- Nov 21, 2001
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OK, Friday my mom passed away. I made a couple of threads about that. Thanks again for your kinds thoughts and words. This is just a preface to give some context.
We are getting ready to come home yesterday, and I get this voicemail from my aviation partner and good friend of 20 years.
"Kelly, this Joe and I wanted to let you know what has been going on with me. I need to talk to you, and I think soon" Click. He sounded bad. Shit.
I try to call him on all the numbers I have but no luck. I leave messages everywhere.
I was out of contact so I have no missed call, but right before I will be in a 2 hour cellphone dead zone I get the idea of going back to my voicemail and dialing from there.
"blah blah regional hospital, if this is an emergency hang up and dial 911". OH Shit.
I wait for an operator, and have my wife pull over while I still have cell coverage.
"may I be connected to Joe smoke's room?"
The operator connects me. This is bad. I get a couple of rings and then it hangs up.
I sit there and decide we just better get heading that way.
For two hours I try not to think about the worst but it is hard not to. The thoughts of my mom are just a bit too fresh.
I get back into cellphone world and call again, and this time he answers. He tells me he had a stroke and lost the use of his right side. His voice is breaking and so is my heart. By now I am only 20 minutes away from that hospital and ask if I can visit. OK.
Now I have the news and listening to him it sounds very bad. My wife tries the 'think positive' approach and I am not having any of that. she did not hear his voice.
My wife was right. He has feeling everywhere, and we saw him lift up his foot 3 or 4 inches, wiggle his thumb, and raise up his arm a little bit.
He will be in intensive rehab for the next two weeks but they are hoping to get him 85% back by then.
My brother who is in medicine is even more hopeful. After I describe what is going on he says rather dismissively, "He has feeling? He will get it all back".
I wish I had the confidence of my brother, but I am thinking quite positive now.
What a rollercoaster ride.
We are getting ready to come home yesterday, and I get this voicemail from my aviation partner and good friend of 20 years.
"Kelly, this Joe and I wanted to let you know what has been going on with me. I need to talk to you, and I think soon" Click. He sounded bad. Shit.
I try to call him on all the numbers I have but no luck. I leave messages everywhere.
I was out of contact so I have no missed call, but right before I will be in a 2 hour cellphone dead zone I get the idea of going back to my voicemail and dialing from there.
"blah blah regional hospital, if this is an emergency hang up and dial 911". OH Shit.
I wait for an operator, and have my wife pull over while I still have cell coverage.
"may I be connected to Joe smoke's room?"
The operator connects me. This is bad. I get a couple of rings and then it hangs up.
I sit there and decide we just better get heading that way.
For two hours I try not to think about the worst but it is hard not to. The thoughts of my mom are just a bit too fresh.
I get back into cellphone world and call again, and this time he answers. He tells me he had a stroke and lost the use of his right side. His voice is breaking and so is my heart. By now I am only 20 minutes away from that hospital and ask if I can visit. OK.
Now I have the news and listening to him it sounds very bad. My wife tries the 'think positive' approach and I am not having any of that. she did not hear his voice.
My wife was right. He has feeling everywhere, and we saw him lift up his foot 3 or 4 inches, wiggle his thumb, and raise up his arm a little bit.
He will be in intensive rehab for the next two weeks but they are hoping to get him 85% back by then.
My brother who is in medicine is even more hopeful. After I describe what is going on he says rather dismissively, "He has feeling? He will get it all back".
I wish I had the confidence of my brother, but I am thinking quite positive now.
What a rollercoaster ride.
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