My emotions are more than usually frazzled tonight. My wife of 51 years surprised me this morning by rising and dressing before me. We’re retired, rarely have a set daytime schedule and she often remains abed after I rise. But, this morning I woke to find her fully dressed and sitting on her side of the bed. Shortly after, my older daughter, a teacher spending her holiday with us, asked if she and I could go out for Sunday breakfast. I dressed, went downstairs and discussed with my wife whether she would like us to bring back take-out, among other things, since she didn’t care to go out. She seemed fine.
Driving home from breakfast, we got a phone call from my other daughter who had stopped by my house after a morning shift at work. There was something wrong with Mom, who was having trouble speaking, among other symptoms. Within 15 minutes I was home and within 20 minutes I was dialing 911.
When the EMT asked her what year it was and what holiday happened yesterday, and she couldn’t answer, it seemed like an ice sickle pierced my heart. At this hour, the love of my life is in an ICU, intubated because of a reaction to a drug administered as a treatment for stroke. I don’t clearly see much of what lies directly ahead.
But, I’m grateful to have my daughters with me. I am also thankful for the professional St. Louis Police Department dispatchers and Fire Department EMT’s who responded so quickly to help us in this emergency.
I don’t really see why this story would be of interest to anyone, but I feel better from having written about it. If you’ve read this far, thank you for your attention.