Times Three

Fifty years have been added onto my life in just three days. When God giveth he makes sure to taketh times three. He insists on payment for his pound of flesh.

One

“Hi Nathan.” ‘Mom, Grandma is in the hospital she was rushed by ambulance.’ Nadalene is on her way here.’

My mother was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday, July 15th. She was struggling to breathe and had a lung infection and respiratory problems.

I arrived at the hospital first thing in the morning and was met by Mickey, Colette, and Jeannine who were just coming from her room. Colette and Jeannine had slept overnight with her.

When I got to the room my cousin Rosemary was fixing her bed and plumping up pillows to make Mom as comfortable as possible. My Mom was gasping for breath.

While I was there the nurses told Mickey and I that because of the respiratory problems she was going to be placed in a private room because of H1N1 (swine flue). Even though they felt that she did not have it, it was new hospital protocol.

We have been gowned and masked and get to visit all we like.

Mom is much better and they think she will be out of the isolation room within a few days.

Two

‘Renee’ followed by silence and crying. “Hello? Hello?” More crying. “Has Mom died?” ‘No.’

My sister is very ill and cannot go to the hospital and asks if I can, as her son is being rushed into emergency as his blood is very low. “Yes, I can go immediately.”

We think it is a bleeding ulcer. Blood levels keep dropping. There is internal bleeding. X-rays are done, CT scan is done, and now a scope has to be done.

My nephew comes back from the CT and tells me ‘It is not what we thought. It is not a bleeding ulcer.’

The doctor talks to me ‘It is lymphoma and we think it is gastric lymphoma.’

I have to tell my sister, his mother.

Three

Mickey sleeps over night with my nephew and I go first thing in the morning.

After five units of blood his blood is still dropping and it is now down to 62. The surgeons come in and say they may have to remove his stomach if the internal bleeding does not stop.

Mickey talks to the doctor privately ‘Can you live without your stomach?’ ‘Yes’ the doctor says ‘you can.’

After another unit of blood and four hours later the bleeding has stopped.

The doctor states ‘He can go home now and oncology will phone. We are still waiting on the biopsy but as soon as it is done there will be more testing and chemo will have to start.’

The doctors say it is a curable cancer. Of course they have to wait for all results, but right now I am running with ‘it can be cured.’

It has to be, we love him so much.

He is only 25.

He is very brave.

I am willing to be the pound of flesh, just leave him alone.