robiny
What a 24 hours!
May 13, 2009
I think, no, I know, I have changed! I am stronger, more confident, and happier. It's only a week out of surgery so I don't understand how it happened but it did. Now I have always been upbeat, there for my family and friends, and good in a crisis, however, last night I, and my family, found out what I am truly made of and it was without effort, that's the part that is new. I feel like I am tooting my own horn here, and I am, but I just can't get over my transformation.It all started last night at about 8:45pm, I was already in bed watching some TV with my husband, not much pain just kind of tired and the phone rings. It's my nephew-in-law, he is calling from the trauma hospital, my brother-in-law collapsed while he and my sister were at their weekly dog training class. The doctors told them that he had had a heart attack, blockage, and it didn't look like he was going to make it. They are about 45 miles away from us. He said my sister knew I wasn't able to come but wanted me to know. I said OK, to keep me posted and hung up. It took approximately 30 seconds and I turned to my husband and said we are going, I have to be there for my sister. I called them back and told them we were on our way. It happened so fast, we were showered, dressed and on the road in 10 minutes! We arrived at the ER hospital at 10 pm. It wasn't until after 11 that we got the first word, they had put in a temporary pacemaker and noticed something abnormal about his heart. They were performing more tests. At this point some family members need to leave and all that was to remain and needing support, comfort, transportation were my sister and my niece. It was fine. My husband and I stayed and took care of them. When we finally had last word about 2 am, that he was stable and that they were going to sedate after we saw him with more test to follow during the day, we took everyone home, assured their security and went home to our place. We got home at 3:30 a.m.
I couldn't believe it, I wasn't tired, sore, upset, scared anything. I was assured in my mind and my heart that he and my sister were going to be OK and that I did what needed to be done to make it better for my family without once seeing the negative. I guess I always did what had to be done before, but there were underlying feelings of insecurity, or acceptance ... I am not sure if that makes sense to anyone but me ...
Well today they put in a permanent pacemaker and he might even be home tomorrow. I manned the phones from my house today relaying message and keeping everybody in the family apprised so my sister could concentrate on her husband. And today I heard from my two brothers as to how proud they were of me and how happy they were that I could be there for our sister and so soon after my own surgery and how fantastic I was doing. I am the baby of the family and don't think I have ever heard that before.
So in closing, my brother-in-law should be FINE! My sister is doing great. I am tired, but fulfilled and a bit confused as to why this episode meant so much to me ... thanks for listening!
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About Me
Lake Forest, CA
Location
48.3
BMI
Surgery
05/07/2009
Surgery Date
Mar 08, 2009
Member Since
