Life is always throwing us curves. I got one on Tuesday, November 14th. I was sure that there was no way I would get everything done I wanted done before our members in the PRCA headed for Las Vegas and the Wrangler NFR. At approximately 2:30 PM the phone rang. My 80-year old mother had lost her balance in her home and landed on the bricks in front of her fireplace breaking her hip. She was on her way to the hospital via ambulance. Suddenly all the work in the world didn't seem as important as getting to the hospital. Mom has had triple by-pass heart surgery and diabetes besides her age going against her. I was met at the hospital being told the break was a "relatively good" break as far as hip breaks go. Not in the joint but below it. She would need a pin and plate. The problem was everything I knew before I walked into the ER. It took several hours to get all the doctors to see her and give their approval for surgery and finally at 9 PM we were headed for surgery. The doctors had told us the risk and we gave Mom a final kiss and headed for the waiting room assured that not only the surgeon but a heart doctor was in the operating room. Straight up midnight and the doctor came in to the waiting room. All had gone well and she would be sent to her room in about 45 minutes. We headed for the room and at 1:15 she arrived. Nurses and lots of questions to get her officially settled on "the floor" as they put it. At 2:30 AM she was finally settled in her room and ready to rest. Twelve hours had passed since I had left my computer to head for the hospital.
The next 12 hours would be a blur of nurses and doctors checking and rechecking her vital signs and trying to help Mom get comfortable enough to rest. I remembered all the times Mom had stood by my bed helping me through a tonsillectomy, appendectomy, fall from the corn crib, car accident as a passenger and the biggy when I was driving and decided to take out a bridge, three c sections and those were just the biggies. Now it was my turn to hold the glass of water and say, "Come on Mom, you need to take a drink." "I know it hurts Mom, but you have to do it." What a difference a lifetime makes. What a great teacher I had and now it was my turn to show the teacher what she had taught so well. Not just how to exhibit a good bedside manner but how to love.
Mom seemed to be doing fine and we were feeling really happy when we suddenly noticed her responses were getting slower and sometimes she acted like she didn't even hear us. Ok, the nurse tells us this is a common symptom of surgery and the pain relievers experienced especially by the elderly. She assured us it should not last too long. The rest of the day and most of the night was spent watching over her like a hawk. Simple task became ordeals and when she was sleeping I would hurry and catch a few winks myself. 4 AM she woke up and looked me in the eyes, "Where am I?" "Mary Greeley Hospital." "Ok, that's what I thought. How long have I been here?" "You broke your hip Tuesday. It is Thursday." "OK." That was it. She talked about how she fell and set her complete effort to getting better. She ate breakfast, showed me the true meaning of courage when she with stood the pain to stand on the side of her bed, even if for only a few minutes, exercised her swollen arm and did everything asked of her. Soon it was 2:30 PM. Exactly 48 hours after I got the call. My husband picked me up and I left Mom at the hospital with my brother watching over her. I came home to update the rodeo world. In 48 hours many big stories had hit the rodeo world. A champion horse was cloned another champion was in the hospital and that was just the start. For me the biggest story of the 48 hours would be that Mom broke her hip, survived a risky surgery and I will always thank God that I was lucky enough to have a mom that always had time to teach me the important things in life. You know, lessons like the one that goes, "Giving is an important part of loving." Thanks Mom.
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