It started off simple enough. Chris was working on a quilt, so I ambled into the back yard and sat on the swing with a cup of coffee. It was cool outside. Just a really nice day. It didn’t take long and Chris was out there with me on the swing, basking in the cool, crisp autumn air. And then …
Freddy
was out there with us, as is her usual routine.
She disappeared behind us for a while, and then pranced out from behind the
swing. Her head was held high, and she
carried her little friend with her. Oh,
you haven’t met her little friend? Well,
Freddy has one toy she plays with. Just
one. It’s a cute little stuffed
creature. I think the packaging said it
was a hedgehog. She carries it around
with her everywhere. Even in the mornings
when I open the door to the room where her bed is. She races out, completely ignoring me, until
she can find her little friend and prance into the den with it between her
little jowls. Very cute stuff. So back to the back yard. She pranced out from behind the swing with
her little friend held high. Only it wasn’t
her little friend. Chris gasped. Her feet instinctively pulled up into the chair. Yep.
Freddy had a new friend. It was a
dead squirrel. She saw me stand up, and
proudly dropped it at my feet. All
attempts at protecting my back withered away as Chris demanded that I get rid
of it … and fast. I got the broom and
dustpan (an industrial-type one that I could use and not bend over, so I’m
still being good) and swept the critter up and disposed of it. Sorry, Freddy. As your parents it is our duty to protect you
from bad friend choices. Go back to your
hedgehog.
Now
that was the really fun part of my day.
Little was I to know things would soon take a turn for the worse …
Chris
had an appointment at 2:30 to do a stress echocardiogram (On a treadmill). With all the problems she has been having
regulating her blood pressure, and with her family history of heart issues, her
doctor wanted to get a baseline reading, then refer her to a cardiologist. The whole situation was kind of scary for
me. My Dad had a heart attack while on
the treadmill at his doctor’s office.
She jokingly told me when she left that if anything happened, she would
have them call April, “since she’s working today.” I replied, “Ummm. You better have them call me.” On a normal day I would go with her, but this
is 2020. I was not allowed.
Well
… it happened. She passed out on the
treadmill. Seems she has been having the
classic symptoms of a heart attack in women for a while now, but she thought it
was just a muscle spasm. And what would
I know? Anyway, they admitted her to the
hospital immediately. I did call
April. She went right up and stayed with
Chris until they got her into a room and she knew we were almost at the hospital. Wading through the medical gobbledygook, she
has a blockage of some kind, which as it was explained to me, is a secret way
of saying she had a heart attack. I know
… way to bury the lead, right? Nathan
gave me a ride to the hospital (Technically I’m not supposed to be driving
yet. Back surgery restrictions) when
she finally got into a room, and we took her some toiletries and a change of
clothes and a book to read. It was officially
after visiting hours, but some fast talking got us past the front desk, pink
shirt wearing police. April came up
after her shift was over. We hung around
until it became apparent that Nathan and April couldn’t keep their respective
eyes open. They had both worked a full
day.
The
plan is for Chris to have a heart cath sometime today. My buddy Josh Dorrell is filling in for me at
the memorial service I was scheduled for.
Jim will also be there to open the doors and generally represent Seaside. I still need to get someone to pick up the Koop’s
barbecue for the fund raiser tomorrow.
And I need to get the poster there that introduces the Humphries Family
as recipients of our receipts. I’m sure
it will eventually work out. But in a
nutshell, please do a little bit of praying for us today.
1
Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Father,
please take care of Chris. She is way
better off in your hands than anyone else’s.
Guide the minds and skills and especially hearts of the docs and nurses
that will be taking care of her. Amen.
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