Hey friends –
Have you experienced a good freak out moment lately?
I had all the makings for a major mama meltdown during this past Christmas vacation.
My firstborn son Jake, whom y’all know I dearly love, came home from college ove
r Christmas break. Yay! This mama always sleeps better when her whole gang is home safe and sound.
Jake had been wrestling with a super bad cough, and we’d talked about going to Urgent Care to get him checked out. Unfortunately with work and life and hockey, we let the cough go. Big mistake.
One night, just two days before Christmas, we’d been up late playing games (Settlers of Catan, if you’re curious) and hanging out. After a fun night, I headed up to bed, reminded Jake to take some cough medicine, and then drifted off to sleep.
At about 1 AM, my husband John woke me up and shared that Jake was having a hard time breathing. Jake had come into our room for help. I sleepily reminded John where an emergency inhaler is located, and encouraged John to have him give it a try. Next thing I know, Jake is gasping for air and saying he has chest pain. John quickly helps him onto our bed, when John declares, “Cindy, Jake can’t breathe.”
I hopped flew out of bed and hurriedly dialed 911. Just like on TV, the emergency operator asked, “911, what’s your emergency?”
As I was anxiously answering the operator’s detailed questions, John was doing an excellent job monitoring Jake’s breathing and keeping him comfortable.
The operator quickly dispatched help, and within minutes, my bedroom was filled with three huge, helpful fireman, complete with their rescue gear. (The benefit of living down the street from a fire station.)
Jake continued to gasp for air, and John admitted later, he felt pretty certain Jake was going to lose consciousness right at that moment. Can you even imagine?!
Meanwhile I’m silently praying and pleading with God for His divine intervention, while listening for the EMT’s who should be arriving any moment, calling my mom and asking her to come and sit with the kids, listening to Rocky bark noisily from his kennel, and watching the firemen place an oxygen mask over Jake to help him catch his breath.
Next thing I know, Jake is on a gurney in the back of an ambulance (which lit up our whole street at 2 AM with its bright shiny lights–sorry, dear neighbors), and I am on the cold, gray front seat preparing to go for a late-night ambulance ride to the ER.
Is this even really happening? Is this some sort of weird dream?
I could hear the EMT talking to Jake while he was putting an IV into his strong hockey-playing arm, and before long we were downtown at the hospital, talking with nurses and doctors and ultrasound techs and paperwork people and supervisors.
The good news? Friends, Jake is fine. Whew. After tests and x-rays, they determined my boy had a bad case of bronchitis, which led to the shortness of breath and chest pains. After a good round of antibiotics, Jake is back to good as new.
Thank You, God — a. whole stinkin’ lot. Thank You!
What did I learn from this late-night adventure?
Was I a complete frazzled mess? Did I completely embarrass my husband and son?
I’ll continue this adventure tomorrow and share the 3 things that helped me through this messy crisis moment…
But how about you, dear bloggy friend?
When was the last time you found yourself in unsettling circumstances — wondering if you were somehow caught in the midst of some sort of wild and crazy dream? How did you cope? How do you make it through life’s messes?
I would love to hear from you!
Thanks so much for stopping by *She Sparkles*! I thank God for you!
Sweet blessings,
A year ago my two year old pushed a chair to the kitchen counter and pulled my purse down and finding a brown bottle with a way-too-easy-to-remove white lid put the small white tablet in his mouth. I found an empty bottle and lost my ever loving mind. I honestly felt my body rip from the inside thinking he had swallowed a whole bottle of my prescription. I got him in the car and drove towards help calling 911 on the way. I drove, prayed, cried and freaked out all at the same time. I am a good multi tasker like that. It turned out he only had one tablet in his mouth briefly so there was no damage (he had dumped the bottle out but I didn’t find the pile until we were home).
Oh Charise, how scary! I’m so grateful your son is ok! Way to multi task and think clearly and pray and freak out. Thank God for the happy ending! 🙂
Wow, how scary. So thankful he’s okay!
Me too Barbie. Super thankful and relieved! Whew!
Cindy–
I cannot imagine how you felt in that moment with your mama’s heart. I know how it was for me when my dad was unloaded from the back of an ambulance with his double blood clots in his lungs.. and when i saw my family after the “Deer” runin and the emergency room scene looked like a horror movie with my family as the actors. I am sure it was hard for you not to panic. It seems like you have had alot of crazy things going on. I am praying for you, your ministry and your red hot faith in the new year. You bless me my sparkly beautiful shining the glory friend.. you radiate!
Thanks for your kind words and prayers, Jenn. You bless me, my friend. See you this June? xoxo
Oh wow, Cindy, I’m glad he’s okay. We were in Fla on vacation and I got a call that my Mom was being taken to the hospital. I was 10 hours away with my husband’s family and felt so helpless. She ended up staying a few days and was okay. To get through I prayed and called on a small core prayer group of friends who I knew would lift up my Mom. This was the greatest comfort to me and help to her.
Melody, I’m sorry for your call while on vacation, but thankful your mom is ok. What a blessing for your prayer group to lift you in prayer. Prayer works (i.e. God works through prayer!). Thanks for sharing, friend. Miss you!
Cindy, what a story! I’m so sorry you had to go through this terror, and I’m so glad Jake is alright! I guess it’s all “compost” for your speaking and writing, but wow–what a way to gather material!
Oh friend, you’ve had some “compost” this month as well. Can’t wait to reconnect soon. We both could use an IV of peace these days. Love to you, Lorilee! xoxo
This last week when I sent my daughter on the plane to the Mayan jungle (where she really is!) I was a mess. So many fears. Sometimes trusting God as a mom is just down right hard. Like your heart is jumping out of your chest. But I learned some things through those 24 hours until I knew she arrived safely. Part of it is trusting God at His word – for real. I’m so thankful Jake is okay. No matter how big they are, they are still our little ones. Love you!
Oh Brenda, I can’t even imagine what you’ve been going through with your daughter traveling. Looking forward to connecting and hearing more soon. You are so right, “No matter how big they are, they are still our little ones.” Amen!
Oh my! I’m glad your son, Jake is alright & I went thru a mess like that recently and I’m glad is was me and Not my son. That’s the good thing cause I would probably be a Bigger mess now!
Oh Vonnie, I’m sorry you’ve been through a mess recently, but gather you are ok now. May God continue to fill you with His perfect peace and joy!
xoxo
I can so relate to this! Not the same experience by any means, but the feeling of being “out-of-control” and helpless! My oldest daughter was scheduled to leave this past Monday for Florida and grad school which started on Tuesday. Of course, our best laid plans are always foolishness when we leave God out of the ultimate timing and outcome. With the past week’s crazy weather her flights were delayed and cancelled numerous times. Her stress level rose as she felt the weight of being down in Florida in time for orientation, etc. Long story short, we rented a car for her and a friend to drive to Florida. Can I tell you how much I second-guessed myself and beat myself up for being a careless mom to let her go?? The ONLY thing that truly helped was calling out to God for protection, peace, traveling mercy, grace, and asking many other people to pray with me. She made it safely and most definitely by God’s hand upon her!