Dad was attending a men's retreat in Buda, TX, just south of Austin. My Uncle Larry and cousin Aaron were also there. He woke up with terrible pain in his chest, like incredible heart burn. He said that his arm was tingling a bit, too. He laid there for awhile, wondering if it would go away. He realized it was more serious than heart burn, and began to get very scared. So he woke up Uncle Larry. They finally called an ambulance, and then also began trying to get ahold of us. He didn't want them to call Mom, but for us to call her and then take her to Austin. It took several calls for us to wake up, and when we did (just after 430), we knew something had happened. I followed Malcolm into the kitchen and when I could hear my uncle's voice through the phone, I almost fainted. It's one of my fears slapping me in the face. My heart started beating hard in my chest and I had to sit down. Enough about me, though. Dad was scared and made sure Larry knew to tell us all how much he loves us, etc. When the paramedics got there, they determined that he was probably having a heart attack, and they rushed him to South Austin Hospital. Upon that news, Malcolm got dressed and got ready to go pick up Mom (who was getting ready as well). By this time, the ambulance had gotten Dad to the hospital, they had gone in (through the groin) and had seen that an artery (not sure which one) was 99% blocked! They put in a stent (sp?) and said the other arteries were okay, but one was 'diseased' and would heal itself over time with rest, diet change, etc. As Malcolm kissed me goodbye, I asked him what vehicle he was going to take, and he said that he felt like the van would be more reliable. I had just filled it up with gas the night before, so it was good to go. They got on the road and had traveled about 40 minutes when they hit a deer!! Mom said she finds it ironic that she lived in Missouri for almost 10 years and saw many deer, even slowing way down in order not to hit some, and then moves to West Texas and hits one. They saw it about to cross the road, but Malcolm knew he couldn't swerve or it would have been worse. Sure enough, he slows down, grips the wheel to keep going straight, and the deer ran right into their path. What is it with kamikazi deer? Stupid animals. Too bad we weren't able to save the meat. (sorry to all those PEDA people out there...) So he calls me; it's almost 700 by now, and I just about lose it. I call my sister to let her know, and then got the kids up and dressed. Made sure I brushed my teeth and got some things ready. Called some good friends who were going to do some things at Grace Point for us, and they said to come get their van. So then I headed out to pick up Mom and Malcolm. I had the thought when I got south of Odessa, that if I hit a deer, I wasn't calling anyone else to come and get us - we'd figure something else out; I didn't want to endanger anyone else!! :) The van had stopped right after they hit the deer, and the tow truck got there minutes before I did. I'm so thankful he took the van - the car would have been much worse. They say that they barely felt the impact, and that the deer went flipping and rolling away from the van. (Pics are on Malcolm's FB if anyone is interested....boys!!) So I picked them up and then we headed back to Odessa. Now, Malcolm and I were suppose to be heading to KC today to attend our annual CMA conference (church planting stuff). By this time, I had pretty much decided that I wouldn't be going - Mom and Dad were going to watch the kids. We knew that others would have gladly and capably watched them, but I didn't feel like I wanted to be away from them now, and I needed to take care of things for Mom and Dad on this end. So we got back to our house and cancelled my flight in order to make arrangements for Mom to fly to Austin. We got her on a plane at 1205 and she made it there only a few hours after they would have gotten there by car. Dad is still in ICU - they don't have a regular room available, but hope to get him in one tomorrow. His incision sight 'seeped' quite a bit, but we were told that's normal - in order for the stent to work properly, they have to give him something to keep blood from clotting. Once that bag was empty, his blood started clotting again, and by this morning it was good. Mom had to 'sleep' in the ICU waiting room last night - she didn't want to leave the hospital, but couldn't stay in Dad's room - she's staying in a hotel tonight. The doctor is now saying that he's doing great and should be able to leave Wednesday (had originally said Thursday)! Another crazy thing - when Mom and Malcolm got to the airport, Mom realized that she didn't have a photo ID. She had a temp license because she had gone to get a TX ID recently. She asked Malcolm if they'd let her through if she cried at them. He said she could cry and he would laugh. But they let her through with the temp and a credit card! Malcolm was trying to decide whether or not he should go ahead and go to KC, and seemed to be waiting on me to make the decision. I love that man. I would love for him to be here with me, or me to be there with him, but I decided he should go ahead & go. It's such a great time to get recharged and meet up with other church planters to encourage and be encouraged. So he left today, and I managed to only tear up a little when hugging him good-bye. He'll be back Wednesday evening.
So many things to be thankful for:
*Dad was with his brother and nephew and many other men who did what they could - some that know us and some that know my dad. They took up a collection later that morning, and made arrangements in case Mom needed anything. Thanks to all of those people who rallied around Dad and our family.
*Dad was not traveling back home yet. If he had been by himself on the road, the outcome would not have been the same...
*The hospital they took him to worked fast and efficiently. His doctor is well-known and very experienced. The whole staff has been great so far. (Dad was thrilled most of them were veterans. :) )
*Malcolm took the van instead of the car. Sure, it's gone now (the insurance people go look at it tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure it's a goner), but it could have been so much worse. They aren't hurt!
*We were able to get Mom on the plane. And then Malcolm calls me while in Dallas on a layover. They needed ONE person to be willing to go on a later flight. He jumped up and accepted not only a free ticket up to the price of his (which then gives us back my original ticket in a sense), but also $100 credit towards another flight, I believe. How awesome is that? And he's only a couple of hours later getting in to KC!
*Our friends at Grace Point have just encouraged us so much. They have really welcomed Mom and Dad into our church these last few months, and are concerned about them and us. It's a huge encouragement to know that people are caring and praying for those we love as well as ourselves.
*We've had friends in the Austin and San Antonio area that have called us and are planning to or have already visited Mom and Dad. This is huge for Malcolm and I - friends of ours that are caring for our parents when we can't be right there. This just warms my heart so much and we are so thankful for this.
*Word got around so fast because of the internet. It's great to have a tool where we can spread the word about a need and many have responded with encouraging words. Thanks to all of you who are even just thinking about us. It helps to know there are those out there who care.
*Since I already had 3 days off in order to head to KC, I'm still taking 2 of those days. I'll go back to school Wednesday, but my principal and fellow 6th grade teachers wanted me to feel free to take tomorrow off as well, which I appreciate. I am so exhausted but grateful to spend the day somewhat alone today, and tomorrow Andrew and I will 'bond'.
This whole thing of course makes one really think about life. We are such a close-knit family. Now that I had a too close call of losing my dad, our time together will be even more precious. I was so glad to hear his voice on the phone yesterday. I hate that my sis is so far away, but what will be will be. I'm just thankful for phone and internet. I'm not ready to lose either of my parents. I guess no one ever really is. My mom lost her Dad when we were very little. I now wonder how she got through. It gives me even more admiration for her and her inner strength. She was so strong yesterday and we all wanted to smother her and hold her hand. For being the tiniest of the whole family, she's got to be one of the strongest. This also makes me not want to go back to work. That's kinda crazy, but right now at this point, I just want to spend most of my time with my family. I'll have to go back, and I'll carry out my mission while I'm there, and I'll eventually get my attitude back to where I usually try to have it in any situation: I WILL enjoy this... But, I'll cherish moments with my parents and my kids and my husband and my sister and her family. I'll also cherish moments with good friends. I'll cherish life. And I'll not be embarrassed of my faith. I know deep in my soul that God is good. Could He have kept this from happening? Yes. Am I more favored than others to have my dad still here? No. This is the complexity of understanding God. In my simple opinion, I believe that God doesn't necessarily want us to totally understand Him. What would be our need for Him if we did? "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." And I say 'simple' not because I've just accepted blindly. "Oh, sure, a pastor's kid. She just believes what she's heard her whole life and hasn't thought about any other way. She hasn't even had any REAL trials or temptations." Think what you want, but I've been in emotional trenches that NO ONE knows; I've seen the spiritual realm, good and evil; I asked the extremely hard, cynical, gut-wrenching questions some think 'good Christians' aren't suppose to ask. But I know of a Creator that formed me in my mother's womb, of a Father that weeps when I do and lovingly corrects, of a King who desires an intimate relationship with common old me, of a Savior that gave His life for my unworthy one, of a Forgiver that listens to my whining and sees my doubts and knows my deepest darkest ugliest secrets, of a Comforter that wraps me in His arms and speaks to my heart, of a Peace-Giver that comes in my scariest storms, of a Defender who helps me face my innermost fears, of an Interpreter when I have no words, of a Friend who does not judge and never falters. This is Who I place my trust in, even when I don't understand everything, and even when others see me as unthinking or simple-minded. This faith I have is what really matters.
And it would be my dad's final wish that all would come to know this God that we believe in, put our hope in, and trust with our lives. He wanted us to know how much he loves us. I hope he knows how much I love him. How grateful I am for this man I call Dad, my first superhero. How thankful I am for an earthly father that taught me many things (good and bad, ha ha), that told me how I should be treated by boys even though I didn't always follow that, that taught me the things of our faith, that showed us how important we were to him, that stayed married to my mom and how they set an example (even with a few faults) of a marriage that stands the test of trials and time. These are the things that have gone through my head today. These are the things that I believe really matter.
