Life Remains Extraordinary
Life Remains Extraordinary
Well, I will tell you what.
Lately, life has been one heck of a whirlwind. I graduated high school. I have my first summer job. I had to let go of leading the christian club at my school, and say goodbye to many faces that I might never see again. I had a major garage sale and sold many of my once-cherished belongings.
While I am getting ready for this next momentous stage in my life: COLLEGE, my family has also been going through a massive hurdle.
You see, about three and a half months ago, my uncle on my dad's side passed away.
My dad, being the ninth out of ten kids who lost his father at age seven, had looked up to my uncle as a father figure for his whole life. And to be honest, everyone loved the guy. He was a good man, some would even venture to call him a saint- and I wouldn't argue. While he was always giving and full of generosity, he always showed the love of God to everyone that crossed his path... kind of one of those unreal guys who made you feel like you mattered no matter who you were and where you'd come from. He laid it all out in his life. Sacrificing for his family and relentlessly preaching and teaching and showing and loving truth, kindness and generosity to all. Tio Freddy, may peace rest upon your sweet soul for all of eternity, we love you.
My father went to Central America, Nicaragua specifically, to attend Tio Freddy's funeral. You see, after he retired, my uncle went back to his homeland to preach and help pave the way for the underprivileged to have a better life. So my father went back to Nicaragua with his brother and sister. My grandmother, who was unable to travel all the way from Southern California to Nicaragua, stayed home with a heavy heart.
So, when my dad came home to the states, he brought back video footage of the ceremony to share with my grandmother. Regrettably, I was unable to attend because I was still in school. He and one of my uncles drove from our home in Northern California to my grandmother (about a 9-10 hour drive) to mourn with their mom. But here ensues the plot twist nobody in the world saw coming.
Within fifteen minutes of my dad and uncle's arrival to my grandmother and auntie's house, my auntie, uncle, and cousins were all playing and eating some Costco pizza for a late lunch when my dad suddenly got very dizzy. He sort of quietly stumbled towards the couch and sat down. His head was throbbing.
My dad began to have the worst headache of his life, and he had just been eating a bite of pepperoni pizza. My auntie looked over and saw what was going on, and rushed to her dear brother's side. Dad communicated that he was having the worst headache he'd ever experienced and she swiped the last bite of pepperoni pizza out of his mouth with her little finger. Just. In. Time.
She instinctively knew she needed to call for emergency help.
Sirens' ringing neared.
Call for help. Call nine-one-one...
They are on their way... Hang in here...
Meanwhile, I am working outside in my backyard. Laptop open. California weather shining its warm, classic sunshine. I was at home formatting my AP Economics essay. Just how I like to spend a productive Saturday afternoon...
I went inside to refill my water pitcher with extra ice since it was super hot outside, and when I came back, I saw a missed call. Then I listened to the voicemail. It was my cousin. She lived with grandma and my auntie that Dad had just left to visit. She wanted me to call back because something was really wrong with Dad and he was in the hospital.
I tried to call my mom. I knew she was out with my brother Ryan, but I didn't know how long or where exactly they were. She didn't pick up. I called again. Nothing.
Ok, Deep breath.
I call a friend. No answer.
I call a second friend. Still no answer.
I really want to sort this out and talk to someone. Anyone I could trust.
I called a third friend. Thank God she picked up. I gathered my thoughts, asked for her to pray, and with her help, calmed my nerves a bit. Then we hung up for now.
I talked to my auntie or my cousin and they cleared up the details a bit. Dad was in the emergency. They had already moved him to another hospital that could deal with the severity of the case. He was being airlifted via helicopter. He was having a bleed in his brain. A hemorrhage of some sort. He was in a coma...
More deep breaths. My heart is racing, but I am not panicking. I can' panic. No time for that. I needed to get a hold of my mom. I call again. Nothing.
One more big breath. I open a fresh page on my laptop. And started searching for flights.
I booked a flight for about three hours out. Dad, you have to hold on for at least that long. If I can get mom and Ryan out there with me on that flight, you know I will do everything I can to do that. But if I can't... I just know that I need to be there and I know that you would understand, and they would understand.
I called another family friend, Robyn. I was nervous that I didn't know where Mom was, but told her what I knew and asked that if I could not get a hold of Mom, would she take me to the airport?
She said she would, and said she'd be praying. God knows I would need that.
Well, I started packing my bags. I kept it light. I went upstairs to grab a few toiletries and saw Mom's phone charging. There were all my missed calls. I kept packing.
Almost done packing, and the van pulls into the driveway. Ryan lost the tournament, so they were home early.
As soon as they came out of the car I flew out to them in the driveway.
Dad isn't okay. He is in the hospital. We need to go. ASAP. Yes, Mom, it's serious. We don't know if he is going to make it. I am already packing, and I booked a flight for myself- I didn't know when you would get home, but you can probably still make the same flight so we can be together. You'd better go do that now.
Robyn still drove us to the airport. As my mom would say, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Faithful friends shine truest in times like these. Mom was able to book the same flight as me so she and Ryan could fly on the same flight as me... To Be Continued...
Well, I will tell you what.
Lately, life has been one heck of a whirlwind. I graduated high school. I have my first summer job. I had to let go of leading the christian club at my school, and say goodbye to many faces that I might never see again. I had a major garage sale and sold many of my once-cherished belongings.
While I am getting ready for this next momentous stage in my life: COLLEGE, my family has also been going through a massive hurdle.
You see, about three and a half months ago, my uncle on my dad's side passed away.
My dad, being the ninth out of ten kids who lost his father at age seven, had looked up to my uncle as a father figure for his whole life. And to be honest, everyone loved the guy. He was a good man, some would even venture to call him a saint- and I wouldn't argue. While he was always giving and full of generosity, he always showed the love of God to everyone that crossed his path... kind of one of those unreal guys who made you feel like you mattered no matter who you were and where you'd come from. He laid it all out in his life. Sacrificing for his family and relentlessly preaching and teaching and showing and loving truth, kindness and generosity to all. Tio Freddy, may peace rest upon your sweet soul for all of eternity, we love you.
My father went to Central America, Nicaragua specifically, to attend Tio Freddy's funeral. You see, after he retired, my uncle went back to his homeland to preach and help pave the way for the underprivileged to have a better life. So my father went back to Nicaragua with his brother and sister. My grandmother, who was unable to travel all the way from Southern California to Nicaragua, stayed home with a heavy heart.
So, when my dad came home to the states, he brought back video footage of the ceremony to share with my grandmother. Regrettably, I was unable to attend because I was still in school. He and one of my uncles drove from our home in Northern California to my grandmother (about a 9-10 hour drive) to mourn with their mom. But here ensues the plot twist nobody in the world saw coming.
Within fifteen minutes of my dad and uncle's arrival to my grandmother and auntie's house, my auntie, uncle, and cousins were all playing and eating some Costco pizza for a late lunch when my dad suddenly got very dizzy. He sort of quietly stumbled towards the couch and sat down. His head was throbbing.
My dad began to have the worst headache of his life, and he had just been eating a bite of pepperoni pizza. My auntie looked over and saw what was going on, and rushed to her dear brother's side. Dad communicated that he was having the worst headache he'd ever experienced and she swiped the last bite of pepperoni pizza out of his mouth with her little finger. Just. In. Time.
She instinctively knew she needed to call for emergency help.
Sirens' ringing neared.
Call for help. Call nine-one-one...
They are on their way... Hang in here...
Meanwhile, I am working outside in my backyard. Laptop open. California weather shining its warm, classic sunshine. I was at home formatting my AP Economics essay. Just how I like to spend a productive Saturday afternoon...
I went inside to refill my water pitcher with extra ice since it was super hot outside, and when I came back, I saw a missed call. Then I listened to the voicemail. It was my cousin. She lived with grandma and my auntie that Dad had just left to visit. She wanted me to call back because something was really wrong with Dad and he was in the hospital.
I tried to call my mom. I knew she was out with my brother Ryan, but I didn't know how long or where exactly they were. She didn't pick up. I called again. Nothing.
Ok, Deep breath.
I call a friend. No answer.
I call a second friend. Still no answer.
I really want to sort this out and talk to someone. Anyone I could trust.
I called a third friend. Thank God she picked up. I gathered my thoughts, asked for her to pray, and with her help, calmed my nerves a bit. Then we hung up for now.
I talked to my auntie or my cousin and they cleared up the details a bit. Dad was in the emergency. They had already moved him to another hospital that could deal with the severity of the case. He was being airlifted via helicopter. He was having a bleed in his brain. A hemorrhage of some sort. He was in a coma...
More deep breaths. My heart is racing, but I am not panicking. I can' panic. No time for that. I needed to get a hold of my mom. I call again. Nothing.
One more big breath. I open a fresh page on my laptop. And started searching for flights.
I booked a flight for about three hours out. Dad, you have to hold on for at least that long. If I can get mom and Ryan out there with me on that flight, you know I will do everything I can to do that. But if I can't... I just know that I need to be there and I know that you would understand, and they would understand.
I called another family friend, Robyn. I was nervous that I didn't know where Mom was, but told her what I knew and asked that if I could not get a hold of Mom, would she take me to the airport?
She said she would, and said she'd be praying. God knows I would need that.
Well, I started packing my bags. I kept it light. I went upstairs to grab a few toiletries and saw Mom's phone charging. There were all my missed calls. I kept packing.
Almost done packing, and the van pulls into the driveway. Ryan lost the tournament, so they were home early.
As soon as they came out of the car I flew out to them in the driveway.
Dad isn't okay. He is in the hospital. We need to go. ASAP. Yes, Mom, it's serious. We don't know if he is going to make it. I am already packing, and I booked a flight for myself- I didn't know when you would get home, but you can probably still make the same flight so we can be together. You'd better go do that now.
Robyn still drove us to the airport. As my mom would say, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Faithful friends shine truest in times like these. Mom was able to book the same flight as me so she and Ryan could fly on the same flight as me... To Be Continued...
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