I do not like to share personal information about my life (especially on social media) but I feel that I should at least let those of you whom I’ve never met in person, but feel a certain connection to and honestly hope that you are as sincere in what you share as I am about to share with you. Maybe I am naive in thinking this way but sometimes you really need to say some things out loud just to hear it….
When my mother was a senior in high school, her mother became pregnant with twins while going through menopause. My mother married right after her senior year and had me. I am a year and a few months younger than my aunt and uncle; we grew up together more like brother and sister. We were close as can be until we moved from East TN only to never live there again. We left our family behind….We very seldom visited and as I became older and settled in Chattanooga, I found that I didn’t take the time to visit either. I have been back to East TN maybe 3 times in almost 30 years.
My aunt has lived a life of nothing but total pain. She damaged her back many, many years ago and has had uncountable back surgeries, been through some tragic physical/health events and a car wreck which should have at that time taken her life, yet she remained here on earth. This past weekend, we get a call that she is in multi-system organ failure, sepsis and on life support. Sunday morning my mother, middle sister, brother, nieces and nephew head out on a long and mournful trip to East TN.
I had every intention of taking mom to East TN until I get a phone call very early Sunday morning from my oldest daughter (she will be 32 in a few days) telling me she is going to the ER with a migraine and asked if I would keep her girls. My daughter has never had a migraine and this was going on day three of severe head pain. She gets to an ER where they did a “stroke evaluation”, gave her an injection for pain and sent her home. Forty-five minutes later my daughter breaks down in tears with excruciating pain from headache and was taken to another hospital ER – a Level 1 Trauma Center. She was scanned for a brain bleed, had several tests done only to learn that her WBC was dangerously high. They gave her additional medication a “migraine cocktail” and discharged her. She was so heavily medicated when they got to our house to pick up the girls that she didn’t know anything.
Monday morning I get a call from her, the headache is worse and she asks if she can she stay the day with me? We spend the day together while her headache began to ease. After she left for home, I began packing my things to head to East TN with my youngest sister. I call my daughter to check on her, she then informed me that she would be either going back to the ER or a walk in clinic today, Tuesday for her migraine (this is day 5). I cancel plans for East TN and she and I went to a DOCTORS office only to learn several probabilities.
Her White Blood Count (WBC) is high due to infection in the body. She has been scheduled to see a hematologist for a bone marrow biopsy, looking for possible bone marrow cancer and/or Leukemia and has been scheduled with her OB/GYN for tests for possible cervical cancer (all of which she was suppose to do 6 years ago but was terrified and never followed up), she is symptomatic for a stroke and is being tested for diabetes and other deficiencies in the body. She was prescribed 3 medications one of which is anti-inflammatory for swelling in the temporal arteries. If the headache which was not a migraine stops then other tests will be ordered for measuring pressure somewhere in the head that is causing the pain and stroke symptoms. She has been given another medication for pain if there is no improvement that is used for treating closed head injury patients. I have a history of severe migraines and have used this medication for such patients and know it is very effective and works. However, the doctor didn’t seem too hopeful about that particular medication due to her not having classic migraine symptoms. But he did not want her to be in any more pain. It will heavily, very heavily sedate her.
I have been in a whirlwind of sorrow, stress, worry, doubt, uncertainty and fear for the past few weeks, days and now hours. I have had other critical situations to arise that are now under control.
I am dealing with an aunt who is fighting for her life and a mother who is fighting for her youngest sisters life and a daughter who I am fighting for her life. Just being hit in the face with something of this magnitude is beyond words and feelings (for me). I guess I am writing this to hear me say the words out loud and come to some realization that I need help, courage, strength, belief and prayer. I believe in God and in his healing power. I believe He has everything under control and will take care of my family. I just need reassurance.
So please forgive me and understand why I have no cutesy morning greetings, funny family stories, exciting decoration pictures or fall recipes. I just ask that you keep my family in your thoughts and prayers and I will try to keep you updated when I can.
I pray for many blessings to you and yours.
Keep being strong Robin. Hoping you and your family pulls through this. Thank you for sharing this with us. We’re here for you even if you only want us to listen, or in this case read, and not say anything. Love ya girly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Nel, my sweet and dearest friend. I did not mean to sound rude, please accept my apology if I did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not at all girl. I’m so happy you shared and I want everything to be alright 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love you 💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤️💕💜💛
LikeLike
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Much love
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
I said my prayer before I wrote this comment Robin. And I will do so again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much Colleen . I appreciate it with all my heart.
LikeLike
Praying for you and sending you warm healing thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am here…whatever you need. Sending strength and love your way. Love and hugs!💚💚💚💚🌻
LikeLiked by 1 person
And that means the world to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Robin! You and your entire family will be in my thoughts and prayers. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweetie, you are strong and tough. I would bet your family is, too. Look to your God for solace and direction, but also look with try him and know you can move the earth for those you love.
Email me anytime. As you can tell I’m up at all hours. mainepaperpusher@yahoo.com
If you need to chat on the phone, email me your number and I’ll call. You know I love you dearly and if I can help even a little bit, I’ll do it gladly. 😘🤗💕😍💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your words mean more to me than I could ever say. I do have my small melt downs right now and will try to remain strong for both my girls and family. Thank you Linda and yes, I will keep in touch and will reach out if needed. Much love my sweet, dearest , wonderful friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thinking of you and sending you love and prayers and all good things ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
♥ Thank you so much ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
😚❤
LikeLike
Sending blessings and love…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I truly appreciate it.
LikeLike
Although I have never met you or read any of your other content, I still send my deepest blessings and sincerely look forward to everything moving in the proper direction for you and yours. Sometimes, posts such as these, not saying this is one of those cases, serve to unload some of the pressure life has dealt us. It’s raining here in Omaha, NE but that doesn’t mean the sun won’t shine again. Stay strong friend.
If you want a post to evaluate please read my first one 🙂
https://eduardogardea.com/2017/09/30/the-power-of-influence/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike