A “BROKEN HEART”: WHEN HEARTACHE STRIKES
/A “BROKEN HEART”: WHEN HEARTACHE STRIKES
By: Jimmy Meeks
Recently I was watching a Netflix Series called “New Amsterdam.” It’s about the daily drama that comes with running a hospital. Patients with all kinds of problems wander into this hospital. The hospital brags that it’s the only one of its kind, fully devoted to healing the sick without a high price tag.
One of the patients had a mysterious disease. The doctors were puzzled, but got a clue when the mother mentioned where she had recently been. She - the patient - had just returned from Haiti, where a terrible mudslide had caused the death of many. The daughter had been there, trying to help with all of the suffering.
When the doctors heard this, they suspected she might have “Takotsubu.” Takotsubu causes the heart’s main blood-pumping chamber (the left ventricle) to change and get larger. This weakens the heart muscle and means it doesn't pump blood as well as it should.
There’s another term that is often used to describe Takotsubu: “Broken Heart Syndrome.” Seeing all the suffering in Haiti had simply broken the heart of this young lady.
Years ago, while cruising along in my patrol car, at about 3 a.m., I drove into a city park. Parks close at 10 p.m., and when I worked the night shift, I always made sure no one was in the park during closed hours.
When I pulled in to this particular park, a car was there. I assumed it was a couple of teenagers engaged in some “hanky panky.” I got out of my car and walked up to theirs, intending to send them on their way.
But it wasn’t teenagers.
Lying in the back seat was a 65-year-old man. He had covered his head and the upper part of his body with plastic. Lying on the floorboard was a large bottle of helium. A hose was attached to the bottle, and the other end was lying on his stomach, under the plastic. The plastic bag was pinned to his belt.
He had taken his life by inhaling the helium.
I stared at him, somewhat stunned. I had been too many suicides, but had never gotten used to them. I hated every one of them.
Per protocol, l called for an ambulance, though I knew he was dead.
I was eager to know if he had left a note, which was often the case. I always looked for notes, hoping to learn why the person might have taken his or her life. Sure enough, I found one, lying on the front seat …
I’ll never forget what it said: “Tell everyone that I died of a BROKEN HEART.”
In the last 10 to 15 years of my police career, I noticed something that I had not ever paid much attention to. I observed it in my fellow officers, and I witnessed it often on the streets: repeated cases of “Broken Heart Syndrome.”
I remember my fellow officer, Dean. He had a broken heart. His wife had divorced him and his father had died, both incidents within a short period of time. He was crushed.
One day when we were both on duty, he in his car, me in mine, we met up for a conversation. With tears in his eyes, he looked at me and said, “Jimmy, I’m scared to love anyone. I’m afraid they will either leave me or die on me.”
A little over a year ago I was staying in a hotel in downtown Minneapolis, attending a church-related convention. Each day when the conference was over, I hit the streets. Minneapolis officers were on every corner. I knew that because of everything going on, many of them were struggling. The residue of the George Floyd tragedy was still in the air…
I came across a veteran officer, a sharp looking guy who also professed faith in Christ. Within one minute it became obvious to me that he suffered from a broken heart. He had been standing there, guarding the corner, trying to figure out what direction he was going to take with his life, and wondering if it was time to call it quits. He broke down in tears. Right there on the street corner.
Broken Heart Syndrome is quite prevalent in the world of law enforcement, and I suspect it contributes too many of the suicides that occur among the police.
In 2022, Over 160 officers (active and retired) took their own life. Seven Chicago officers committed suicide last year; three of them within one week. And I can’t help but think of the grief, the broken-heartedness which plagues the families of officers who die in the line of duty. Last year (2022), 229 officers lost their lives.
Of course, the police are by no means the only ones to incur broken heart syndrome. It’s a disease that is ransacking millions in our world. The blows that come with life are often hard to bear. Life can be so darn hard, so demanding, so cruel.
I have a son who is very smart. A little over a year ago he earned his doctorate from a very prestigious university. His wisdom is, and always has been, far beyond his years. One day he shot it straight with me
“Dad… I don’t think you know what 35-years of police work did to you.”
And that may be your story as well. You may not have served as a police officer, but you have known your share of heartache. Heartache strikes the poor and the rich. It never plays favorites.
But there is hope.
In Luke 4, Jesus tells why He came to earth. It is called the “Messianic Declaration.” In this passage, Jesus explains the purpose of His mission. He specifically names the kind of people He came to help. They include:
- The poor
- The captives of sin
- The blind
- The bruised…
If you are familiar with this passage, you will notice that I left one out. Did you catch it? He also said that He came to “heal the broken hearted.” And sadly there are many of God’s people who have “broken heart syndrome,” but most of them will not do what it takes to get healed.
I once spoke with a California cop who had broken heart syndrome - and didn’t know it. “Jimmy,” he told me, “the stuff I’ve seen in my career just hasn’t affected me.” I thought that was odd, especially since I knew he had been married many times, drank like a fish, and was 50 pounds overweight!
He not only had a case of “Broken Heart Syndrome,” but also a severe case of “denial.” What are you to do if you suffer from a broken heart? The answer is simple; do what you have to do to get healed!
Go to your doctor - tell him what’s going on - and do what he advises. Jesus said, “The sick need a physician.” My prayers are with you.
Jimmy Meeks is a 35-year retired police officer, having served in Oklahoma and Texas. He has over 4,600 hours of training. He is the founder of The Cornelius Project (www.bluelifesupport.com). He is also the founder of Sheepdog Seminars. Jimmy and Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman have hosted over 100 such seminars.
