(John 3:16) – Be Thoughtful, Grateful, Patient, Charitable, Kind and Smile as it is infectious.
I have been writing this daily blog for almost 2 years now on many topics, but today’s is one that hit so close to home it that made it the rest pale in comparison.
Our families’ day all started innocent enough without fanfare as we headed into our normal Tuesday routine. Our granddaughter, Sommer, kissed her longtime companion Tevin of 12 years goodbye as they headed off to their day.
Most of our other children and grandchildren did the same in their daily routine of jobs, school etc. Our eldest daughter Marie was sitting with my wife as I headed out the door to play music with friends. Unbeknownst to all that a parent and grandparents’ worse nightmare would happen before days end.
I normally turn my cell phone volume down or off when we play not so much due to all the spam calls but the interruption of happening in the midst of a song in which, to be honest, I/we probably wouldn’t hear it anyway.
I was pulling out of my friend’s driveway somewhere between 3:30 and 4 pm when I got a call from my daughter Kate telling me the news no life’s partner, parent or grandparent wants to hear; that our eldest grandchild who just turned 30 this year had a seizure at work and collapsed hitting her head and she was being worked on to head home collect both my wife and other daughter. I got off with Kate and called my wife to let her know when Marie gets to the house I would drive.
Our granddaughter works, thank God, as a medical assistant across the street from Bryn Mawr Hospital and had she not this would’ve had a whole different outcome. One of the doctors started doing CPR and had to paddle her several times to resuscitate her. We understood later it took 20-25 minutes of that in order to stabilizer her enough to get transported across the street to Bryn Mawr Hospital’s ICU.
We were all so numb that we didn’t even get any of the doctors or nurses and others who assisted her to keep her alive in that moment. Our family at this hour owes them all a great deal of gratitude for their part. The family rushed as families do at moments like these. It was just before midnight that other family members headed home to their own children. At bout 2 am the ICU Medical team made the decision she would be better served downtown at Pennsylvania Medical Hospitals ICU.
They made arrangements to medivac her, as I drove and dropped off her Partner Tevin and our daughter Marie who were staying with her. They only allow two people to stay so we headed home getting very little sleep and staying touch in the event of any health changes. That being said Penn Medicine has one of the best recognized cardio, pulmonary and other related complications team in the country if not the world to deal with her traumatic injuries and recovery.
Yesterday we go the first positive signs of eye, hand and some form of cognitive responses that she may pull through; but to what extent or damage was done is still undetermined. The elephant in the room that still needs to be discovered is what caused her to have a seizure in the first place. However, we do have some peace of mind as she is alive, breathing, responsive and though not fully out of the woods, we have HOPE!
Today and tomorrow, we may have a better idea after they wean her off medication, remove the breathing tubes and restraints to see if she can function on her. So, please keep our family in your continued prayers.
It is only by the grace of God that I have the presence of mind in sharing these last few harrowing seconds, hours and days. I find it therapeutic and important to document We are deeply grateful for all the well wishes, prayers and concerns of those many family and friends who reached out to offer whatever was needed. Prayers for the past two days have been at the top of our list.
**AS I was typing this up to document my thoughts our daughter called to say they removed the tubes a short time ago and that our granddaughter is breathing on her own**. Thank you to all our family and friends that have been praying for our family. We feel and your continued prayers. We all feel somewhat of a relief yet knowing that there is still much to be done before a full recovery. Good news she has been trying to communicate using sign language or trying to write on paper.
Point to Ponder: We all can get caught with children and loved ones, that we sometimes forget to be cognizant of the little sometimes trivial things we often take for granted e.g. Try not to go to bed mad, not sweat the small stuff, every morning and night or before partings and goodbyes remind your kids, grandkids how much they are loved and their importance together and individually to the family. Trust me these last few days and the next coming hours, days and weeks our family will look back to this week as a constant reminder. My only advice to keep God in your life as He is what gives you HOPE in moments like these. Trust me!
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