Ali Frye: The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die

In this episode, Christina Martin chats with her bestie Dr. Ali Frye about her incredible journey through a death experience, her recovery, and how it has transformed her outlook on life. This is a wild one folks! Ali shares insights on appreciating small moments, community support, and the importance of life-saving skills.

Ali Frye is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, volunteer search-and-rescue member, dog mom, and newly minted volunteer firefighter who calls Amherst, Nova Scotia home. Originally from British Columbia, Ali is also a recent cardiac-arrest survivor - and, as her friends will tell you, apparently pretty damn hard to kill. She’s passionate about animals, nature, helping others, and making the most of her second chance at life.

Follow her on Istagram:

Ali Miyoko Frye

Living Wired SICD

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Christina (00:00.27)
Hi, welcome to a Chat with Heart podcast. I'm your host, Christina Martin. I'm a singer-songwriter. I live on a dirt road in rural Nova Scotia with my best friend Dale and our calico cat, Olivia. This podcast is totally just a chill chat with heart. As soon as you tune in here, I consider you one of my little heartbeat listeners. I love sharing these personal stories, and recording these episodes are great practice for me to try and calm the fuck down.

Just be myself. We just talk away We can shut away, we can make a better day If we just talk but in We can cut away if we can make a better day

Christina (00:57.15)
Yo yo yo. I have been having a lovely summer, everybody. I mean, there's been some interesting turns. It's definitely been a summer. Like it sort of feels like when I was a teenager, like late teens, and like just trying to fit in extra work, get extra jobs, you know, save up for school. I'm not going to school. I'm actually just paying off my debt, but there's just been a lot of extra work.

All fun. Well, maybe not all, but most. Mostly fun. you know, it's some bumps along the way here. Summer's almost over. It's almost September. I can't believe it. But as some of you know, we had adopted a little kitten named Winky. And we talk about Winky in this episode. Winky didn't make it, spoiler alert. but the good news is we've adopted since another kitten, little tabby. Her name is

Maybelline, but we're calling her maybe. She has hyper shit. Sarah Beller hypoplasia. You might know the term wobbly cat. And and so she has this condition. It's a neurological condition. It happens in the womb. and I think it's passed down from the mother. I'm not sure. I'm but whatever. She's amazing. She

doesn't have it as severe as some cats do, so she's litter trained and she has no trouble eating or drinking water and she doesn't quite walking so much on her own, but she can get around. She can get around and she's the sweetest. And the good news is, if you'll, you know, humor me and check my Instagram account, you'll see videos of Olivia, our other cat, basically

Falling in love with her, cleaning her. that's been really heartwarming. And we love her to pieces. I've gone a little bit overboard here. I have a baby pen in my office now with everything she needs inside. So we keep her in there at night to keep her safe. 'cause she you know, she might fall off the bed and just really land on her head, basically. She tends to land on her head a lot.

Christina (03:17.87)
And then we we've got another little sort of area downstairs with all of her stuff. So she's either upstairs in the playpen area when I'm working or downstairs. or if we have to leave the house for a couple hours, we have a camera on the playpen. It's basically like we have a little baby, even though you wouldn't leave your baby home alone. You can leave the cat the kitten home alone for a couple hours with a spy cam.

And it's just brought I think there was some concern about adopting her because of the work it might entail. And if my mother rallied, I mean, I just there was no doubt in my mind that we would care for this kitten and do a great job. And I was right. And Dill is in love with her. And it's be it is actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.

I was prepared to really just care for this kitten for the rest of her life, no matter what. I still am, obviously, but like no matter what the challenges were with her and it's been fun and not a big deal. Yeah. So what else? 'cause it's been a beat. I basically just took the summer to enjoy my girlfriends, had some time off.

We've been brainstorming sort of different businesses, Dale and I. And we've been dreaming up this idea for a long time. I love organizing. I do love cleaning. But I mostly love like decluttering and helping people kind of organize their shit. And so Dale and I thought, like long term, could we start a company to help people organi get their shit together? And I said from the beginning, I was like, Can we just call it get your shit together?

And we ended up calling it Get Your Shit Together Co. So if you visit Get Your Shit Together Co. dot com, you will see the early stages of our website. And we hope to develop this and we don't want to really be a cleaning service. We wanna be like get your shit together, organize, go in in emergency situations and help people tidy up, say somebody's in the hospital or

Christina (05:40.876)
And they need their house cleaned. They've got guests the families coming. My this was by the way, my friend Allie, who's a guest today on the podcast, had this idea to add to my business. People in emergency states, they their house is full of shit, maybe some embarrassing stuff. Not that Allie, in your case, nothing embarrassing. they would it could hire me to go in, clean up the weird stuff and tidy up and get it ready for their friends and family to come and use their house while they're in the hospital, that kind of thing.

But that's just one service. We would offer like consults on just getting your life together, decluttering. You need your garage, like a one off, tidy up, boom, hire us to come in, do an organization, a declutter, assort your stuff for you, blah blah blah. Anyway, that is in the early stages, folks. So tell your friends if you're in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.

Or anywhere in Nova Scotia, because I think it could be you know, especially if it's a one off situation, like I think we can do this. Anyway, long term plan. I do love cleaning and organizing. get your shit together co.com. But enough about me. My guest today is a best friend, godmother to our two cats, Olivia and Maybelline, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

She's volunteer search and rescue in Nova Scotia. and also, if she's still up for it, and currently is a volunteer firefighter. she's also a dog mom to Josie, born and raised in British Columbia, and now calls Amherst, Nova Scotia home. And folks, just a moment to brag. because I don't know.

many of you if many of you have friends who've died and then come back to life, I do. And this is this is she. So very grateful that Ali Frye, Ali Mioko Fry, is here to chat about what the fuck happened. We're this is life and death stuff, folks. and what her life is like now. her new life.

Christina (08:02.498)
Her resurrected life, I don't know what you want to call it, but so love her so much. And it's knowing her has changed how I feel about living here in Cumberland County and made me just feel like I just love having her close. And I mean, you know, she might decide to move someday and I'll be really sad, but for now she's in Amherst. and here is her story about

Dying and then coming back to life. And I'm s we're so lucky she shared it with us and and and you'll love her as much as maybe not as much as I do, but you'll love her, I'm sure. Here's my chat with Allie.

Christina (08:52.76)
So interesting because I've got my phone ready with these voice notes that like a couple of people have asked questions, right? And then today I was working on a song that I'm a co-write with a friend of mine in Germany. And it's it's a story that he's he's shared with me, and we're trying to write this song, and my tentative title for it, it's showing up here because I recorded myself singing it today, is is is She Will Never Die. And

And it's I thought it that was worth mentioning because here you are and you just never seem to die. Hey Hey.

Ali (09:24.738)
I like it.

Ali (09:33.632)
Tried to kill me on more than one occasion?

Christina (09:36.394)
No, I have not. I would never try to kill you. I don't want you to die. I want you to live forever. but I did I did this is your first time chatting on a podcast, I'm presuming. Correct. I'm assuming? I presume. Presuming. Assume something. And assuming? You're a doctor, you should know this.

Ali (10:01.528)
Not a doctor of language.

Christina (10:03.682)
Did you guys not study like vocabulary? Did you not need to master

Ali (10:07.587)
Medical vocab, sure.

Christina (10:09.74)
That didn't come up in med school? Presumption and assumption. I I wanted to start off with a like just a a light some light questions just to ease you into this. All right. my god, I can tell you're stressed. I am stressed. But you have a big smile on your face, so that's good. So that's good. Okay, ready? What's the last thing that made you cry?

Ali (10:31.726)
Probably some ridiculous like reel on Instagram or something. Yeah.

Christina (10:35.511)
yeah? Was it of a wobbly cat?

Ali (10:39.468)
Wobbly cat, no. actually, you know what it was? It was like a preview for a movie where this guy gets lost in the woods with his dog and they like heroically have to get through this together. And that made me bawl. But anything with animals makes me bawl. To be honest, a lot of things make me cry now.

Christina (10:56.494)
Well you're a vet you're a doctor of veterinary health. What do you call you? What do call you? What do you call you?

Ali (11:05.912)
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Christina (11:07.18)
Yeah, that. You're that. So if er if animals make you cry, do you cry all the time at work?

Ali (11:14.926)
Post dying? Yeah, it's definitely more frequent. Pre dying, no, I got pretty good at at masking things, but no, the post dying thing, there's all sorts of emotions. Even like happy now I cry. Yeah.

Christina (11:28.94)
You said to me the other day that you deal with like up to three deaths a day sometimes.

Ali (11:35.404)
Yeah, definitely even higher. Yep. It can be. It really just depends on the day.

Christina (11:41.154)
We got our taste of an animal dying not long ago. And poor Win poor Winky. My my patrons know about Winky and some of my followers because I did do a post. So the story is Allie was at work. Well you tell the story about Winky and his short life.

Ali (11:46.2)
Winky.

Ali (12:02.964)
Who should mention that my memory is terrible?

Christina (12:05.77)
Before we go through Do you remember Winky?

Ali (12:10.048)
Yes, I do remember Winky. But now I was trying to rack my brain as to where Winky came from. Somebody dropped him off. They found him on like their porch of their camper. He was a I don't know, just astray. But he was having some severe respiratory issues.

Christina (12:26.178)
Look, you're talking about Winky and Olivia's leaving the room. She Winky. So okay, so he came into the clinic, sorry. shouldn't interrupt somebody with bad memory.

Ali (12:29.325)
she has a hate on for Winky. Sorry, Liv.

Ali (12:37.582)
But yeah, no and but like he really didn't want to die then. I feel like he he wanted to fight. And so yeah, he hung out with us for I don't even know what what was it, like forty eight twenty-four, forty-eight hours? And we had him on oxygen and stuff and he c started to come around and I thought it'd be a great idea to give to you.

Christina (12:58.515)
We really wanted him. We took him.

Ali (13:00.43)
We didn't know if he was gonna live long and you were gracious enough to take him on and give him the best little little life that he could have had. So he was only like four weeks old, maybe, so

Christina (13:13.058)
Yeah. We thought he was gonna make it. He was doing so much better thanks to your care and then

Ali (13:19.323)
Not gonna lie, as soon as you put out the the Instagram post, I was like, no. Like that that was yeah.

Christina (13:24.952)
You're like this is jinxing it?

Ali (13:27.062)
Yeah, a hundred percent as soon as you did it, I like, Well, no, I'm not saying that. Well no. No, it's just definitely not your It was just like one of those things, you know, when you announce something that's like really good, it's just like, I don't know. We're winking. But yeah. Anyways, he did pass away.

Christina (13:30.2)
So it's my fault.

Christina (13:35.18)
He was in our care.

Christina (13:45.25)
He did. And now he's planted.

Ali (13:47.369)
He's growing trees.

Christina (13:49.068)
Now he's buried and there's a tree planted on top of him. Anywho, that's the last time I cried. but the question wasn't the last well was the last time that you that you cried. But wait, okay, here's another one. what do you remember the last time you laughed so hard you couldn't breathe? Are you gonna burp?

Ali (14:13.068)
I did just burp, yeah. But I held it in. I was trying not to burp in the mic.

Christina (14:14.926)
We ate a lot and I'm drinking It's it's okay. You don't you you need the energy for this interview. I mean this chat with heart. Welcome to a chat with heart podcast, by the way.

Ali (14:32.034)
Thanks. Thanks for having me. It's good to be here with a heart.

Christina (14:35.83)
It's it's really good to have you here alive. We're gonna get into that, the living part of you. But yeah, last time you laughed until you couldn't breathe. I was definitely high when like the last time I laughed until I couldn't breathe, I was definitely high on just with marijuana. But

Ali (14:58.12)
I don't know. But again, my memory's shit, so like maybe it could've happened any time, really.

Christina (14:59.374)
No we need to change that.

Christina (15:09.454)
Okay, so since and we're gonna get into this more, ladies and gentlemen, I know this is what you're waiting for. My little heartbeat listeners, they love life and death conversations. since your death experience, is there anything now that you don't put off? Whereas before you maybe procrastinated. Really?

Ali (15:36.43)
Cleaning my house. Yeah.

Christina (15:39.076)
It that surprised me. Like what do you mean you

Ali (15:42.024)
I am so paranoid that I'm gonna leave the house and die and somebody's gonna come into my house and like have to like deal with it or clean No Which is terrifying to me.

Christina (15:48.938)
But we did.

Why? What do you got lying around?

Ali (15:55.416)
Well nothing now. Okay, but like but I constantly now I leave the house and I'm like, Okay, if I die and somebody's coming into my house, like what are they gonna judge me on? What are you

Christina (16:04.654)
What are you putting away? You're not gonna tell you my little heartbeat listeners. Would you be okay with me finding it? Yeah. Like I'm s I'm guessing already of what I could I pretty much probably know. But I'm not gonna say.

Ali (16:21.718)
Yeah, no, you would know anything that was in there probably. But like, I don't know. It's just yeah, that's definitely one of them. Like what what don't I put off? Clean

Christina (16:30.466)
That's good advice though. If anybody is if that's in the cards anytime soon and you know it put your shit away. Yeah, clean your shit up.

Ali (16:37.454)
Clean it.

No well, okay, so that I don't know, just having things in order definitely is is one of them. But and honestly, I think there's just things that I feel like maybe I wouldn't say out loud all the time or like tell people how I'm feeling, things like that that I'm like, what if you just don't get the chance to say it? So may as well say it and yeah.

Christina (17:03.234)
Yeah, I'm a fan of that.

Ali (17:05.262)
Tell it how it is.

Christina (17:06.816)
Yeah, it's some i like bordering like Tourette's sort of probably. Like sometimes. What? I just mean that like sometimes I'm like, should I have actually said that? You know? Like I almost can't just like

Ali (17:22.879)
Yeah. Spontaneous.

Christina (17:28.672)
Okay, well now people are probably like okay, stop. Just tell us what happened. Like what the fuck happened. So like I know that you first of all, you are probably the only guest that I've ever had that doesn't remember like the biggest incident of your life. and so I find that really interesting. And

So I am gonna talk to Jen. Actually, let's find out from Jen. This is where I'm gonna cut to Jen talking about what actually happened. And then we're gonna come back to you. So let's find out from Jen. who you're actually I want you to tell my little heartbeat listeners who Jen is in in relation to you and this story. but we'll find out what actually happened to you from Jen, because you don't fucking remember.

Ali (18:28.098)
feel like every every so often I s I get Jen to like repeat it to me again what happened and every time I pick up new like there's new things that I'm like, what really that happened? So yeah, definitely better to ask somebody who was aware while they were there.

Christina (18:43.094)
So tell us about Jen and how like how did you know Jen?

Ali (18:48.958)
So Jen is my girlfriend. and we had met online. Good old Facebook dating plug right there. but oddly enough, we had only met the month prior to me dying and had been on like I think Jen's probably gonna correct me on this, but I have a, you know, a pass on this 'cause I don't really remember. But I would say probably four dates in person before the whole event happened and

Christina (18:58.232)
Mm-hmm.

Ali (19:18.06)
And so yeah, so we had been casually dating and were getting to know each other. Things were going great. We went to your your house con

Christina (19:27.32)
Sorry, you came to my house house concert. That was the evening of March sixth, two thousand twenty six, this year. March sixth. You don't remember that, that's fine. No. But that was the date you came to my house concert in Halifax at the syrup factory. With Jen. I we had met Jen one time before that.

Ali (19:48.095)
Yeah, 'cause we got two

Christina (19:50.676)
You came in here and we went actually wait. No my memory's shit. god. Did James Mellinger happen before that or did I Yes. That's when we met Jen. Okay, I'm glad we're talking, but we're piecing this all together. Okay, so we met you brought Jen over here. We went to see James Mellinger in Oxford at the theater, Capitol Theater. And then I think it was like the next almost two and a h to within two weeks that you had

Come to this house concert in Halifax with Jen.

Listen, we don't know. Let's talk to Jen about this.

Ali (20:28.462)
I lost all memory of that. Poor Jen. Saves my life. And and then had to go through dealing with meeting my family by telling them that I just died on the phone meeting my close friends, other than you. She had met only you, right? Yeah. Yeah. You were the only one that yeah, you two were the only ones that she had actually met in person. Otherwise, she had call other people that she had never spoken to. Again, had only been on four dates with me.

And she had to answer a million medical questions that the doctors gave her. yeah.

Christina (21:05.314)
That's a lot of pressure for a fifth or fourth date. Yeah. Yeah. Well let's find out from Jen what happened that night and then I can fill in some of the blanks afterwards, but yeah.

Ali (21:06.622)
That's lot of pressure.

Christina (21:26.722)
Have you ever been on a podcast before? No, my friend Jill and I just talk about it constantly that we should make one. That's the closest I've gotten. Well, it's so it's interesting to me that you'll be like talking about something so serious on your first podcast episode. Might as well jump right in. Jump right in. Because we how our you know, Allie and I we start chatting about and then sh you know, then we're like, what happened? And she's like, I don't know.

I'm like, okay, well let's ch check with Jen and then we talk about who you are. Yeah. And now like what that's what we want to know, what happened, because she doesn't remember and everyone on the podcast is gonna wanna know what happened. You're the only one with the the information. I know, yeah. So what basically, you know, like we went, we watched your show. Went to our way. I loved it. It was really nice.

It's forgettable apparently though. Ellie doesn't remember it. I remembered it. Thank you. Yeah. so yeah, then we just went back to the hotel and we ate some food and then we wanted to finish an episode of Love is Blind. So we got like in our PJs and got all snuggled in bed and we were watching it, and then like we normally talk a lot, so we did, and then like there was like a really good part in the show, so we stopped talking. And then it was like all of a sudden, like she was snuggled into my arm and she just started to like convulse.

And I was like, what? And then her arms kind of went up towards her face and they got like super rigid. And like she was just convulsing and like her her head was back and her eyes were like in the back of her head. So I got up and I was like, my God, like I I think she's having a seizure. I think this is what it is. And then like immediately I knew to call down to the front desk. So like I picked up

their old school phone and I just dialed zero and they're hey, and I'm hey, I have a medical emergency in room 527. And then I immediately hung up. I told them nothing. And I went back I know I went back over to the bed and I was just like trying to talk to Ali. I was like, okay, you're all right. Everything's okay. Have no idea how much time passed. And then the the hotel staff came to the door and they had 911 on the phone. So I talked to the operator, told her what I thought was happening.

Christina (23:35.96)
She was like, okay, just keep talking to her, make sure she's on her side. Like paramedics are on the way. And then like all of a sudden, Ali just like stopped moving. Like she wasn't breathing anymore. She just stopped moving and her lips turned like blue. So fast. So fast. And I was like, my God, like I don't think she's breathing anymore. And the operator's like, Okay, cool, find a pulse. Like, could not find a pulse whatsoever. And she was like, Okay, great. Like you have to bring her on the floor and you have to start CPR. So host of the staff and all She's Great.

Yeah, okay, cool. Next next step. Let's move along. Yeah, so like brought her to the floor. And it's like the oddest thing you automatically just go into like, okay, head tilt, chin lift. Like you did it. I know you don't do breaths now, but like I started with a few breaths and then compressions and and the operator asked the hotel staff, like, hey, do you have defibulator? Go get it. So one of them ran to go and get it. And I was just like keeping compressions to like the tone of the operator's voice.

And then they came back with a defibulator and it like, Okay, put the defibulator on. So you kinda like take out the pads and you follow the little like description on it and I turned it on and it was like cool analyzing. And then it came back and it was like shock advised and that's like the immediate time the paramedics came right through the door. Wow. And I was like, my god, thank God. so yeah, they came right through and they had to they had to shock her twice.

To kind of bring I don't know if it was like to bring her back or bring her rhythm back or like whatever it was. So they shocked her twice and then they like incubated her and like they put her on the stretcher and off in the ambulance to the hospital. And I was I was shortly behind them. I I took a cab, I needed a minute, and then then went to the hospital. So And they intubated her like that's where they they put the tube right in the Yeah, the tube down her throat. No, in the hotel room.

No, sorry. When I said at the hospital, I was thinking of the pit and how they I thought they did that at the hospital. But they yeah, so they were doing that in the hotel, which is Yeah, they did. Yeah. They had a long conversation about what size. They're like, well, what size should we do it? Because she's the size and like they were so calm about it, and I'm like, my god, go faster. Well anyway. Let's not be picky about this. But I it actually could be it's quite you don't want to care, I guess, and yeah, so

Christina (25:52.024)
Hopefully they picked the right size. It seems like they did because she was talking. Yeah, yeah. No permanent damage. So whoever whatever I'm now I want to know what size it was. Now I want to know what I think it the smallest one. They were kind of discussing, like it's like smaller, extra smaller, whatever. But I just remember like sitting on the bed and like I was like, I guess I had like my knees up to my chest. I'm like, I feel like they are moving so slow. and then I remember they like they pressed it once and they did like the cab the like

The defibular went off and then they were gonna do it again. And was like, Yeah, I probably wanna leave the room for this. So I just went and I like stayed in the hallway for a bit and let them do their thing. So we many I mean, many of us have said this time and time again, like just how like you're one of the big blessings of that period. Like, my god, it was incredible that she gen save number one, you saved her life and number two that you were j you know, you were

Not only performing the the C PR and whatnot, but the you were there. Like 'cause she could have been home alone when this happened. She could have not been in Halifax. We talked about all those those points or and so I just wanna acknowledge that again. I know you've heard it a million times. Do you get sick of hearing this? Like thank you so much for saving Allie's life. I think like I think you and I had

I had a discussion like when she was still in the hospital in her coma and somebody said it and I was like, I don't like it. Like I don't like it that people say it. she's yeah, she's like she's like I was like, listen, like she's yeah, but you said something that like was meaningful though, because I was like, I explained it and I said, like, listen, she's not awake yet. Like, I don't know if I move fast enough. I don't know if she went without oxygen for too long, like she's not awake, like I don't know that she's okay. So like when people would say it, it would make me very, very uncomfortable. but then you said something you're yeah, you're like

Yeah, but like you gave her the chance. the wise thing to I know, look at you. Wow. You're like, but yeah, like you gave her the chance to survive or to live or however you said it. And I was like, okay. All right, I'm a bit more comfortable with that. Yeah. But now, like, since time has passed and everything, like people say it and like I'm not I'm like, Okay. Like I play with it. But yeah, yeah, it took it took a while to be like, Okay, cool, maybe like I'll accept that. That's okay. So yeah. Yeah. This is what I wanted to also ask you about.

Christina (28:11.714)
I know you called me and I was stoned and my phone was on buzz and I was not answering for the night. So that's a regret of mine. I apologize. I wasn't just a couple puffs. They call me Two Togetina, but like still like big regret. I remember the phone anyway, I apologize. Yeah. but like wha who was your first call? What how

That experience you didn't know her family, you'd never met these people, like most of her friends. Like no. You were the one to have to break the news. Like tell me a little bit about that experience. I mean, like, you were my first call. God So like I I took a cab to like I gathered stuff or whatever and I took a cab and I like, Okay, I gotta call Christina. And you've given me your phone number, but it wasn't saved in my phone. And like

I know like you guys talk about the sequence of events. That night I just learned Ali's passcode for her phone. God, thank God. Yeah, because she wanted me to take like a picture of you guys. And I what's your passcode? So I just learnt it. Thank God it was super simple. Anyways. so I looked you up on her phone and I called you and it we just went to voicemail. I think I tried you twice and then I wrote you a text message. and then like I knew I knew that her friend Emily

I think she was in like Dartmouth for her kids' basketball tournament or something. So I'm like, okay, cool. I Emily. I'm gonna call Emily. So I found her on a phone and I called her and like she she took the call. I think I woke her up, obviously. And she took the call, and I was like, listen, this is what happened. Like, I'm on the way to the hospital, like I'll keep you posted. and she was just like super sweet. She's like, Okay, great, like let me know when you get there. And so that was probably the first person I got a hold of. Yeah. And then like when I got to the hospital, they put me in like a family room.

Which like if you watch T V that's never good. 'Cause the guy was like, Hey, they're they're just making her comfortable. Can you wait in the in the family room? And I was petrified. I was like, my god, you have to be kidding me. Yeah. I think it was like a forty five minute wait, but within that time, like Emily was like, Listen, like we have to call her parents. Can you get her parents' numbers for me? And I like, Yep, for sure. So I found them in her phone and I sent them along and like Emily was the one that called them to tell them. but then they called me.

Christina (30:26.422)
Right. And like I had never spoken to them or met them or anything. And it was her mom that called. And it's probably like it was a very calm conversation of like, Hi, this is Allie's mom. Wow. Is this Jen? And I'm like, Hi, yeah, it's Jen. And she's like, What happened? So I kind of just like talked her through everything and told her where I was and I haven't heard from the doctors yet. But like as soon as I hear anything, like I'll call you, I'll let you know. And like she had a bunch of questions and stuff that I couldn't answer. Like Yeah. So

Yeah, so yeah, you were my first call. 'Cause at the time I only knew so many people, right? And like you were one them and Emily was one of them and that might have been it. I want you to know that you can I wanna be your first call. Okay. But it's good that you have like a list of people now. I do now. Like I have everybody's contacts now. So my gosh. Yeah, I've I've I've learned to

Answer my phone if it's vibrating. Okay. I am a light sleeper. Yeah. And currently I'm off the pot, so I should answer. and I was never a heavy pot smoker anyway. I digress. I'll probably edit edit this part out. But my god. Yeah, so that was that was that and then like the doctor came in to tell me

Ali (31:47.851)
Yeah.

Christina (31:52.992)
what was going on and it was like it probably took him ten seconds to walk in the door and sit down but I swear to god it took an hour. Like he because I was waiting forever and he came in it just like everything was moving in slow motion. And then he sat down and he was like, Wow you've been through a lot tonight. And I'm just like like what? Like yeah I was waiting for him to say like is she dead or alive? That's what I was waiting for. Yeah. And he's like, listen, at least stable. And then I was like okay. Yeah. All right.

They just had to like explain again what happened and everything. And he kind of just explained like what they were doing. And at that time, I was like, listen, can we call her parents, please? So we just called her parents and then they kind of spoke to the doctor directly and stuff. And then she was in the ER, and he's like, Do you want to come down and like sit with her? So I just went down to the ER, and that would be the first time I saw her like hooked up to everything. Like it was it was a lot of stuff. Yeah, it was. And it was multiple doctors coming in and asking the same questions and then like asking about her health history and like.

her allergies and everything. And I remember after like the third doctor, I was like, 'cause it was probably like three AM at this point. I just looked at her and I go, Listen, we've been dating a month. Yeah. I think I'm doing pretty good with these questions. But some I'm not gonna know. But shockingly I I knew like majority of them. I was like, okay, I got this. You do pay you do pay close attention. I'm very I yeah, attention to details one of your s different strengths. I admire that about you. Yeah. But holy hell, holy shit. And I I mean it was

It was scary seeing her hooked up to all those things and I'm not gonna lie, and I said this at w in my chat with Allie that I honestly was like, I don't know. I don't know if she's gonna make it. This doesn't look good. Like like especially they didn't have like answers and then like they'd try to take her out of the coma or like medically induced coma or whatever and like she would still have seizures, like it was yeah, it was scary 'cause we had no idea what was happening. Or if she'd wake up and if she woke up, what would she be like?

Christina (33:52.184)
So that's incredible that I mean I I guess it goes without saying, but let's just say it because it's really important and a a blessing that Jen was with you that night. Like if you had been alone, you know, like you probably wouldn't be here right now.

Ali (34:12.537)
Yeah, no, there is there's so many things that had to go right that night for me to actually still be here. Which like not a day goes by that I don't think about that and how yeah, any little thing could have been out of place of that and I wouldn't have I wouldn't have survived it. Yeah. yeah, I mean normally I would be at home and it would just be me and Josie, the dog.

Christina (34:34.504)
Yes. Josie's here right now by the way. Josie's permanent place is s anywhere on Allie's body. She's in her lap under a blanket. I can't see her, but I know she's there. Josie is a little it's French Bulldog.

Ali (34:47.534)
Yep, my little companion. but yeah, it would just be the two of us at home and we would be sound asleep on our own and unfortunately I don't think Josie would have noticed if I croaked.

Christina (34:59.854)
She would have just been thrilled that you just would not have gotten up. Not thrilled that you would be dead, but thrilled that yeah, that you're just hanging out with her.

Ali (35:02.72)
We'd just be snooze.

Ali (35:09.526)
Yeah. And it also I mean, we were in Halifax, which was also a a bonus and only like five minutes down the road from the hospital. So the response time was was excellent. The people who were at the hotel, like general test of this, they they were amazing getting on top of things and and yeah, it all it all went the way it needed to in order for this to be the case.

Christina (35:30.764)
Well I hate to say this, but I didn't know if you were gonna make it. Like you so I got the call f we went to bed after the house concert. I knew my phone buzzed, but it was like twelve thirty in the morning and I it was turned over and I didn't answer it 'cause it was late and and then I something woke me up early, like five thirty, and I looked at my phone and Jen had texted me and said that

You had had a cardiac arrest, you were in a coma.

something else and I called her right away and we just got up and went to the ICU. And we go in and you're hooked up to every single tube I can imagine. You're intubated. And I only know the word intubated from the show the pit. because they say it every episode like twelve times. Are we gonna intubate? I don't know. It's really uncomfortable. Blah blah blah. And I was like, my God, she's intubated. Like this is fucking serious.

She's in an induced coma. You know, you you you like I I mean, I have seen people in comas, but like I haven't seen a young person in a coma. I haven't seen a close friend in a coma. And so just kind of being there for a couple days and overnight in the ICU with you, like I was like, Yeah, I just don't know if she's gonna make it. Like it was just shocking. Like I was like, could go either way, folks. I didn't say that. But

Ali (36:58.574)
Thank you.

Christina (36:59.774)
Everybody, you know, I mean everyone does the that awesome thing they do where they're like, She's strong, she's gonna make it. And I'm like, I don't know how to break the news, but like, let's not get our hopes up, everybody, because it's gonna be really sad if you it's gonna This is sad already. wait for it. No, it's terrible to say, but like I was I guess 'cause I've seen Death before in People I Love, I I was like

I d I cannot say if this is gonna go one way or the other. And and then your family came. They flew in, your brother, your mom, and your dad from out west. And they were fantastic and and and then you c you woke up. Like, okay. My question is, what is the first thing you remember after waking up?

Ali (37:54.51)
So the first thing that I remember is probably just being in the in the hospital bed and which question too.

Christina (38:02.335)
one 'cause you were moved so many like do you remember the ICU at all?

Ali (38:08.0)
No, no, I have no recollection of the ICU. probably the cardio ward was the cardiac ward would be the first place I remember. But then I had different roommates and things as well.

Christina (38:20.59)
had so many different roommates. They were loud. They were loud. That's all

Ali (38:28.81)
Yeah, I do remember bits and pieces of my various roommates for sure.

Christina (38:34.102)
Okay, w do you remember not being able to take a shower and how frustrated you were

Ali (38:38.862)
Yes. And how frustrated I was that I couldn't leave that floor or s like go outside at all. but I don't know if I remember specific things. It's a it's bizarre to me the the lack of memory I have from that time. Like there are instances that I remember.

Christina (38:47.725)
Yeah.

Ali (39:02.006)
Yeah, remember different conversations, like little blips of them with my family and different interactions like when you guys would come and like sitting and having sushi in the rooms and stuff like that. Remember the snacks, yes. I've now become a huge fan of those what are they called though? The Skittles. But

Christina (39:11.744)
So say, do you remember the snacks?

Christina (39:20.248)
So s something good? Some some good or you know what, I don't even know. I've already

Ali (39:26.562)
Ordered them since on Amazon. I can't even remember what they're called.

Christina (39:29.826)
What about do you remember me trying to convince you not to steal needles?

Ali (39:36.448)
Steal needles. No. What was I gonna do with the needles? It's actually quite funny. Like you guys have way more memory, obviously, of of the times, and so it's actually quite amusing to hear the stories after the fact because yeah. And like I apparently I was a broken record for like a solid week straight.

Christina (39:37.806)
Okay.

Christina (39:54.61)
Yeah, there was there was a lot but it th to me that was like really normal. I know other people were really concerned about it, but I like, guys, this is totally normal. Like you were obsessed with getting repiercing your nose ring. Yep. So that's what you were trying to steal the needles from. and I was like, I don't wanna get in trouble. But I I did allow you to steal

Ali (40:08.206)
Important.

Christina (40:21.292)
maybe a aid in stealing a needle for you so you could repo. I think you had Mike successfully yes. Really? Yeah.

Ali (40:25.049)
Did we do it? Did we have to repo?

Ali (40:29.4)
We repoke this? I don't remember that at all.

Christina (40:31.614)
It hell, yes. Or it might have been to like pick something on your face or something, I don't know, but but Mike definitely helped get your nose ring back in.

Ali (40:40.682)
Yeah. Mike's my brother. I don't know if we we introduced that one, but

Christina (40:42.722)
Hey Mike. Yeah. Mike was great. In the midst of he was he's he was he's now a father, was an almost father, when this all happened. And he was a trooper, he took over the ICU night shifts and eventually they told us we weren't allowed to stay with you overnight in the hospital. it's funny 'cause I thought there would never be a night where you would ever be alone again. Like

And then all of a sudden the doctors the nurses were like, Yeah, you can't be here and then we're all like, okay. Like I think it was really stressful for your mom probably too, like dad to but

Ali (41:21.794)
They wouldn't even let my family there?

Christina (41:25.366)
At some point it was sort of like hit or miss who who was there, but I think we became more and more uncomfortable being there at night because you did have roommates. Yeah. Except the some of the roommates like had family there all night and they and you did you couldn't sleep because of it. It was kind of frustr I'd be very frustrating for you. I don't think you had the greatest night's sleep at the hospital. You were there for weeks, like week like three and a half weeks or something, weren't you?

Ali (41:56.214)
Mm, I think by on the third week was when I got my device implanted and

Christina (42:01.652)
yeah, let's talk about that. 'Cause the results were all you're you're like really healthy.

Ali (42:08.14)
Yeah, turns out I have nothing wrong with me at all. I just randomly croaked one night. Yeah. I don't know. yeah, I don't have any abnormalities on any of the results that came back. the C D scans, MRIs, anything like that. The blood work was all all pretty normal as far as anyone can tell me. but which maybe I guess that's a good thing.

Christina (42:29.678)
I mean it's better than you having like leprosy or something.

Ali (42:33.846)
That would be terrible, I imagine.

Christina (42:36.522)
well just a little little thing I wanted to ask you because now we're gonna get people probably suggesting all the things and tests you need to get done and all that stuff. Like, is that something you want people to reach out and be like, Hey, I think you have this or go get this test or like or have you just looked into it all?

Ali (42:58.782)
I mean I'm always open to suggestions. I think that's kind of been an interesting thing is even looking up things on my own or having people give suggestions. I mean, I think since the pit aired there was a whole whole episode on one where somebody had a genetic change that could be related to something similar to what I had. So for a long time a lot of people were like, Get this tested, because the pit said get it t to be honest, I don't.

Christina (43:23.374)
Do you remember what that what that thing was called?

Ali (43:28.3)
I could easily look it up. It's it's a genetic.

Christina (43:31.35)
Is it this? 'Cause my friend just messaged me and is it Brigata?

Ali (43:38.838)
Yeah, it was the Burgata syndrome. Yeah. That's it for sure.

Christina (43:42.296)
So there is a test for that and you don't have it.

Ali (43:44.472)
They apparently tested and I don't have that gene.

Christina (43:47.032)
That's what they said. That's what we heard too, that they apparently tested. But we haven't seen the test results.

Ali (43:53.16)
It's true. We haven't combed through the stacks of of medical records, which there are quite a few.

Christina (43:59.148)
Yeah. Well that that can come in time. Well there's time to look get your stack and we'll go through it and have a party. so the results were like you're healthy and so what what what happens then when someone's heart stops is they recommend this tell us more about this device that is now

Ali (44:18.986)
Yeah, so they recommend that you get a an I C D, which is essentially like a a built-in AED machine that will shock your heart back into rhythm if it does stop. So similar kind of, I guess, to what people would associate with like a pacemaker type device. but it it solely is to just shock your heart back. So if essentially you're walking around with your own AED. Yeah, so

Mine is one that they put externally subcutaneously as opposed to into the actual valves themselves. So it's a bit different than I think most people would be used to for a for a device, but yeah. It is huge. It's like a deck of cards on my rib cage, really.

Christina (44:59.659)
It's huge.

Christina (45:04.814)
And have you gotten like are you used to it or are you still like fuck that's that

Ali (45:09.55)
God no. It's it's it's a bloody nuisance for sure.

Christina (45:13.87)
And can you get rid of it? Can I get rid of it? Like I mean you both wanna get it out, but like I'm probably not helping.

Ali (45:15.544)
Right a few

Yeah. I I mean No Well, I'm at the point where it's like it is it is quite painful where it is and the location of it. I think so yes, it is a life saving device. So am I in you know, I'm obviously very grateful that it's it's in there and that it will save my life if anything were to go wrong. So I hate to be like complaining about this thing. But at the same time I do also have to live my life and be able to be comfortable and like

do the things that I would normally do, and it does impede that for sure, a lot more than I than I would have anticipated and a lot more than anybody really said it would. I think

Christina (45:56.098)
you can complain. I mean like it's I feel like it might be one of those things where because not enough people maybe moan about it, they haven't put any more research into making it like a slick little iPhone. You know what I mean? Like there's not a d the demand doesn't demand for them to change it or make it more comfortable for I feel like we've we've if we can go to the moon, we can probably get you a device that

just slips into your back pocket or your behind your ear or in your nose or something. Nose ring.

Ali (46:32.918)
In my nose. That would be impressive. That would be a lot more comfortable if this was in my nose. I mean, yeah, so this one particularly was the subcutaneous unit, which is bigger. And at the time, you know, the doctors really kind of pushed for this one because it it has less chance of the leads breaking off. They don't go directly into the valves themselves, so it's it's less chance of introducing infection, things like that. So

From a health perspective, it definitely was the safer, the more advanced option. and so it is kind of the way that things are going. However, I don't think they necessarily took into effect like or into account being a woman and or my

Christina (47:13.3)
Yeah. Or like you you're you know, you don't have a lot of you don't have any fat between like your ribs and your skin there and some people do. Little cushion, you know.

Ali (47:20.62)
Yeah. And, you know, also I think they do I yeah, I can't speak generally about this, but you know, I think a lot of people who are getting them may be in different stages of their lives as well. And, you know, being younger and being more active and things like that, I do think that it probably, you know, the location does factor into it being uncomfortable. Plus, like it sits right where your bra line would be. So for women, and I have spoken to other people.

women, you know, my age that have them and it is the same thing. It is uncomfortable, it's it and it's chronically uncomfortable, unfortunately.

Christina (47:56.684)
we put it? Like where Dale, do you hear Josie snoring? well that's it's cute. just so no one thinks we're farting which maybe we are. It's but we you know I'm just tell if I were to fart on this podcast I would make sure it was silent.

Ali (48:18.318)
That's all you can make sure it's silent.

Christina (48:19.958)
Yes. I can control my part. You can't? You can't control whether there's sound coming out of your a hole? I mean I know Dale can't, but I

Ali (48:23.127)
I mean

Ali (48:34.166)
Christina (48:34.922)
we can edit the farts out, but Hi Josie. Hi sweetie. yeah, like where could we put the device? Like why not in a boob?

Ali (48:49.75)
So from the scientific side of things. Yeah. Not in a boob because it does have to run across. So it's essentially running the current between the device which is over my left rib cage across into the leads that are on my sternum. Like there's a metal rod that runs up my sternum. So it technically has to shock across the heart. So just to be difficult with your plan here.

Christina (49:08.896)
Okay. Okay, okay, okay. About

Hmm. Like a thigh. Upper thighs. Lower belly? Like there's so much room in the guts, like Kubach. No. I don't You what? I'm gonna edit this part out. Okay.

Ali (49:31.534)
Our our our anatomy on this one's a little off. Yeah.

Christina (49:36.162)
Let's play a question from Emily. This is a question from your good friend Emily, who you peed on, and who you work with, who's also a doctor of veterinary medicine. Is there something in your day-to-day life that you have now stopped? And it might be something very small that you do differently, that you didn't do before, that you just take a moment, whether or not

You don't know, maybe just call your parents like an extra time a week or you sit and appreciate something a little bit longer than you would have before or like has maybe nothing's changed. but you know, I think sometimes people expect your whole life to change or whatnot, which I don't think is necessarily realistic.

Has there been one small thing that have you've done differently or that you've taken the time to kind of notice or appreciate, I guess? Yeah, that's my question.

Ali (50:47.95)
Well, now you're gonna get me in trouble for not calling my parents once a week. Yeah. So early maybe that one I should say. no, but it was actually funny. Originally it was like I had I had to check in with everyone all the time because it was just like if I was on my own, it was just like I had to check in in the morning, make sure I was awake, check in afternoon. I don't anymore. I think No, you're done.

Christina (51:12.685)
Done.

Ali (51:13.454)
I've I've done my check ins. Well, no, I I generally check in once a once a day with my family and things, which I and I totally get and I totally understand. I w I'm not complaining about about people needing me to check in. It was just funny 'cause it was like in the very beginning it was like proof of life daily. but things that have changed,

Honestly, I think I do just appreciate the small things a little bit more. Like I was I was listening to a podcast while I was driving a couple of days ago and it's it was about the science of awe, like things that make you go, like, that's amazing kind of thing. And it is very much more evident, like how much I appreciate the little things and just looking around and appreciating the colors of the trees or like the sky's blue, and I know that's so cliche, but

It's it's so true because it's like, I don't know, there was a solid chance I would never see that again. Or I almost did never see that again.

Christina (52:11.374)
Yeah, you didn't see it for ten minutes. True.

Ali (52:14.382)
Actually I didn't see the outside for solid three, four weeks there, but but yeah, and just like the little things that maybe would normally annoy me, or be like a burden to have to do. you know, whether Josie wants out one more time at night or things like that. I'm like, I'm so lucky, I get to I get to take her out. Like I still get to spend this time with her and stuff. Like makes me definitely does. And again, very cliche, makes you appreciate the

Christina (52:19.918)
Sure too.

Ali (52:42.232)
the small things, the day to day things that you kinda just waltz through on a regular basis that you don't really take second notice to.

Christina (52:51.096)
Does it feel like a a second chance or something? Like does it ever I don't know, maybe it doesn't, but like

Ali (52:57.846)
No, it does. It it definitely it definitely does. And I think sometimes I can get stuck in that mindset and I'm like, no, like this is my second chance. Like how am I gonna spend it? Am I gonna sweet? Yeah, right? Yeah. And like, should I just go on like some crazy adventure and like spend all my money going like travel the world and just give up on working ever again?

Christina (53:19.202)
I have a question here from my friend Michelman. Okay, so my question for Allie is because I have been obsessed with the telepathy tapes as of late, binging the podcast, there's a lot of episodes on near death experiences. So, you know, besides just a vague question about

what was that experience like for her? I'm sure you guys will be touching on that in the podcast. If not, let this be the segue. but I'm wondering if she knew anything about them before or had heard from anyone or anything like that. And if her experience

Ali (53:55.339)
The

Christina (54:14.53)
was similar to or now that she's gone through it, has she read about them or, you know, maybe binge the telepathy tapes. but yeah. So basically if it's similar to what others have gone through or how yeah, a similar experience to others or, you know, what it what it felt like or what that if she remembers any of it. So

Anyways, so happy that you're doing well. It's really a miraculous story, so

Thanks for being here and being interviewed and I wish you well.

Ali (54:59.643)
I have not listened to those tapes. I know you guys have both talked extensively about them and they sound fascinating. There's a part of me that is like very eager to dive more into that and learn more about near death experiences and and things. And there's a part of me that has been struggling with just getting my life back and just like getting back to myself and and where this identity is now.

Christina (55:20.536)
Yeah.

Ali (55:28.898)
so yeah, I I probably will listen to them. For me personally, I have zero recollection of it. I wish I well, I don't know if I wish or not that I have some sort of crazy story about, you know, seeing this white light and meeting somebody on the other side.

Christina (55:43.734)
Or having a whole other lifetime then might maybe it would be scary.

Ali (55:48.448)
Yeah, I have heard people who have who have had experiences where they've been stuck in these terrifying situations while they're and they can't get out of in the while they're in a coma or things like that. But for me, honestly, I just I have no memory of it. I don't I my last yeah, I don't I don't even know what my last memory would be. I think I've blips of it from the house concert night that are coming back now. But as far as the actual

Event, yeah, no, I have no recollection of it.

Christina (56:22.356)
Wasn't it wouldn't your last memory have been like of Love Island? Or was that the show you guys were watching? Yeah, like that's so I mean

Ali (56:30.242)
Yeah. Plug here. Not Love Island. I think it was Oops. What is it? Love at first sight? Or Love is Blind. Love is Blind.

Christina (56:37.518)
Yeah, what was it? We I you even

Christina (56:43.182)
Ali (56:44.364)
Married at first sight? No. Definitely love is blind.

Christina (56:48.054)
Was it Love Is Blind? You made me watch some of these in the hospital. What was I watching?

Ali (56:51.404)
We watched

Married at first sight.

Christina (56:56.802)
Was it? Love is blind.

Ali (56:59.798)
Yeah, it was definitely Love is Blind. I d I I've never watched Love. I also think it's super funny because the chance of her actually being awake while we were laying in bed and I croaked is like there's a good chance she wouldn't have woken up for that. Because she often falls asleep when we watch things on TV. So again, there's another reason like another thing that had to be perfectly online.

Christina (57:02.071)
Okay.

Christina (57:20.878)
Friggin' blessings. hey, I just wanna say Krista, our friend, asked a question that you just answered. which was a lot of people want to know, like, what was it like? Like, do you have any memories about being in a coma? Krista had a great that same question and we you already answered it, but I just wanted to say thank you, Krista, for asking the question. And she was very concerned about you the whole time. No. And she was at the house concert as well, looking adorable, selling merch and

was as shocked as we were. Like it's just so we it's I mean, I think one of the comments I remember a lot of people saying were like, I just saw her. She looks super healthy. What the fuck? Like, how is that possible? Yeah.

Ali (58:02.35)
Yeah. And again, no, I wish I I wish I could remember anything from it, but it it's just gone. There's there's nothing. There's no memory. There's no, you know, no it's just a void, I guess, at this point. They say it can come back and that people do remember in time things that happened.

Christina (58:22.83)
Yeah, well I mean like

I could tell you what happened, not much in the ICU. I mean, you did you had a fever at one point, they put you on a pack of ice, was glued to this machine, watching your heart rate was sort of exciting. watching your fever or your temperature go up and down. You didn't do much of any you didn't do anything. you you kind of shook now and then. They were trying to like they

Ali (58:29.719)
It's just laying there.

Christina (58:54.946)
kept trying to wake you up but then thinking you might be seizuring again. So then they would give you more drugs. And then they'd want to wake you up, but you'd be so drugged that you wouldn't respond to any of their like, you know, like hating you and stuff like that. I mean not physically abusing you, but you know in the hospital like they poke you. Like they you would only respond to s like pain very like a little bit and that was like the sign that you were still in there. Anyway, I don't know if you missed anything is what I'm saying.

But if you had some kind of cool dreams or I don't know, like that would be neat if something came back to you in that regard.

Ali (59:30.51)
Yeah. I kind of like I kinda wish I had this whole like sequence of where I like, you know, got to the Pearlie Gates and, you know, saw my grandparents and all my past pets and like, you know, all my friends that have passed on that you get like this big embrace and like this is like in my head, this is what I I would like to think has happened. Exactly. Yeah. And then they're like, No, you get to go back and then, you know.

Christina (59:47.678)
You took Sam for a walk.

Christina (59:54.574)
I think maybe because you were in a drug induced coma though, 'cause you weren't dead. But in that yeah, maybe in that ten minutes that you were dead.

Ali (01:00:00.076)
No, I wasn't.

Christina (01:00:06.082)
That's that that would be

Ali (01:00:07.79)
Yeah, it would have been a but it would have been a quick walk, but yeah.

Christina (01:00:11.83)
have a couple more questions from friends. our friend Lydia. Hey Axe Cat. Your pal DoorDash here, delivering a question to you via the all fabulous Christina Martin. After everything you've been through over the past few months, of course there would be times of anxiety navigating your journey forward from it all. My question is, where do you find your joy in those tougher moments?

And what or who where brings you a sense of calm. I know the answer.

Ali (01:00:47.682)
What's your answer first?

Christina (01:00:49.494)
My answer for you is well I know you love nature. I know you love hiking and just going out for walks and with Josie and but you go you can elaborate now. You may.

Ali (01:01:01.486)
Thanks. Yeah, this one this one has been tricky. I definitely have had a lot of a lot of anxiety around different situations throughout this. and like my old go to would be to, you know, immerse myself in something new or, you know, go to the gym, things like that. And that's these things have all been save a life. I impossible to do right now, for the most part. And so

Christina (01:01:19.278)
I'm a firefighter.

Ali (01:01:29.164)
I've really had to just take a step back, but you're right. The going for walks, being in nature, just kinda going outside and taking a deep breath and appreciating everything around me again is it has been what what definitely helps. you know, Jen's been there through through all of it, so that's been amazing. We love you, Jen. And yeah, but I think where brings me the most is yeah, definitely out on out in nature on walks and hiking.

Christina (01:01:58.803)
too bad there's a bunch of ticks out there. wait, we've got some more questions here from Jen. Okay, looking back now, what has been the hardest part of your recovery that most people don't see? We've talked about this a lot, just

Ali (01:02:11.278)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah. So I I think a lot of it has been just having to slow down and change how I do life right now. And that is not something I'm used to. Like I said, like I'm I'm pretty used to being go, go, go, and that's how I've kind of fashioned my life for the last

Well, for as long as I can remember, I've always had some sort of big goal or something that I'm pushing towards or something that I'm I'm doing. I'm always busy. And what I'm realizing now is I've kind of that kind of became my identity for a long, yeah, a long, long time. And now without being able to do that, and I guess I should kinda preface that with a lot of the changes that have happened are more cognitive. So things like I I get overwhelmed easily, I

do have anxiety around things that I never would have before. My senses are heightened. I have insane sense of smell and and things like that that are overwhelming. Yeah, you stink.

Christina (01:03:14.52)
Do you smell my new body spray?

Olivia just took a dump? She was

Ali (01:03:23.374)
Seconds ago Josie farted too and I was like holding my breath.

Christina (01:03:27.019)
Josie's fat f fat are bad.

Ali (01:03:29.486)
they're ten times stronger now. but

Christina (01:03:35.387)
I did get a new body scent though, I'm just saying. Liar. Okay. No.

Ali (01:03:37.858)
You smell amazing. Thanks. I would tell you, because that's another thing. I've become very I don't like flavor.

Christina (01:03:45.006)
But I am curious, you you have to smell me later. Just let me know is it too much? Is it 'cause I don't I'm actually very sensitive to perfume.

Ali (01:03:51.626)
Well, it's not too much 'cause I don't feel overpowered by it and and the smallest things do now at this point. Okay, thank God. yeah. Multitasking, all those sort of things have been a lot more challenging. And so I haven't been able to do all the things that I normally would do. And so it it is just learning to kinda slow down and appreciate just being and taking it easy and not being on the go.

Christina (01:04:17.526)
Yeah, that's that that would be hard. I I mean, even I I'm not on search and rescue like you are. I'm not a volunteer firefighter like you just became before you died.

Ali (01:04:28.814)
I wish to preface that I have not done anything with the volunteer fire fighting.

Christina (01:04:32.116)
No, because you you have died and now you're recovering from that you but literally right before this happened, you were inducted into the volunteer firefighter squad or what

Ali (01:04:42.866)
They've been amazing. They've been such a huge support and I feel like I'm just this poser because I have not been able to actually be there.

Christina (01:04:50.296)
You're an honorary volunteer fire. But you know what? That's okay. Like, I mean, that's not you know, you you kinda have to roll with the bunches sometimes and for now this is where you're at. But but this is what we're talking about, folks. Like, you know, vet a veterinari of being a veter I can't even say what you are. A vet veterinarian what do you call it again? Being a vet is on its own, like

Ali (01:05:13.624)
leave it at vet. That works.

Christina (01:05:18.454)
A lot of stress. I've I've not heard of any that that isn't stressed. that's a big job on its own. And then you were also part of search and rescue, which is time consuming and a big that's a big position to be in. And and and then signing up to be a volunteer firefighter. Anyway, so like all that alone is like really, really, really stressful. So I yeah. but I could

I can totally relate to like you get to this point where you're doing all these things and all of a sudden you just you're not you kinda like you just can't. You just can't 'cause you know how it's detrimental to your health or you just physically can't mentally do it. And

Ali (01:06:04.236)
Yeah. Well yeah, and that's the point where I'm at is like it is kinda scary 'cause it's I don't know where like where this'll go, whether or not I will get my cogn full cognitive function back or if it's gonna be you know, if this is permanent. I don't really know yet. So I'm just kinda yeah, trying not to think too far into the future about one way or the other.

Christina (01:06:04.92)
Yeah. Right now anyway. I'd

Christina (01:06:29.452)
Yeah, but you're doing all the right things. Like you're taking care of yourself, you've you're self advocating, y you know, your work has been really great at

Ali (01:06:38.172)
they've been amazing. Yeah. They've accommodated so well. yeah, I owe my coworkers a lot and my my boss a lot for that.

Christina (01:06:46.466)
must be tough though when you just like cause a lot some illnesses do actually have an act a time scale that you're gonna this this lasts two weeks and you're you're fine, you know flu, you know, you might have it for a couple of weeks and then you'll be fine or you might have brain fog for whatever. But with what you've gone through it's it's a little bit it there's just no timeline maybe for some of these things and so I I can s see how that would be very frustrating. But I think you're doing great.

Ali (01:07:16.546)
Thanks.

Christina (01:07:17.486)
You know, so fine so that's all that matters, what I think. Hey Jen had another question. What's something you've gained from this experience that you didn't expect? I love this question.

Ali (01:07:32.24)
I feel like I've gained a lot of things from this. I have gained a whole new appreciation for my sense of community. Like I never in a million years could have imagined the amount of people that like surrounded me during this. Like never had any idea that that existed.

Christina (01:07:55.586)
Yeah, who cares? Just throw you in the

Ali (01:07:57.898)
No, but I mean no, but you guys, like everybody, every single person that, you know, I have been friends with or even acquaintances with have come out of the woodworks to be supportive and and do what they could to to help through it. so I definitely have gained a a very large appreciation for for that.

and being more social in that aspect. Because I also think I've I've been very good at just closing my door. I get home, I close my door, it's just me and Josie and and through this I've definitely had so many people come over and visit and pop by and things like that, which again would normally be very anxiety provoking to me. But in this case it was like everything I needed. And I've learned to absolutely love having people around. And yeah.

having the support of other people, that was a that was I think I'm really off topic with where this question was going.

Christina (01:08:59.734)
Not at all. You're totally on topic. Yeah. Wait, are you? What's No, you're good. You're that's brilliant. Question was what have you gained that was unexpected from this experience? And I think everything you you you you talked about was so it was so interesting when you said like the community that that was like I guess that that surprised you because like

Ali (01:09:04.462)
No, so you

What was the question?

Christina (01:09:29.109)
I know other people would look at you and like you're someone who is out there in the community helping save lives, basically. I think all of the positions that you've chosen to take on the roles in your volunteer life and your work life are all like life saving, life enhancing and and you're with groups of people like you you know, community but it's interesting that you wouldn't expect that for yourself. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. And and so

Ali (01:09:54.382)
Mm-hmm.

Christina (01:09:58.796)
That's all. That's my observation. That it's like, of course you deserve community and it's a no brainer that people would like I mean, the people that we had to keep away b because you were in the ICU and it we couldn't bombard you with too much, you know, the was an an was incredible. Like so I'm with you on that. Like a lot of people wanted to you had a lot of best friends out there.

you know, but it it just goes to show like the impact you have on people's lives and you don't even know sometimes until you you die. Which is kind of a good reminder for folks to like if there's someone out there that if they die, you wish you'd have maybe hung out with them more or said like maybe you should just write them an email and say hi or give a call or stop by while they're still alive. It's true.

Ali (01:10:57.619)
Yeah. It's it definitely does put time into perspective. Mm-hmm.

Christina (01:11:02.018)
But like we've all had friends who maybe Yeah, we like love them but we just lost tra touch. Yeah. And then something happens and we're like, holy fuck, like I I wish I hadn't lost touch and then you get back in touch with them and and you know, it happens to be in their darkest hour. Like that that is normal. But is there anybody that has s since you've come out of this and got come home that have you been overwhelmed sometimes that like people that have wanted to get in touch?

Does that overwhelm you that there might be people who want to get in touch that you just don't want anything to to do with anymore? Is that overwhelming names? I just wanna know 'cause I could imagine that that would be like what where are you coming from and why

Ali (01:11:34.542)
Anyway.

I don't want

Ali (01:11:47.256)
Like to be honest,

Christina (01:11:50.338)
Yeah, we only want honesty in a chat with her.

Ali (01:11:52.462)
No, I think everybody that has reached out I've I've appreciated and where they were coming from their

Christina (01:11:58.774)
You'll tell me later. We'll gossip after that.

Ali (01:12:02.968)
But

Christina (01:12:07.052)
Is there anybody that you wish would die No, just kidding. We're gonna cut that out. I'm just kidding.

Just kidding. Yeah, I know. Okay, no, I do have a couple more questions. were you somebody who worried about death before this?

Ali (01:12:25.046)
Never. Hmm. No. It never would have crossed my mind before this at all. I had no anxiety around it. I it wasn't like I would worry about going and doing anything dangerous as far as like, yes, are you are you taking notes?

Christina (01:12:39.264)
I'm actually your psychologist now.

Ali (01:12:42.764)
Was this a question you got wrong on my psychaval that you just filled in?

Christina (01:12:45.666)
Yeah, I did just do a psychaval for your psychiatrist. no. Just just crossing off a very very, very interesting question that I just asked. that's it. Seriously, and you you deal in life and death all the time, but you never thought about your own or

Ali (01:13:05.376)
No. No. Well. No, I just I don't think so. And maybe because I pre maybe because I am so pre planned for things, you know what I mean? Like I am involved in all those

Christina (01:13:12.374)
That's okay.

Christina (01:13:23.394)
Thought I'm gonna be prepared if I'm about to die and I'm gonna stop it. Maybe Yeah. Well now now you've got this device that

Ali (01:13:28.323)
Yeah.

Ali (01:13:33.038)
No I can't die. Yeah. In theory. I always picture now like I'm gonna be like this old decrepit old lady and like everything else is gonna be wanting to die in me and it's just gonna keep shocking me back to life and I'm gonna be like, just let me go.

Christina (01:13:46.166)
At some point when you're a hundred and ten, you're gonna have to have something written down that's like we need to Yeah, how do we get this thing out of her? And then you'll be like, that feels so much better. gosh. Just kidding. We love you, device. what scares you now, but what doesn't scare you anymore. Does it what are

Ali (01:13:50.06)
Just turn off.

Yeah.

Ali (01:13:57.344)
I can finally move again.

Ali (01:14:13.109)
What kind of riddle is that?

Christina (01:14:15.379)
I'm looking at Dale and he's like, What? No, do not ask that's a

Ali (01:14:19.963)
What scares you now? Scares you now but doesn't scare you anymore.

Christina (01:14:22.1)
It does scares you now and then it's really two questions, you guys, but I shouldn't ask this to somebody who's got like who ha who's who who's having trouble ment with mentally with with all well, who's easily triggered by riddles. what scares you now? And second question, what doesn't scare you anymore?

Ali (01:14:48.278)
Okay. There was no but doesn't scare you anymore. Okay. Just what scares me now. Okay. So what scares me now

Christina (01:14:55.84)
What scares you now and never no, that doesn't make sense. Yeah, what scares you now?

Ali (01:15:01.934)
Period. Well, I don't yeah, and I don't know if it's necessarily something that scares me as opposed to it's I can't I kind of have it more in the back of my mind that you could die at any minute. yeah. Like I don't know what what caused it. So at the same time, I can't like there's no I mean, no one's guaranteed that it's not gonna happen to them. So at at the end of the day, like, you could just die at any moment. Tomorrow. And so the thought of

Christina (01:15:27.298)
Yeah, I could die tomorrow.

Ali (01:15:30.454)
you know, I wouldn't have thought twice about, say, going on a a kayak out in the the water by myself, kinda thing. And now I'm kinda like, I really do need to pre plan for this and like actually have like you know, I need to constantly check in and tell people where I'm going and like that sort of stuff scares me more than it would have before. I guess just the fact that I'm not invincible and I can't necessarily get myself out of

Christina (01:15:47.064)
Yeah.

Ali (01:15:59.328)
out of everything. yeah. So it it does cross my mind and I guess scare me in the sense that things could go wrong at any point.

Christina (01:16:09.996)
What doesn't scare you anymore?

Ali (01:16:13.058)
Hm. what doesn't scare me?

Christina (01:16:15.638)
Like is there anything where you're like, Ugh, that's no big deal anymore.

Ali (01:16:20.526)
Probably the more like mundane things, like things that would normally stress me out about like having a hard conversation with somebody or expressing how I feel to somebody or, you know, being vulnerable, those sort of things don't scare me as much anymore.

Christina (01:16:41.624)
You have been adulting a lot. Your rebirth. Yeah, I'm so proud of you.

Ali (01:16:43.874)
Been adulting so much more. I know.

Taking adulting by the horns. yeah, so I d I think it's just like the the little things that maybe I used to stress about or worry about or you know, like, how would somebody what would somebody think of me if I did that or you know, those sort of things don't really seem to matter as much anymore. Spend time wasted on on things that don't matter, on sometimes I guess people that don't matter and and at the end of the day, like I don't know. I had a whole

whole family that rallied behind me on on this one and obviously I'm lucky enough to have learned what matters and who matters in my world and yeah. Don't take it for granted.

Christina (01:17:28.406)
Well, I've only known you for a couple of years now. I really love you and want you to stick around, and I know Dale really loves you, and well, you're Olivia's godmother. She really loves you and Josie really loves you, and all your friends and family that I've met through this really love you. And I'm just really I'm just really tickled pink that

Ali (01:17:31.256)
Wild, right?

Christina (01:17:54.648)
We're having this conversation. And I think it's a good I mean, you know, I've had a couple conversations on the podcast, like we had a my friend Karen, who's a funeral director, was on in season one. It's amazing. And we talked about end of life planning 'cause sh that I'm kind of obsessed with it. But you know, death has always been a a good reminder in my life to

Just make the make the decisions and go for whatever you know, figure out what you want to do and and do it, even if it takes a while and tell people you love them and all that shit. I mean, all the cliche stuff. And

Yeah, I didn't have to die to figure that out, but I did have to watch people die. And and you know, you kind of you kind of see somebody going through that and it's just that knowing that Yeah, this we're just here for a blip. Like, so let's be responsible, but let's like totally make the most of it and stop fucking stressing out.

Ali (01:19:09.806)
Easier said than done.

Christina (01:19:12.715)
I know. Take your acetalipram. my god, this was your first podcast chat. Like what was? How did it go?

Ali (01:19:21.814)
It's great.

Christina (01:19:22.968)
Really? Yeah. Okay, good. I mean I think you did great.

Ali (01:19:27.032)
I think one final thing that I would say 'cause I'm gonna plug the whole everybody should learn C PR. yeah, we should I wouldn't be here. I mean without Jen knowing CPR I wouldn't be here. But like yeah in the grand scheme of things, after it all, the number of stories that I've heard and people saying like, Yeah, you know, if if so and so hadn't been, you know, a bystander no CPR sort of thing. So I think it is important that everybody should

Christina (01:19:29.136)
yeah, sure, you can say final thing.

Christina (01:19:56.086)
It didn't work for Winky, but I know Dale, you tried everybody should learn C BR. Also, you have an Instagram page that you've dedicated to sharing bits of this journey. And it is Living Wired SI C D. Correct. Thank you. So check that out, folks, and share it with your friends who you think might be interested in getting an S.

Ali (01:20:23.694)
it's it's just my way of I because when I when it hap like when I was going through all this, I looked up so much stuff on social media to try to find anybody that was going through something similar like me or had gone through something similar so that I could relate to it or you know, just even that I could reach out and ask, like, hey, is this normal? Should I be feeling this way? Like I felt like I was losing my mind half the time and I just didn't have anyone to communicate with or, you know, understand what was going on or or if it was normal.

Christina (01:20:26.477)
Yeah.

Ali (01:20:53.39)
quote unquote. Yeah. And so I did want to kind of share what I was going through and just, you know, have that out there in case anybody ever was in the same boat and and needed somebody to talk to. And I have met a couple of really cool people through there that that have gone through similar things and have been in touch with so

Christina (01:21:09.75)
Yeah. I don't know anybody who has this device that you have. Like I think you're kinda cool that way actually. But like, yeah, that would be really freaky. Like, how do you know? And the doctors, I was with you in the hospital a lot you know, and they were coming like you had to make a decision pretty quick. Like when you've never hurt really you don't know anyone with this thing, like it just is a weird thing. So anyway, I think it's great that you're doing that and

And Dale, you and I need to do a refresher course on CPR. I think we did one online together here and I've taken courses, but I'll be honest with you, I don't remember what to do.

Ali (01:21:51.544)
But the thing is, like, I don't know, and I think people get caught up on like, I gotta go take a course. You really don't. Like just Google YouTube it, watch one video of it. Like you don't have to do it perfect. You don't have to pay and take a course and be s quote unquote certified to know what to do. Like, yeah.

Christina (01:22:07.064)
Let's do that tonight, Dale. YouTube. C PR we could practice. Or Olivia, we could practice on Olivia. We should learn it for the pets too.

Ali (01:22:18.968)
That's true. I think people people put it off because you know it's you know, it's a c in most cases it's a course, you get certified, it's a little bit stressful, you gotta go take a test and stuff. But at the end of the day, really, look it up, have the knowledge in the back of your mind and I think you know, if you had to use it you'd be good to go. Perfect.

Christina (01:22:33.792)
It's not robot time. Yeah. Yeah. I guess people freak out too 'cause it is like a life and death situation and it just scares them.

Ali (01:22:42.124)
Yeah. And showing up is is half the is half the battle there for sure.

Christina (01:22:47.52)
Okay, well this is over. Yeah, this is great. And we have so much, right Dale? Slow

Ali (01:22:49.995)
no, we're just keeping yammering.

Christina (01:23:02.408)
I don't wanna say goodbye to you. I don't wanna say goodbye to you.

Christina (01:23:18.668)
Welcome to the Heartbeat Hotline, 1902-669-4769. I'm the host of a Chat with Heart podcast, Christina Martin, and I'm so excited you called. Leave me your question, a suggestion for the podcast, or a comment about this episode. Please be aware your message may be used on the podcast and social media. Tell me your name, where you're calling from, and it's also fine if you want to remain anonymous. Thanks for listening.

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