Foster's Goods
My older sister had swelling in her legs. She died of a heart attack last year. She was 61. I have swelling too. Same compression stockings. Same "mild fluid retention" diagnosis. Same blood pressure her doctor was "monitoring." After the funeral... I went looking for what killed her. What I found is the reason my rings fit again. And the reason I'm writing this. ======== Her name was Brenda. She was a nurse for 25 years. Three grown kids. A husband she'd been with since she was 22. Made the best lasagna. Terrible singer. Organized every family vacation down to the minute. She was the capable one. The one who could handle a crisis without breaking a sweat. She was 61 years old. She should still be here. ======== Brenda got diagnosed with lymphatic issues in her late 40s. Got put on compression stockings. Her doctor said it was just fluid retention. Said to elevate her feet. Said it was common in women her age. She didn't. The fatigue she blamed on nursing shifts. The weight she couldn't lose she blamed on being too busy to exercise. The swollen ankles she blamed on being on her feet all day. Her blood pressure started creeping up at her annual checkups. Her doctor called it borderline. Said they'd watch it. Watched it for twelve years. Brenda used to call me after those appointments. Frustrated. Saying her legs felt "heavy as lead" but her doctor said her tests were "normal." I told her the same thing every time. "If your doctor says it's fine, it's fine." I wish I could take those words back. The last symptom she mentioned to me was the shortness of breath. She said she got winded walking to her car in the parking lot. She thought she was just out of shape. She was going to start walking on her treadmill. Three weeks later she was gone. ======== It was a Wednesday morning. Her husband Mark called me from the hospital. He couldn't speak. Just sobbing. I drove a hundred miles in a blur. Got there too late. Massive heart attack. They wo
