The day before her birthday last year we had a family celebration. Victoria sang a special at church that day and mom was determined not to miss it, even if she felt bad. She made it thru church and lunch. She was pushing and we all knew she felt bad. Once our crowd thinned, she began to really have a hard time breathing. We knew she needed oxygen so I drove down to the fire station to see if they could come to the house. I knew mom would not want 911 to come with the sirens. A few fireman came and they were so great. The oxygen helped, but they all said she needed to go onto the hospital. We went, they admitted her and we thought it just going to be pneumonia.
The next day March 1st, 2010 ---her birthday was spent in a hospital bed and she was sick, very sick. After lots of tests, they somewhat diagnosed her with pulmonary hypertension and it did not sound good. It was a stressful few weeks before we could see the specialist. We came home and waited. She was sick, had zero energy, could barely get up to go to the bathroom and and really had to have 24 hour care. I started reading and googling. I remember being frustrated, mad at the doctors and mad we were having to wait to see the specialist. I remember saying to daddy "why don't they just tell us, they all know it is bad."
Dad replied---"tell you what Brig, how much time she has? They are not going to do that, they don't know and what does it matter." I was reading too much and comparing all her stats and numbers and it did not sound good at all. You see in the back of mind I knew 18 years ago we had been given a precious miracle. I sorta believed we were out of miracles and at that point, my lowest and scariest I was putting limits on God.
This was my post on March 19th.
Today March 1st, 2011 One year later--we are celebrating life. God is good and guess what we were not out of miracles. Mom is celebrating her 72nd birthday at home. She cooked meatloaf, red beans and cornbread last night. Today she is doing laundry, has a roast in the crock pot and Aunt Cinda was baking her a cake. Some of you might say that is not a special exciting way to celebrate a birthday. But you see it is! She is home, at the place she loves to be more than anywhere and cooking a meal for the man she loves more than anything. She is able to do her own dishes, dry her own hair, dress herself and be in her home alone without a bunch of us hoovering around her, jumping up for her every need.
She is not driving anymore, but we all get to be her chauffeur in her cute little Cadillac.
She did not go on our cruise in April of 2010, but she made it to the beach in July, went on a 10 day driving trip with dad this summer,they just got home from a week long cruise and yes they still go to Shreveport.
She made it to Ryan's law school graduation in May in Houston.
She made it to Blair's high school graduation and party in June.
She made it to Brisco and Karly's kindergarten graduation.
She became a great grandmother again in September.
She has made it to 1st birthday parties for our smallest Abbott cousins.
She hosted 3 big Christmas parties at her house.
She saw Madeline and Vic dressed up for their first dances.
She get to loves and spoil on Allie and Carson several days a week and she can't wait to meet Stella in June.
She has been to Ryan's new house, made it to Stephenville twice to see Blair.
She has been to showers, to lunch, to dinner, to parties.
She listens, she shares and she still can throw a hissy fit.
She Lives! She loves! She is loved ....and She is having a birthday today!
Happy Birthday Mama! I love you and am so very thankful for you.
Beautiful post!
ReplyDelete