You Have a Beautiful Aorta

Blog 10/29/2026

You Have Beautiful  Aorta – a story about Women’s health & Self-care.

I recently had a routine Liver scan to follow up on last year’s liver check. Things are fine. This check occurred at the VA hospital in Johnson City.

I showed at the Appointed time and was shuffled back to a room by a nurse in her late 30s early 40s. Amanda was chatty and professional. I had to take my shirt off and lie down on one of those super cold hospital tables. She pulled her scan machine over like it was a big piece of luggage – still chatting.  I could tell Ms. Amanda has done this a time or two.

She started her work and we continued to chat as two strangers do in slightly awkward situations like this. This was an ultrasound where you put lubricant on a probe and press it around to see the organ you want to see – all routine stuff.

Ms. Amanda is doing her thing and all a sudden she burst out - Wow!! My God, you have a beautiful Aorta!

She turns the screen toward me and says look at that! … I’m like – yeah that looks awesome (totally not knowing what I’m talking about)

She says – it is really nice, I see a lot of Aortas in my profession, and you have a very nice one.

Anyway, we get past that and are chatting about her job and eventually life. My Late wife comes up (Cancer, eating better, all the stuff) and we eventually get into what she is doing exactly with her mom routine and how to improve.

“I want to walk in the morning, but it is so difficult with the kids, so I resigned myself to get up early and walk before the kids get out of bed. “

This started to work, but the damn German Shepard wants to come and that’s a problem, so I have not started yet because of the dog.

I have thoughts on that but, Amanda goes on to reveal the motivation to do better – her best friend Carol last year was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died in her 40s. The event traumatized Amanda but helps serve as a looking glass into her own life routines etc.   

It helps keep her honest.

Here is what I would tell Amanda. Lock the dog in the laundry room and take your walk.

Moms are always the first to sacrifice, they are the first to suck it up and they are the last to make an appointment for themselves.  

Just remember mom – if you go down, everything stops.  

Besides, you can't pour from an empty cup.

Take a break, take a walk, make an appointment.

Because only you can prevent forest fires. 😊