by Barbara O'Shea (Author)

In this medical memoir, the author describes numerous episodes of supraventricular tachycardia that frequently interrupted her otherwise peaceful life whether teaching, driving, shopping, writing, awakening from sleep in the middle of the night, or celebrating holidays with family. After living with the condition for over fifty-five years she learns about the radiofrequency ablation procedure, a possible cure which she contemplates, but does she agree to undergo it? Although she tries to determine what triggers an episode, she realizes that supraventricular tachycardia a is actually caused by a flaw in the heart's electrical system."Upon leaving work one fine day in April 1998, I decided rather than going directly home, I would shop at Niagara Prime Outlets in Niagara Falls. I started down Creek Road, but just beyond the intersection where I would normally turn to go home, I experienced an abrupt onset of rapid palpitations. I continued driving but suddenly felt like I might faint or blackout, or even die, as my surroundings started to fade away."Born and raised in Dunkirk, NY along the shores of Lake Erie. Barbara spent most of her life in Lockport., NY. She earned her B.A. degree at SUNY Fredonia where she met her husband and later earned an M.A. from Niagara University near the Lewiston-Porter School District where she taught school for twenty-five years. She is retired and living in south-central PA.