Broken Heart

After my Father died suddenly, my Mother’s health began a steady decline. This is not unusual for people who lose their long-time life and love companions. After a heart attack, her cardiologist recommended a cardiac stent to prevent further attacks. During this procedure, we discovered another problem.  My mother had a condition called Broken Heart Syndrome, and yes it has a fancy medical name, but that name now escapes me.

The cardiologist showed me the images of my mother’s heart:  one chamber appeared to balloon outward, unable to contract and push the blood out as it had done for years and years. It was as if this chamber of her heart was paralyzed, unable to cope with its job and the expectations of the body. This syndrome can occur after a shock that results in unrelenting grief or extreme emotions, trauma to the body or illnesses like Covid-19. It is a temporary condition, but it can lead to other serious medical conditions.

Although there are some medications to treat this syndrome, the best treatment for Broken Heart Syndrome is loving care. If you can simply care for your loved one, make them feel safe and keep them connected to those that love them long enough, their heart will respond, and they will get better. Isn’t that amazing? The heart simply needs time to regain its rhythm. Some days I wonder, is this muscle that beats in our chest actually more than a muscle, and can simple love spark its beat? Is it truly love that mends our broken hearts?

~Lisa Kiel