Today, I am thankful.
Ten years ago, I was home from college for the weekend to see friends and go to my high school's Christmas musical. I was downstairs in my bedroom when my mom came in to ask me if I felt okay. "Dad can't stop throwing up," she said, "and I'm worried it might be food poisoning." None of us were sick, so they figured it was just a bug. Dad went to sleep, hoping whatever was ailing him would pass by morning.
He's lucky to have survived the night.
When he didn't feel better the next day, Mom took him to urgent care. When the doctors began to suspect what was really wrong with him, things started to happen fast. He was transferred to one hospital and then taken by ambulance to another on the University of Minnesota campus, with my poor, panicked mom following behind, getting lost, and calling us frantically to help her navigate to the hospital (this was well before the days of iPhones and GPS). He underwent scans and tests and then Mom heard a scary, scary phrase: brain aneurysm.
It turned out that he had an aneurysm on the right side of his brain that had sprung a leak. It was near his vomit control center (that is apparently an actual medical term) which is why he had been so sick. And he, and we, were very, very, very lucky that the whole thing had leaked instead of just rupturing.
Because if it had? That would probably have been it for my dad. I wouldn't have had him proudly tearing up as he watched me sing or give speeches at my sorority formals. He wouldn't have been at my side at UND hockey games or biking the MS 150. I wouldn't have had him cheering me on as I graduated from college or when I got into law school. My husband wouldn't have been able to ask him for my hand in marriage. And I wouldn't have had my dad to walk me down the aisle.
The next morning, my dad underwent emergency surgery to place a coil inside the aneurysm and prevent it from rupturing. He eventually made a full recovery. Thankful.
In the days and weeks that followed, I was blown away by the outpouring of love and care we received from those around us: the meals, the cards, the calls, but also the bigger things. Like the family friends who brought a Christmas tree into our house and put it up in our living room while my mom was at the hospital. I was back at school finishing my finals, but my mom told me that she and my younger sister, upon discovering the tree, had simply laid under it, exhausted, and just cried and cried. Or my bff who worked at the hospital and went into the operating room to check on my dad's progress during his initial surgery and kept us apprised of all hospital-related matters. And all of the love we got when he had to have a follow-up surgery a year later.
I can't imagine life without my dad and I am so, so, so glad I don't have to.
So today, I am thankful.
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7 comments:
Seriously just crying my eyes out right now. SO THANKFUL for you that he is happy, healthy and still alive. xo
Beautifully written Erin. I had no idea your family had gone through this. Thanks for sharing this!
Wow Erin, I had no idea this happened! I know that sinking feeling when you're faced with possibly losing a parent - when my dad got cancer I didn't know what to do. However, like your dad, he made it through and I also feel more thankful each year to have him around! What a beautifully written post here - made me tear up. I can tell the love and bond between father and daughter is strong in your family! I pray your dad (and mine!) stick around for years and years to come! :)
Gosh what an awful time that must have been! I'm glad he made it through.
I've re-read this post a couple of times, because I remember it well and also didn't truly fathom what was happening with your family. I also remember the look of true joy and happiness that he had on his face when he saw you on your wedding day, and will never forget witnessing that love! You are a lucky lady, and he is a lucky daddy to have you. xoxo
I simply love that last picture! love love love it!
OH and I thought youd be interested in my "cashmere-soft" throw giveaway!!!
http://colorissue.blogspot.com/2011/12/five-days-before-christmas-giveaway.html
xoxo
Aarean
colorissue.blogspot.com
What a beautiful post. I am SO glad your father survived. I love to see a beautiful relationship between a lady and her father. It is the sweetest thing on earth.
Your family is extremely blessed. I pray that you continue to be blessed.
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