Fortune

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Was it unlucky
to be born with lungs
that struggle
to push air
through twisty canals
eventually
narrowing one night
until my face
turned blue
the bells of a a new year
had just rung
my parents sped across freeways
the ER accepted its youngest patient
oxygen administered
heaves of relief
my place on this planet
assured
for now.

Was it unlucky
years later
to have caught a virus
my body transforming it into
a virulent strep
invading my fibrous core
producing a torrent of fluid
creating a vise grip around
my heart
squeezing it shut
laying in cardiac ICU
monitors squealing
warning
of impending extinction
saved at the last moment
by a sprightly doctor.