36 – Tragedy Brings Hope

This morning, I received a phone call from my dad’s wife stating that my dad had a heart attack at the Dallas airport. Dad was on his way home from his vacation in New Mexico.  He was on his way to the restroom, and had a heart attack outside of the restroom.

I was in shock thinking how could another incident happen to me again with everything that was going on in my life. Albert’s stroke and now rehab, my mother-in-law’s death earlier this year, continuing to work full-time while taking care of Jordan and the house, and paying bills.  It was too much.

I hung up the phone and started calling my brother and sisters to let them know what happened to Dad and to give them an update on how he was doing.  They all asked if they should come to Dallas, and I said yes.  I didn’t want to be the sister who told them not to come and then something bad happen to Dad.

Later that day, I drove to Dallas to check on Dad.  The doctors put him in a coma and froze his body.  They said that all of his blood needed to go directly to his brain.  I walked into his room and I stared at him. I was enthralled by his appearance because his body looked dead. I touched the skin on his arms and legs and felt how stiff and cold they were. His body was frozen.  With each touch,there was no movement from dad.  The feeling that I had was surreal, because I knew that he was alive and that blood was flowing from his heart to his brain.

The night was spent in prayer while I waited for my brother and sisters to arrive.  Dad’s condition hadn’t changed and the doctors didn’t give us a reason to believe that he would survive.  

Upon realizing that Dad might not make it through the following days, I called CORE to see if they would approve a leave request and allow Albert to visit his father-in-law at the hospital.  

CORE approved Albert’s leave but stated that he must return in two days.  CORE would not allow him to spend more than two nights away from the center; Albert had not spent one night away from CORE since he entered months ago.  I picked him up and we traveled to Dallas.  Albert was excited to leave CORE and more excited to be on the road.  I’m not sure that he understood the magnitude of the situation and how dire it was.  I only knew that he wanted to be with the family.

In the hospital, Albert saw dad and was sorrowful.  He cried. He cried that soulful cry that caused others to grieve, and he cried for a long time.  I led him out of Dad’s room because it was too much for him.  Albert stayed at the hospital most of the day and then went to the hotel. He spent most of the following day in the hotel room, but visited Dad for a couple of hours.  

The following day Albert was scheduled to return to CORE. He was quiet and didn’t want to leave the hospital. As I watched him, I saw something resolute in his eyes.  I think that it was the desire to live and the desire to get his life back.  As sorrowful as he was for Dad, he had a sparkle in his eyes and a determination to get better.

Albert returned to CORE and continued his rehabilitation.   He had more confidence and was determined then ever to improve.