It's the phone call you don't want to receive.
"Your Mama has fallen and broken her neck."
After the first gasp, I quickly gathered my thoughts at 3 a.m. to talk to her doctor, who advised surgery was most likely in the near future.
An MRI will fill us in on the details.
A fifteen minute conversation about Mama, her medicines, her allergies, and other things they need to know.
I could not sleep the rest of the night.
The next day, I spoke to her nurse, who said she was in a neck brace, and not happy about that, but otherwise in good spirits.
Coffee, I said, is the way to make her smile.
Even if it's through a straw.
Today, her neurosurgeon called. He walked me step by step through the necessary surgery. Basically, they have to rebuild her neck. And they found that it may help a spinal compression deformity that none of us knew she had. (Which is why her hands have not been working right.)
Of course, I said. Do the surgery. Do what you would do for your Mom.
Today, as I think about Mama, I think about this Japanese lantern she had when I was growing up. If I ever find one like it, I will buy it. Beautiful, colored lights through scenes painted on its tiny window panels, captivated me as a child.
Contrast, between light and darkness. That there is light and hope.
May it be so.
Maybe this will enact a miracle. Maybe this surgery will fix other spinal issues she has had.
It was good to hear her little Kentucky accent today (her family is originally from that state.) Even though it sounded like someone sounds when their mouth is numb at the dentist office.
That's my Mama.
I told her caregiver to let me know when they move her into an actual room so I can send her some flowers from the hospital gift shop.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
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