My blogging plan for the New Year has been derailed, and a
new one defined. A family medical
emergency changed my focus. My blog – at
least for now – is very personal though my intent is for it to be educational. I will focus on the successes and challenges
of attending to my self-care during this difficult time. This ties in to the original
blog focus on self-care. The original blog plan will be back on track in due
time. Now that I have written the first 3300 words, I know it is therapeutic.
The Crisis
On Thursday, January 3 at 4 p.m. I received the phone call
none of us want to get: one of my dearest close relatives (DCR) was admitted to
the hospital with life threatening double pneumonia. The distressed voice on the phone let me know
the severity of the situation within seconds. My voice and body started
shaking. My normal work day turned into a focused quest to travel north
immediately. My blog, drafted and
planned for Friday, was the last thing on my mind.
To fully understand the situation one must know that DCR is
multiply handicapped. Her rare condition
leaves her susceptible to a cascade of additional life threatening medical
issues. Resolving double pneumonia is only the first step in her recovery. While I may mention DCR’s condition generally
to create a context, details about my family and the medical issues will be
omitted out of respect for their privacy.
Reactions
Anyone who has received shocking news will understand my
reactions. It took about 15 minutes for
my body to stop shaking. My thinking was
both focused (I must get there as soon as I can) and disorganized (I felt like
I was going in circles trying to get things done).
Focus prevailed when it came to scheduling a flight. I went to the Delta website and saw
immediately that their schedule did not accommodate my needs. Using a website like Travelocity seemed too
overwhelming. Our family has a AAA membership so I called AAA Travel Services. The kind woman on the other end of the line
was able to get me to my destination at 11:15 p.m. My 6:20 flight gave me little time to pack
and drive to the airport. There was no
time to think about what was going on, though every cell of my body was
reacting to the news.
Packing was a different issue. Decisions about what to take were difficult
to make. Thank goodness the laundry was
done and I had plenty of clean clothes.
I packed my favorite new sweaters and the jeans our daughter suggested I try. At least I would feel good about how I looked
while the rest of me was a jumble.
Next: Elements of Self-Care
