Saving Rebecca : A Mother's Journey and Triumph into the Unexpected World of ADHD and Disability by Shirl Crimmins Smith

Saving Rebecca : A Mother's Journey and Triumph into the Unexpected World of ADHD and Disability by Shirl Crimmins Smith

Author:Shirl Crimmins Smith [Smith, Shirl Crimmins]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shirl Crimmins Smith
Published: 2020-02-20T17:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER SEVEN

The Fork in the Road

“We must let go of the life we have planned to accept the one that is waiting for us.”

Joseph Campbell

It was a lot to digest, and although the doctor had given us a clearer understanding of the surgery, it still left us with an unknown outcome. Would Greg survive? As we left the exam room in an emotional fog, we headed down the hallway to the small door-less phone cubicles. Greg talked softly to Mom Joanne as he told her about his impending surgery, and since she was coming, spared her the details until she arrived. Mom Joanne had asked him to get her a motel room next to ours, and since there was no way we were going to return to that grimy, unsecured, and possibly flea-infested hovel, we went in search of better lodgings that could accommodate us all. After Mom Joanne arrived, we headed to dinner; there, she admitted that she had called Greg’s siblings. He was still not comfortable with them knowing his condition but at this point there was nothing he could do about it.

Our meal was a subdued affair with our thoughts focused on the surgery, and we retired to our rooms early, hoping Greg could get a good night’s sleep. Just as I was getting ready to head into the bathroom, the phone rang, and it was Greg’s younger brother Mark. They chatted for a minute before Greg handed me the phone saying Mark wanted to talk to me. I figured he would be upset, and sure enough, he chastised me for not calling him. Greg’s need for privacy had put me right where I knew it would, with family and friends automatically holding me accountable for them being kept in the dark about his cancer. Before our conversation ended, he had my word of honor that from that point forward, he would be updated immediately with all the facts.

There was no way to change how things happened, and loving Mark as I did, I did not take it personally. I handed the phone back to Greg and went into the bathroom. With my poker face of optimism in place, I came out and got into bed and prayed for a dreamless sleep. I woke up refreshed and thankful for the gift since I had lost so much sleep from our night at Motel Sketchy. Greg was up and dressed and snipped at me to get moving, so our day started on a surly note. We met up with Mom Joanne and headed over to the hospital for Greg to be prepped for surgery. He was settled in bed when the nurse informed us that his operation had been moved to later in the afternoon, which understandably worsened his mood. As the lunch hour rolled around, Greg insisted we leave and find something to eat since he could not. We stopped by the nurse’s station to inquire about the time for his surgery and discovered it had been pushed back again.



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