cleared enough just so I could teach. I’m really glad I decided to pursue a degree in education because if I can help make a difference in just one kid’s life, hopefully it will keep them from getting into trouble and being on the streets. I know firsthand all too well what that life was like.
As I pull into the driveway I get the strangest feeling something’s not right. The house is dark with no lights on inside. I don’t bother knocking, I just call out to my mom as I make my way inside.
“Mom, I’m here.”
I don’t hear anything at first, then I make out the sound of someone struggling. I go to the back bedroom where my father is and I panic when I see both of them on the floor. My father must have tried to get up or something and fell, taking my mom down with him.
“Honey, thank God.” My mom strains to get her words out. Without a doubt, she’s in severe pain.
“Mom, what happened?” I ask as I try to help lift my father. He’s on top of her leg and I can tell by the way she winces that something’s not right—I hope that when he fell he didn’t hurt her.
I try to get him to put his arms around my neck so I can heave him up but it’s no use. He doesn’t have the strength to hold on. I lean him up against the bed and try to comfort him as best I can by giving him a pillow to lay back on. My mom is able to slide over but there’s no way she’s able to stand—the pain is too severe. It’s just as I feared, I think she may have broken her leg.
I go over to the bedside table and scroll down the list of phone numbers for hospice. I place the call to a nurse, explain to her what’s happened, and wait while she transfers me to a 9-1-1 operator. An ambulance is dispatched and it’s only a matter of time until help is on the way. I feel so bad for them both. First my dad, now my mom. Thank goodness I told her I would come over or they both would have lain in the floor in agonizing pain for God knows how long.
Within minutes, I hear the sound of sirens, and I tell my mom I’m going to the porch to meet the paramedics. Her tear-stained face looks hopeful but I know she’s upset knowing both of them are probably going to be spending the night in the hospital. And if her leg really is broken, it’s just one more thing to add to what we’re already struggling with.
The paramedics load my dad up on the stretcher and begin asking me questions about his condition. I try to keep my composure as I tell them everything. He’s going downhill quick. And my poor mother. She’s done everything she can do.
A separate ambulance comes for my mom and I decide to drive behind it in my own vehicle rather than ride along. I grab my mom’s purse since she keeps all of their medical information inside then lock up the house, making sure everything is shut off. On the way to the hospital, I pull out my phone and call Grace.
“Hey, babe. How are your parents?” she asks without even saying hello. It’s as though she senses trouble.
“I’m on my way to the hospital,” I explain, my voice surprisingly calm. I give her a condensed version of what I walked in on when I arrived at the house and tell her not to wait up for me. I could be at the hospital all night. I know they’ll admit my father and I’m fairly certain if my mom’s leg is broken, they are going to keep her as well. Hopefully it’s not a bad break and she won’t require surgery.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come sit with you?” Grace asks. “I can get a sitter for Brady.”
“I’ll be okay. There’s no sense in trying to find someone on such short notice.”
“Call me as soon as you know something.”
“I will.” I end the call just as I’m pulling into the parking lot at the hospital.
No matter what I do, nothing can compare to what I’m about to face.
Chapter 6
Grace
July 2nd
I shut off my phone and place it on the table beside me. I feel so bad for Brian right now. It’s a good thing he’s out of
As I pull into the driveway I get the strangest feeling something’s not right. The house is dark with no lights on inside. I don’t bother knocking, I just call out to my mom as I make my way inside.
“Mom, I’m here.”
I don’t hear anything at first, then I make out the sound of someone struggling. I go to the back bedroom where my father is and I panic when I see both of them on the floor. My father must have tried to get up or something and fell, taking my mom down with him.
“Honey, thank God.” My mom strains to get her words out. Without a doubt, she’s in severe pain.
“Mom, what happened?” I ask as I try to help lift my father. He’s on top of her leg and I can tell by the way she winces that something’s not right—I hope that when he fell he didn’t hurt her.
I try to get him to put his arms around my neck so I can heave him up but it’s no use. He doesn’t have the strength to hold on. I lean him up against the bed and try to comfort him as best I can by giving him a pillow to lay back on. My mom is able to slide over but there’s no way she’s able to stand—the pain is too severe. It’s just as I feared, I think she may have broken her leg.
I go over to the bedside table and scroll down the list of phone numbers for hospice. I place the call to a nurse, explain to her what’s happened, and wait while she transfers me to a 9-1-1 operator. An ambulance is dispatched and it’s only a matter of time until help is on the way. I feel so bad for them both. First my dad, now my mom. Thank goodness I told her I would come over or they both would have lain in the floor in agonizing pain for God knows how long.
Within minutes, I hear the sound of sirens, and I tell my mom I’m going to the porch to meet the paramedics. Her tear-stained face looks hopeful but I know she’s upset knowing both of them are probably going to be spending the night in the hospital. And if her leg really is broken, it’s just one more thing to add to what we’re already struggling with.
The paramedics load my dad up on the stretcher and begin asking me questions about his condition. I try to keep my composure as I tell them everything. He’s going downhill quick. And my poor mother. She’s done everything she can do.
A separate ambulance comes for my mom and I decide to drive behind it in my own vehicle rather than ride along. I grab my mom’s purse since she keeps all of their medical information inside then lock up the house, making sure everything is shut off. On the way to the hospital, I pull out my phone and call Grace.
“Hey, babe. How are your parents?” she asks without even saying hello. It’s as though she senses trouble.
“I’m on my way to the hospital,” I explain, my voice surprisingly calm. I give her a condensed version of what I walked in on when I arrived at the house and tell her not to wait up for me. I could be at the hospital all night. I know they’ll admit my father and I’m fairly certain if my mom’s leg is broken, they are going to keep her as well. Hopefully it’s not a bad break and she won’t require surgery.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come sit with you?” Grace asks. “I can get a sitter for Brady.”
“I’ll be okay. There’s no sense in trying to find someone on such short notice.”
“Call me as soon as you know something.”
“I will.” I end the call just as I’m pulling into the parking lot at the hospital.
No matter what I do, nothing can compare to what I’m about to face.
Chapter 6
Grace
July 2nd
I shut off my phone and place it on the table beside me. I feel so bad for Brian right now. It’s a good thing he’s out of
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