The Friday and Saturday after I found out about Mom's apparent heart problem were pretty tense.
Let me tell you a little bit about my parents. If you've ever listened to old time radio, maybe you'll understand when I say they are kind of like The Bickersons. Or, if you're a newspaper comics reader, The Lockhorns. There's a constant stream of bickering between the two. But you know, they've managed to make it work for 42 years, and really, they make a pretty good team. I guess it's because they disagree on every single one of the trivial details but are together for the big picture.
On Friday, I tried to call them, and had not got an answer. Really that's nothing unusual -- since they retired, my parents spend a lot of time out on the town, going to movies and restaurants. However, when I kept calling for a few hours more with the same result, I remembered they had a cell phone and decided to try that.
It was just what I expected. They were in the emergency room.
Mom's shortness of breath had got to the critical point where Dad made her go to the hospital. He seriously thought she needed an oxygen tank or something. So they made it up to the hospital on Friday evening.
I wanted to come up, but things were not settled. I had a feeling she'd be staying for a while. Certainly the time was not right while they were sitting around an ER. The next day, Saturday, they'd run some tests, and maybe we'd have a better idea of what to plan for.
Well, on Saturday, the tests showed nothing. They checked her into the hospital, and scheduled her for an angiogram on Monday at 10 am. In the meantime, she was checked in to the hospital for observation.
Now, Mom complained, complained, complained. I understand. I don't like being in a hospital either. However, in this case, she wasn't seeing the big picture.
What I imagined was her going home, then whatever was causing the clog breaks loose and jams in her heart, causing a heart attack -- or her brain, causing a stroke. I was terrified of this possibility.
However, now that there was a plan, I decided to go up the road on Sunday. I live in Gainesville, Florida; my parents are in LaFayette, Georgia. Last time I checked, it was about 430 miles.
I told my wife, Hannah, to stay home. There was good reason, but like I said in an earlier article, sometimes I keep the real reasons for things to myself. In this case, I didn't want to say openly (especially to my parents) that I expected disaster.
Although I was planning for a 3 day stay, if the need arose I could just wash my clothes at my parents' house and stay as long as needed. I'm a teacher, and it's summer, so I could do that. Hannah, on the other hand, still has to go to work. So I told her I was thinking she could use this time to work on her doctoral thesis (also true).
Story continues tomorrow.
Let me tell you a little bit about my parents. If you've ever listened to old time radio, maybe you'll understand when I say they are kind of like The Bickersons. Or, if you're a newspaper comics reader, The Lockhorns. There's a constant stream of bickering between the two. But you know, they've managed to make it work for 42 years, and really, they make a pretty good team. I guess it's because they disagree on every single one of the trivial details but are together for the big picture.
On Friday, I tried to call them, and had not got an answer. Really that's nothing unusual -- since they retired, my parents spend a lot of time out on the town, going to movies and restaurants. However, when I kept calling for a few hours more with the same result, I remembered they had a cell phone and decided to try that.
It was just what I expected. They were in the emergency room.
Mom's shortness of breath had got to the critical point where Dad made her go to the hospital. He seriously thought she needed an oxygen tank or something. So they made it up to the hospital on Friday evening.
I wanted to come up, but things were not settled. I had a feeling she'd be staying for a while. Certainly the time was not right while they were sitting around an ER. The next day, Saturday, they'd run some tests, and maybe we'd have a better idea of what to plan for.
Well, on Saturday, the tests showed nothing. They checked her into the hospital, and scheduled her for an angiogram on Monday at 10 am. In the meantime, she was checked in to the hospital for observation.
Now, Mom complained, complained, complained. I understand. I don't like being in a hospital either. However, in this case, she wasn't seeing the big picture.
What I imagined was her going home, then whatever was causing the clog breaks loose and jams in her heart, causing a heart attack -- or her brain, causing a stroke. I was terrified of this possibility.
However, now that there was a plan, I decided to go up the road on Sunday. I live in Gainesville, Florida; my parents are in LaFayette, Georgia. Last time I checked, it was about 430 miles.
I told my wife, Hannah, to stay home. There was good reason, but like I said in an earlier article, sometimes I keep the real reasons for things to myself. In this case, I didn't want to say openly (especially to my parents) that I expected disaster.
Although I was planning for a 3 day stay, if the need arose I could just wash my clothes at my parents' house and stay as long as needed. I'm a teacher, and it's summer, so I could do that. Hannah, on the other hand, still has to go to work. So I told her I was thinking she could use this time to work on her doctoral thesis (also true).
Story continues tomorrow.
Comments:
kga245 (July 13, 2007. 05:41pm)
Just wanted you to know I read the story and I'm thinking of you. My heart goes out to you, Bruce.
bmccosar (July 13, 2007. 09:38pm)
Thanks, Kelly -- it's over now, for the most part, but there's lessons learned.