Caller ID: Chambersburg Hosp 717-555-5555
Hello?
Peggy Anne, this is your father.
Hey Dad.
Your mother is in the hospital.
Okaaaaaay?
She’s had a stroke.
Okaaaaaay? What. Happened?
She was cooking pancakes this
morning and slumped over the stove. I
got her to the floor and called 911.
We’ve been here all day.
So. How. Is. She?
She’s been moved up to a room.
Isthereanythingyouwantmetodo?
Well, I’ve left a message for
Paul and you should call Patrick.
Should we come
up?
I’d wait until we know more.
Dad, is she up and talking?
No, she’s unresponsive.
Dad, I’ll make some phone calls, then we are coming up.
Okay, but she is really out of it
and doesn’t know what’s going on.
Okay – we want to come up.
Okay, I’m just telling you so you
are not surprised when you get here…she’s unresponsive.
I hang up the phone, stumble out the garage and follow the sound of the
pressure washer to the front door where Mike is working on the front of the
house. I don’t remember when I started
screaming…MIKE MIIIIIKE MIIIIIIIIIKE. He finally turns to see me and drops the
sprayer, holding out his hands to me as he walks towards me. I’m screaming and gasping for air…”momhadastroke,
MOMHADASTROKE!” I cry out repeatedly “OH
MY GOD OH MY GOD” as Mike leads me back into the house and helps me lay on the
couch, he’s on his knees, head tilted towards mine, stroking my hair…”shhhh
shhhhh shhhhh”. I gulp air until I can
repeat what Dad has told me. Mike packs
a bag as I scream. We get in the car and Mike begins to
drive. I make some phone calls then
stare blankly out the car window.
My mom had a stroke.
