I could do.
The following day, Sunday, we went to the Opera. Pamela loves the opera. I had never been before. She wasn’t feeling well during the opera, and afterward I offered to take her out to dinner. She refused and I took her home instead.
Of course she came to the shop on Monday. Pamela plays clarinet. Wow, can she play clarinet. At the time she played in the band at Phoenix College every Monday night. When she declined going to the band on Monday, I knew something was horribly wrong. But all she would say was she thought she had the flu.
Tuesday Pamela came to the shop and sat in the office. She complained of neck pains, stomach pains, and feeling lousy.
I pleaded with her to stay home on Wednesday but she refused, but I finally dragged her to the doctor Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Goel, bless her, determined Pamela was having a heart attack, and she advised  me to drive her to the hospital (do not take her home, do not get a toothbrush, do not pass go, do not get $200). Off we went.
Fortunately Dr. Goel called her in as a “code blue” and when Pamela walked into the hospital the workers couldn’t believe it! They wheeled her into the annals of the hospital, started IVs, took chest x-rays and EKGS and within 30 minutes they had her prepped for a stent.
The doctor told me the stent wasn’t enough, that she died on the table and they revived her, and the following morning they prepped her for by-pass surgery. She had 5-way bypass, something neither of us had ever heard of before.
After about 3 days they got her up to walk and she collapsed and coded on them again. Back into a coma, and then whola, recovery! (If only it were that easy!)
Pamela is a miracle. We think there must be a reason she’s here, and that’s to design beautiful flower arrangements for you!
We celebrate Pamela’s 6th birthday on October 23 and we hope you’ll call or come by and wish her a Happy Birthday! Tell her you read about it on her website! Or leave a great comment here!
Pamela and you Tina are a miracle. A blessing you have one another and it wasn’t her time to leave us. So wish her a special birthday from me and all your virtual friends. Sure cusyomers who got this in an email will call or come by to wish her many more years.
Thanks so much, Roslyn. I’ll give her a very special Happy Birthday wish from you, and then you can tell her in person when you come and visit (hint hint)!
What an incredible miracle story. You never know when it is truly your time or the plans God has in store for you. Wishing you good health for many years to come.
Thanks, Meryl! Today and this weekend we are celebrating miracles, like Pamela. She was given 6 months to live when I took her out of the hospital, and she’ll be 6 tomorrow!
Tina – What an incredible story and miracle to read! I’m happy to see Pamela is doing great and I want to wish Pamela E. Smith a very Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday with many blessings on your special day! Blessings to you both!
I read this to Pamela and she said, “How nice, how very nice!” Thanks so much for sending blessings and good wishes. She is the backbone of Roadrunner Florist (I know…I was here by myself for 6 weeks while she recovered at home!).
What an amazing story. May God continue to bless you Pamela!
Thanks so much!! Pamela is a fighter, but she said she doesn’t wish this type of medical condition and recovery on anyone!
She really is a miracle! Happy birthday 🙂 She’s got an amazing fight in her, god bless
Thanks so much!! We’re very fortunate that Pamela, who was given 6 months to live, is now 6 years old!
Always great to hear success stories like this thanks to an attentive doctor. I lost my father to a heart attack, if only they could have diagnosed it earlier.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your father. Early diagnosis is the secret to success when a person is having a heart attack. Unfortunately the symptoms are not necessarily the same.
Quite a recovery story and how amazing that you were there to help and support her, both as a devoted friend and also as your business partner. Wonderful and positive outcome to what could have turned out very differently!
Just wait until you meet Pamela today. You’d never ever know that she was so sick 6 years ago!
What a wonderful story. It truly shows that we don’t go until it is our time to go. I am so glad Pamela is “ok” and had her 6th Birthday!
Thanks, Ines. It’s a great story of learning to listen to your body (aka not wait 5 days to get to the doctor), a great doctor, a terrific hospital, and then an amazing recovery.
What an amazing story. God is still in the business of miracles……that’s for sure. I am happy that she is doing well.
Thanks, Veronica. For whatever reason, G-d decided He didn’t need Pamela 6 years ago. The way I figure it, He knew I needed her more!
God works miracles. Happy you are still with us.
Thanks, Debbie!! It’s been an amazing 6 years and I’m looking forward to many, many more!
So sweet. Happy Birthday Pamela!
Thanks for the Happy Birthday wishes! It’s not everyone who has 2 birthdays a year and appreciates it!
Pamela’s 6th REbirthday, I take it. In her case, it was a matter of being physically reborn, not just philosophically or religiously. A miracle, but one of modern medical science. Lucky for her, and for everyone else, too, the right doctors can now handle this sort of problem.
You are to technical, my friend! We look at this as a miracle, and if she didn’t want to recover she wouldn’t have!! She says it’s because of me, but I know better. She had an amazing surgeon and the people in the hospital were great, too.
Happy Birthday Pamela! And Tina, you are a blessing, thank you for sharing 🙂
Thanks, Cheryl. It’s wonderful to be 6 years old again!
wow, she and you have been through a lot. she definitely is here for a reason. so happy she has more time to spend with you.
Thanks, Katrina! That’s what Pamela is always telling me! It’s a good thing we live so close (a block from each other) so I could take care of her when she was recovering.
Wonderful story of the miracle of medicine. So lucky that you keep on top of her.
Thanks, Heather!! Coming through that was a miracle, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone!
Thank you so much for this incredible story of life. Pamela is sure a miracle. It is a blessing that you two have such an incredible bond, friendship and partnership together. Tina so glad that you could just tell that something was wrong and took the upper hand to get Pamela to the doctors. Sometimes we are all very stubborn and don’t want to do what we need to but with your help, Pamela really didn’t have a choice and it saved her life. God Bless both of you! Happy Birthday Pamela!
Thanks, Barbara, for understanding what happened that day 6 years ago. It feels like yesterday, except that Pamela is so healthy now (a doctor recently told her that her heart is “ticking like a Rolex”!) What is interesting is that we women don’t always have symptoms of a heart attack (i.e. pain on the left side or down the left arm) like men do. In her case, she just didn’t feel well, and thought she had the flu. Pamela was given 6 months to live when I took her out of the hospital (she refused to stay in telemetry)…they told me I’d be bringing her back and “just bring he back to the ER”. But she never went back and I’m happy to say she’s here, doing what she does best! Thanks again!!
Wow! What a miracle! It is a miracle Pamela didn’t die before she got to the hospital… then 2 or 3 more miracles! What a miracle to have such a good friend in you, Tina! You obviously saved her life by getting her to the doctor. What a miracle to have such an enduring and endearing friend to work with while creating your beautiful arrangements. Thank you for sharing this miraculous miracle.
Thanks, Pat, for understanding the miracles. It really was a series of miracles, and every day is another one. Make yours special today!
Wow what a harrowing experience. Thank heavens you knew to take her to the doctor. Even though I rarely visit them myself, sometimes it is the best option. She definitely is a miracle. So glad she is still here sharing beautiful flowers with us.
Thanks so much, Takara. A doctor isn’t Pamela’s favorite place to go, either, which is probably why she waited 4 days! But she finally went when I dragged her, and now, 6 years later, she’s healthy and happy!
What an inspiring story! I love her tenacity – that’s for sure! And what blessings you are for each other, and the world really as you share your beautiful designs. I am glad your team remains intact!
Thanks so much. Pamela continues to surprise and inspire me. It’s great that she’s here to teach me and that I can share all of her beautiful creations with you.
Wow Pamela. I remember when that happened and I can imagine how scared you must of been. Thank goodness you are still here:)
Interestingly enough, Pam, I don’t remember Pamela ever feeling scared. Maybe it’s because she didn’t know what was happening at the time. They didn’t give her any time to think about it, they just did a great a job saving her life. Maybe in her case ignorance was bliss. But she has since said she would not recommend it!! And she would not do it again (aka the recovery was so difficult that, given a choice, she would not go through it again). She’ll also tell you the one word of advise that has saved her since that 5-way bypass: WALK. She said she didn’t want to, but she walked every single day, even a few steps, and she hasn’t stopped (“Run, Forrest, Run!!). Anyone who has open heart surgery and wants to live needs to walk. … by the way, we miss you and hope you’ll stop by and see us at the flower shop!!
Wow! that is quite the testimony, Tina! What a miracle her story is. Thanks for sharing with us. <3
Yes, Norma, Pamela is a miracle. She counts every day as if she isn’t supposed to be here. Actually, it’s a great attitude!