They clutch their hands together.
My dad trying to reassure my mom, he's still with her.
That he hasn't left her side. Even with all his pain, his mind is fixated on her.
Fear fills my dads eyes and mind. Every inch of his body is either in pain or worry.
Their future is unknown...
_________________________________________________________
Last Monday was a typical chaotic Monday until I got the call...
"Go to the Emergency Room, dad fell and broke his hip!!" my sister screamed in a shaky voice. I knew instantly it was serious. I was in the middle of editing and all of the sudden, a million thoughts and visions flashed in my mind.
Is he ok? Is he hurting? Where's mom? Who's with him?
I jumped up and yelled for the kids. It's funny how I always seem to yell at them with no response whatsoever, but this yell was different. They heard the fear in my yell. Skylar asked, "what's wrong mommy?" I explained in between sobs that Pops broke his hip and he was in the ER and we needed to leave immediately.
We rushed into his cold stale room and there he was, laying on his back, hands folded on his chest and eyes filled with pain and worry.
Minutes turned to hours which seemed like eternity.
Finally the Doctor came in with a grim look on his face. My brother, sister, and I all gathered around my dad as he confirmed the break and that he'll need surgery.
I busted into tears...
This was the scenario we had dreaded for so long. Not only is my dads life about to drastically change, but my mothers too.
So many emotions rushed through my mind as we collectively had to decide what to do with my mom while we were at my dads side. And we had to make a decision quickly as night fell as we needed someone with her at bedtime.
The dreaded nursing home option became the only answer. The ONE thing my dad was so against was becoming the reality.
As my dad was wheeled into surgery, my mom was transported to the nursing home.
Ironically the same nursing home we volunteer at.
For several days, we traveled back and forth between nursing home and hospital. Each time I walked down the hallway and turned into my moms room, tears streamed down my face.
She looked so tiny in such a big empty room.
She was always sitting in a wet diaper and the promise of the nurses rotating her from side to side to prevent bed sores went broken.
Each time I saw her, anxiety shot through the roof.
A day or two went by and it was time for my dad to get discharged and luckily we found a facility that would take both my mom and my dad....in the same room.
Together again...
So here we are...10 days post op and million uncertainties still loom over our heads.
They've been married for almost 60 years and only separated in 2008 when my dad was getting treatments for cancer.
We take it day by day and if that's too much, minute by minute.
He clutches her hand...
0 Comments