Be careful what you watch...
Recently we've started watching "Worst Week Ever," which is a hilarious television show with a great cast. I'm not completely sure if that has had some sort of effect on me or what, but this has truly been the worst week ever for my family.
Let me draw you a timeline. Picture it, North Carolina, 2008....
Last Saturday, one of my cousins fell (names deleted to protect anonymity, since no one else in the family knows) and was injured so badly she had to go to the emergency room. They were unable to find anything (including the broken bone in her foot until her husband pointed it out), but her hips were in horrible pain. They refused to admit her even though the pain was so severe they had to transport her home by ambulance. She remained in bed until Tuesday.
My grandmother's stroke was Sunday afternoon. (see previous entries)
*Before I go any further, let me lay out the cast of characters for you. Two weeks after my grandmother's colon surgery, her sister-in-law Marguerite had pretty much the same surgery. Marguerite is married to Sam, and is the only surviving spouse among my grandmother's siblings. Sam & Marguerite have 2 daughters, one of which is Dinah. Dinah has 2 kids, one of which is Allison. Allison gave birth to the most beautiful boy on July 4th, one day after Maw Maw was diagnosed with cancer. Maw Maw babysat Allison and I many, many times while we were growing up. Allison and I graduated from rival private school at the same time.*
On Wednesday, cousin Dinah came to visit Maw Maw and brought the whole brood. When Dinah was growing up, Maw Maw also babysat her, so she's always felt a very close connection to her. So close that seeing Maw Maw in that condition tremendously affected her. She wound up in the ER with tingling and numbness that night.
Thursday, Allison went over to check on her mom. She took her daughter, son, and the baby with her. On the way home, they were rear-ended while at a dead stop by a car going 45mph. She said she was scared to look in the backseat because she just knew her baby was dead. The baby had been thrown out of the car seat and landed in his older brother's lap. The daughter still has a swollen spot at the base of her spine. Allison is so sore she can't even pick up the baby.
Saturday was when we got the 5:30am call that Maw Maw might be nearing the end. Fourteen hours and 4 or 5 goodbye's later, there was still no change. She's still hanging on tonight.
Sunday afternoon, Sam & Marguerite decided to drive over and check on Allison and the kids. When they got out to the driveway, Marguerite fell and hit her head. She was transported to the ER and rushed by helicopter to Asheville for emergency brain surgery due to a blood clot on the left side of her brain. She was very combative and not able to form words or sentences. There was an 85% mortality rate based on the injury she sustained, but she managed to come through very well and was able to speak intelligibly when the family went in to see her.
Today, my business partner said he has had some changes in his plans that may affect our business. Only time will tell.
I've stopped waiting on "the other shoe to drop" and just waiting for the shoes to run out. When I see an empty box, I know I'll be OK. In short, I think I might stop watching "Worst Week Ever" and see if I can find a show called "Happy Peaceful Life."
Let me draw you a timeline. Picture it, North Carolina, 2008....
Last Saturday, one of my cousins fell (names deleted to protect anonymity, since no one else in the family knows) and was injured so badly she had to go to the emergency room. They were unable to find anything (including the broken bone in her foot until her husband pointed it out), but her hips were in horrible pain. They refused to admit her even though the pain was so severe they had to transport her home by ambulance. She remained in bed until Tuesday.
My grandmother's stroke was Sunday afternoon. (see previous entries)
*Before I go any further, let me lay out the cast of characters for you. Two weeks after my grandmother's colon surgery, her sister-in-law Marguerite had pretty much the same surgery. Marguerite is married to Sam, and is the only surviving spouse among my grandmother's siblings. Sam & Marguerite have 2 daughters, one of which is Dinah. Dinah has 2 kids, one of which is Allison. Allison gave birth to the most beautiful boy on July 4th, one day after Maw Maw was diagnosed with cancer. Maw Maw babysat Allison and I many, many times while we were growing up. Allison and I graduated from rival private school at the same time.*
On Wednesday, cousin Dinah came to visit Maw Maw and brought the whole brood. When Dinah was growing up, Maw Maw also babysat her, so she's always felt a very close connection to her. So close that seeing Maw Maw in that condition tremendously affected her. She wound up in the ER with tingling and numbness that night.
Thursday, Allison went over to check on her mom. She took her daughter, son, and the baby with her. On the way home, they were rear-ended while at a dead stop by a car going 45mph. She said she was scared to look in the backseat because she just knew her baby was dead. The baby had been thrown out of the car seat and landed in his older brother's lap. The daughter still has a swollen spot at the base of her spine. Allison is so sore she can't even pick up the baby.
Saturday was when we got the 5:30am call that Maw Maw might be nearing the end. Fourteen hours and 4 or 5 goodbye's later, there was still no change. She's still hanging on tonight.
Sunday afternoon, Sam & Marguerite decided to drive over and check on Allison and the kids. When they got out to the driveway, Marguerite fell and hit her head. She was transported to the ER and rushed by helicopter to Asheville for emergency brain surgery due to a blood clot on the left side of her brain. She was very combative and not able to form words or sentences. There was an 85% mortality rate based on the injury she sustained, but she managed to come through very well and was able to speak intelligibly when the family went in to see her.
Today, my business partner said he has had some changes in his plans that may affect our business. Only time will tell.
I've stopped waiting on "the other shoe to drop" and just waiting for the shoes to run out. When I see an empty box, I know I'll be OK. In short, I think I might stop watching "Worst Week Ever" and see if I can find a show called "Happy Peaceful Life."