“Mommy!” I yelled as I picked up my cell phone.
Silence. Then a man’s voice began to cut in and out on the other end of the line. Was this a joke?
“Hi, this is Sherriff So-and-so. Does your mom ride her bike on Territorial Road near Natureland Park and Whitewater Lake?”
“Umm… I’m not sure… she likes to bike ride…” I replied, waiting in anticipation for what seemed like the forever.
“Well Cindy’s been in a little bike accident. They’re just going to take her over to the hospital to get her checked out.” Understatement of the year.
After a few more questions, I hung up the phone. Okay Becca, you can handle this. Call Bob first.
“Hi Bob. Yeah, I just got a phone call from the Sherriff… he said mom was in a little bike… oh, unconscious? but breathing? Okay, I guess so. Let me know as soon as possible. Love you, bye.”
After a prayer with Ty, we jumped in the car to start our trek down to Janesville. I alternated between sobbing, checking my phone, and reading any account in the Bible I could find on healing.
Upon walking into the room in the ICU, I saw my mom hooked up to a ventilator that was breathing for her. A bit more than getting checked out. The last time I saw anyone on a ventilator was 15 years ago before my dad died. He was so sick, Becca. Your mom is so strong! They still hadn’t figured out why she had been in an accident.
When my sister came in the room, she was just falling apart. You need to pray. She told me that I was so strong. I told her that I was only strong because of God. I wrapped my arms around her and began to pray. Ty stood behind. I broke down.
We were told that in the morning she’d have another CT scan and then we’d know if she could come off the ventilator.
My sister and I both slept in the oversized armchair made for one. We’re a package deal.
This morning they did a CT scan. It showed a little improvement. Her breathing was doing better and she even began breathing on her own. We prayed again for my mom over breakfast.
About midmorning they gave her some more pain medication and she stopped breathing. It was one of the scariest minutes of my life. The nurse grabbed the bagging device as the Respiratory Therapist was called. The ventilator finally kicked back in. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going to pass out. She said that they’d try again later.
The room is quiet. Ty’s out for a walk. I make my way to her bedside and stretch my arm out to touch her forehead. Lord God I pray that you heal this woman in the name of Jesus Christ. I pray that you would heal her mind body and soul. Please God. Please. The doctor walks in. I casually stroke her hair and open my eyes.
In the early afternoon, the Respiratory Therapist came back in. She switched the ventilator to off. Nothing. She switches it back on. She says that the doctor said they’d try again tomorrow. That it was a ‘fine line’ between sedation and pain medication and breathing.
Ty sits there and begins to tell her about the World Race. I can’t hear anything. Can’t they just change the pain medication? I can’t breathe. Tomorrow?? What about later today??? I’m getting annoyed. Would you just stop talking???? Who cares about the World Race????!
I excuse myself from the room. GOD! I’M SO MAD AT YOU RIGHT NOW! IS THAT OKAY?? CAN I BE MAD??? I EVEN PRAYED!!! I’M TRYING TO BE BOLD. I WANT YOU TO BE GLORIFIED SO BADLY THROUGH THIS. I DID MY PART, YOU HAVE TO DO YOURS!
This time Ty and I squish ourselves into the oversized armchair made for one. I just need a nap. I wake up to “No, you can’t pull that tube out.” I jolt awake! She’s awake!
Over the next several minutes, the doctor is paged. The tube comes out. My mom is breathing on her own! She’s able to follow simple commands and squeeze my fingers. Soon she starts to make noises! I show her a small stuffed cat and she smiles.
My mom still has a long way to go, but it was nothing short of a miracle from God that she turned around so quickly today. Please pray that the swelling in her brain would go down. It is severely affecting her verbal abilities right now. When she speaks, it is impossible to understand her. She also does not know who we are. That is possibly the hardest part. But God is FAITHFUL. I know that He will use this to bring GLORY to himself. Pray pray pray!
