Life's lessons

I started a post last night detailing all the fun and excitement of Thanksgiving when I was interrupted by a phone call from my oldest brother. You know, there are defining moments in life that change the course of thought and actions. Well, that phone call was one of those moments. He gently told me that my sweet mother had suffered a heart attack and had been life flighted to a hospital in Ogden. Those first few moments were filled with shock and fear as I contemplated what this would mean, not only for her but for my entire family.

Within a few minutes my sister and I were on the road to her bedside. I will never forget looking into my mother's eyes and seeing a fear I had never seen before. She's my mother, you know. The one who always made me feel safe and protected and now she was looking at me, searching for the comfort and peace she had always bestowed on her children. I wasn't prepared for that. She looked so frail laying there in that big hospital bed and I wanted nothing more than to be able to hold her in my arms. She was stable and as comfortable as could be expected, and felt silly for all the attention she was generating. That's my mom for you!

The night was a restless one for her, followed by numerous tests, pokes, and prods. It was determined that yes, she had suffered a heart attack and will need to undergo open heart surgery to repair the four arteries that are blocked, along with a few other issues needing to be addressed. The surgery will take place on Friday and we are hoping and praying all goes well. There are still uncertainties and concerns, and the doctors have said there could be further complications but the only way to know exactly what they're dealing with is to proceed with the surgery.

Experiences like this certainly put life into a different light. Those things that seemed so important and all consuming now seem trivial. What does it really matter if the laundry doesn't get finished, or if the house isn't spotless? There's nothing written that says I'm a terrible mom if my kids don't get a bath every night, or if they are five minutes late for school. It's the little things that mean the most. I hope I can stop for a few minutes and recognize where my priorities need to lie. The thing that matters the most is my family, both immediate and extended. Nothing else should take precedence. Nothing!