March 2, 2008
-
Family Emergency
This weekend my folks were supposed to come and visit. They were supposed to leave out Friday morning. About 9:30 (hours after they would have normally left) I get a call from my mom saying she’s not feeling well and they are going to Urgent Care. She’s had indigestion several times in the last week and 1/2, once seriously enough to warrant a drive to urgent care, during which she belched, got immediate relief and turned around and went home. Evidently on Thursday she started feeling poorly. Dad convinced her Friday morning to go in. She had started throwing up during the night. After a few tests, they hooked her up to an EKG just to be sure and found out that she had a heart attack.
She was sent to ER in ambulance and later that day helicoptered over to Las Cruces to ICU. She had a Cath and stint put in, but did not need a bypass thank goodness. I drove down as soon as the girls got out of school. I had to wait, because as usual, Hubby was gone when something went wrong. Which, incidentally, he’s felt horrible about. At any rate I drove down to Las Cruces, and spent the weekend there. Mom was put in a regular room on the cardiac wing on Saturday afternoon and earlier today she was released and dad took her home. She is now (after 50 years) a non-smoker. She has to change some things, and her stubbornness is showing, but she’s in for a surprise. Because she passed her stubbornness on to me! I’ll be danged if she’s going to continue on the way she has! I’m going to badger the heck out of her!
This is exactly one of the reasons we wanted to retire here. So that we could be close enough to get to family in one day if needed. I was so glad I could go down and be with my mom on Friday. Especially since my father couldn’t make it from Silver — as he hadn’t slept all night and hadn’t eaten, he was completely out of it and had to get some sleep before making the drive. But I was there so she wasn’t alone. I was so glad I could be there. And I’m so glad she was doing well enough to go home. It’s an eye opener for us. It heralds life changes. And makes me think that it’s time to make changes in my own life as well.
I’m so grateful we didn’t lose my mom this weekend. I’m just glad God saw fit to have her stay with us for a little longer. My mom is one of my very best friends, and has been for years. On top of that, my dad is totally lost without her. I always expected that he would go first, with all his health problems, high blood pressure, ulcers, 2x cancer, etc., etc… and I was trying to arrange our life so when the time came, mom could come live with us, hopefully in a little mother-in-law type house. This weekend I faced the possibility that it might not work out that way. I know my dad, and he would just fade away with my mom gone. He had a hard time even packing, he was completely lost without my mom. Not because she does everything, but because she is and always has been the center of his universe. Growing up we always knew the surefire way to get into deep trouble was to make mom cry for some reason. Then you were in BIG trouble!! He was so lost this weekend. Normally he’s so strong and decisive. Until she was released, he was unsure and scared. I hope he will not let her walk all over him and will bully her into behaving herself!
I am just so grateful. Grateful that she’s better. Grateful that I could be there. Grateful there was good hospitals and doctors. God is good. And for today, right now, life is good.
Comments (17)
I’m so glad she’s o.k.
(((hugs))) and I’m glad you were there!
Thank God she’s ok, she and your family are all in my prayers.
That’s why I made my parents move home to Ohio from NM four years ago. When they were both in different hospitals in Roswell and there was no one ther to take care of them, I decided they needed to be here among family. Don’t regret it and never will. Take care of yourself so you can care for them.
Hi Annette, I know what you’re going through. Both my parents have had the stents and last week was the 1 year anniversary since my Dad’s triple bypass. It’s not fun to go through it with them. I’m so glad that your Mom is doing much better! This is a big wake up call. Does she have diabetes too? Glad to hear she going to quit smoking. She might need some help with it after 50! years. Thank God you were there for her! I’ll keep you and your family in prayer.
ryc: There really is my hubby’s old truck in the snowbank. He keeps talking about getting it running again, blah, blah, blah.
I am so sorry to hear this! But I’m glad she’s okay! Thoughts and prayers are being sent your way!
Thank goodness she is ok!
Mamaw’s to freakin’ awesome to die.
She’s more awesome than this dancing cow. :dancingcow:
That’s some pretty serious awesomeness there.
Seriously.
I mean, cow.
:dancingcow:
I’m glad you could be there with your Mom. I’m sure it made her feel better, too. The stent should really help a lot.
this is one of my biggest fears. i don’t want anything to ever happen to my parents. i don’t know what i would do. trying to take care of one parent and greive for another would be horrible. i’m glad your mother is doing better now. that she didn’t have to have bipass. my neighbor female just had 3 bipass. triple bipass… i don’t know how you say it. 3 arteries cleaned out.
Wow. What a scare! It really goes to show how fragile life is and how much we have to be grateful for. Your poor dad. I hope your parents have much, much longer together! Thank goodness you were close enough to be able to be there!
It is so neat to see couples who have been together forever who are truly happy that way. I read it described one time about someone’s parents that he was the zig to her zag. I’m so glad your mom got to hang around a while longer.
How scary! I’m glad you were able to be there for her when she needed you. ((Hugs)) I hope she continues to improve.
I am glad that your mom is alright, and that you are “stubborn” enought to help her change!!
I am glad your mom is Ok…my dad is still in the hospital for bowel issues but he should be out soon.
My parents have been married for 60 years…I don’t know what they would do without each other. I am not looking forward to the time when they are chosen to meet their maker but I know it will come at some point.
As I read this I was thinking how great it is that you are close to home now…it is a blessing isn’t it? I hope both your parents will be around for a long time to come, in good health and able to enjoy having you and your family close again. Praise the Lord for His Mercy!
I’m so sorry I missed this and didn’t comment sooner. I’ve been in such a daze that I was lost.
I’m glad your mom is doing okay. hugs.
Finally, a nonsmoker after 50 years, thats great!…I hope it does not take me that long to quit smoking though I am already going on 12 years, blah!
I think its sweet how your dad is lost without your mom, it brings light to the whole soulmate theory.
I am glad your mom is okay, and I hope she doesn’t bully your dad.