This last weekend I drove myself down to Southern UT, St. George to be exact. On Thursday, May 20, 2010 we received word that my grandmother was back in the hospital. Her kidneys were shutting down and her body was filling with fluid which was effecting her already bad heart. She had gone in to a check up with her doctor and was told that she was being emitted to the hospital. I'm not sure how anyone else may feel but my grandmother is a huge role in my family. She is the glue to each of us and seriously the reason why grandpa continues to get up everyday in the morning, he lives for her and her for him. With that said, I was rather scared, nervous and sad to hear the news. I decided that there was no time like the present and that I was going to go down. On Friday, May 21, 2010 after my morning conference call at work I called my supervisor to ask for permission to take a half day. With the "ok" from my office I was out the door.
After a quick packing session, texting to my older brother Thomas to see if I could crash with him and his family at their hotel I was on the road to St. George. I stopped in American Fork, UT to have my tires rotated & oil changed. Yes... I seriously stopped to do that... It was due and I would much rather be safe than sorry later, especially since I was driving by myself.
4 hours alone in a vehicle really provides a great outlet to think and reflect on life. I had plenty of time to sit and be grateful for my life, the people in my life, my job, my blessings, and the gospel. I did a lot of praying while I drove, a lot of time to sit and ponder. I ponder things from my family & friends, to the in's & out's of my job. I thought long and hard on the foundation of the gospel and how blessed I am to know such great hope there is in such a dark place at times. And in the mist of all the thinking, pondering, and reflecting I found great peace. I know with out any doubt in my mind that no matter what happens the Lord will take care of us. After finding the peace that I needed I knew that by going down and being with my family I was right where I needed to be. I was given strength and I knew that my grandmother was being provided for and the Lord was with her and still is.
I sang out loud till my little voice couldn't take it and even than I kept singing! Train, Katy Perry, Fergie, Dashoboard, Jason Mraz, Michael Jackson, Staind, Panic at the Disco... etc These were the peeps that came along for the road trip with me. They rocked out with me till I hit St. George. Once I arrived in St. George I made my way to the hospital where my older brother was with my grandfather and of course his little family. My grandma was on the second floor in the OR at the time that I arrived. She was in surgery and had been for about an hour or so when I arrived. My grandpa, bless his heart shot me a smile and give me hug. What an amazing man he is. He is the greatest example of how a man should love his wife. I was than greeted by 2 pairs of little hands & arms wrapping their way around my legs, my nephews where front and center to welcome me to St. George. We waited in the waiting room till the doctor arrived to speak with my grandpa. He let him that the surgery took longer than accepted but he felt good about the result. He said that they were going to keep my grandma in the ICU over night, they wanted to watch her and get her to rest. She was very tired. We walked my grandpa to the ICU waiting room and said goodnight.
That evening... After leaving the hospital we all said a prayer in our hearts that she would be okay and to watch over our grandpa as well. Again, I was given peace to remain hopeful and to know that no matter what the Lord was with us. We checked in to the hotel and from there my sister-in-law Jennifer & I head to the store and to pick up dinner which my brother had ordered from The Pizza Factory. We arrived back at the hotel to find my brother & his two adorable sons, my nephews watching Disney movies. It's moments like that when you realize how great life truly is. The small things like watching Disney movies together as family... What a great moment.
The next morning we woke up, had our free breakfast... It was pretty yummy! I was able to make my own waffle! Sooo good! After breakfast, I dropped my brother off to play tennis with our Uncle Clint while Jennifer got ready for the day. Once back at the hotel I was able to get ready and from there we picked up Thomas, he showered and than we did some shopping & had lunch at the local Iggy's. From there we dropped the boys off with our little cousins to play and hit the hospital. My grandmother at that time was finishing up her first run of Hemodialysis and was being moved into her own room out of ICU. We were able to see her and visit for a short time. She was very tired and needed to rest. She was in great spirits which in turn gave us some relief. We left the hospital & went back to our uncle's house. From there our entire family met at the local Chuck-a-Rama for dinner. My parents had driven in by that time and met us there. Like I said that evening.. "A family that eats together loves each other but a family that eats at Chuck-a-Rams stays togheter.." You can always count on the Harris clan to hit up the Chuck-a-Rama. It was nice to sit and visit with our family and to join together in support of our amazing grandmother, mother, friend, wife. We all love her so much.
After dinner my parents with my grandpa went to the hospital and the rest of us to my uncle's house for more family visiting. I seriously have been blessed with one amazing family! I'm so eternally grateful for the amazing people that I have in my life, my family is wonderful!
I drove home the next morning again, by myself. My grandmother is still in the hospital at this time but I just received word from my daddy that she just finished her 3rd round of Hemodialysis today and depending on results she may be able to go home tomorrow. She is very tired and really just wants to go home, but she is in great spirits! She was up telling stories for 3 hours. I love my grandmother! She is a fighter!
Please keep her your prayers and please... Tell your love ones you love them every chance you get! I love you all!
No comments:
Post a Comment