Life is precious.
And there are precious few things in life that really are important.
These are the lessons I learned from Sunday.
On Sunday I packed up my son and all his stuff and headed to church, like normal. I left my husband at home to study for his course, like normal. I sat my son on the front pew with his choo-choos and practised with the worship team. Then, I lugged my good little boy up the stairs to the nursery and left him playing ball with the nursery teacher, like normal.
And then, I don’t know what happened.
Well, I do. But only because I’ve been told. Because at this moment, my memory fails me. At this moment things start to get fuzzy in my mind. I know that I met with the worship team to pray. I know that I walked out onto the stage to start the worship service. I assume we sang one song and I know I was standing listening to announcements.
But I don’t really remember these things.
I certainly don’t remember feeling faint and I definitely don’t remember losing consciousness and falling off the platform, landing on the floor, three feet below, head first.
I only know that at this point, my pulse was negligible, because someone told me. I only know that some people thought I had broken my neck and died because someone told me. I only know that the ambulance came, because someone told me.
I don’t remember any of this. And during the time, I was remembering very little.
But I did know my husband. And I remembered my son. I knew nothing else, not the supporters around me or the events of the day or the items in my purse, but I new my husband and I knew my son. I knew my son wasn’t with me and I was concerned for him. I may have asked where he was over and over, but I knew him.
During this traumatic time, my injured brain allowed me to focus on those things that are most important in my life. Everything else was filtered away. All that remained were two. Dan. Cameron. My family. The two people who, during my most precarious time, I needed to know.
Sunday was scary, especially for my husband, but also for many people who have become part of my life. Yesterday became scary to me when I realized how scary Sunday had been. I realized that coming home from the hospital on Sunday night with nothing more than a concussion and scrapes and bruises was really the best outcome that anyone could have hoped for. Even walking out, alive was a blessing.
Life is a blessing. And in my life, I have been blessed with my husband and my son.
This is what I am taking away from my ordeal.
Photo taken during my “amnesic” period. I have no recollection of this at all. I was asking the same questions over and over. But apparently I was very pleasant and jovial. I even told a joke – over and over and over again.
Laura I am glad you are as well as you are. I can honestly say I have not been so scared in a long time. I know that the whole church was praying for you while we waited for the ambulance, and I suspect most stayed in that pattern well into the night.
And you can rest assured that church continued and that you did in fact make things interesting. Those two things are jokes. I know you don’t remember. Dan should.
You’re a blessing on our church and family. And we look forward to having you around for a long time.
Christopher D Drew recently posted..…But Without The Jet Plane
Thanks Christopher. For everything. I’ve been hearing so many stories about how much I scared people. I kind of feel bad about that. But thankfully, all is okay, as you know.
(I get the jokes – I think. I heard about them after the fact. Good thing I didn’t lose my impeccable sense of humour!)
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
Laura, I’m so sorry to hear this! But, like you, we’ve experienced trauma. It’s amazing how all the things that feel big on a daily basis pale in comparison to that which really matters. Our family, love, and our faith. Sending you best wishes for a full recovery.
Gary, sorry I took so long to reply! Thank you so much for your wishes. I’ve been recovering nicely.
Traumatic days like this really make those regular “bad days” seem like cake walks. Reminds me to try to be a little more positive in my every day life.
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
So glad you’re ok, my new internet/1 degree of separation friend. My FIL was very concerned for you when he came to our house for supper on Sunday night.
It’s amazing how the important things are always important no matter what. And it’s amazing what an entire church full of prayers can do.
Thank you Stephanie! I know I scared SO many people. My Dad didn’t quite realize the seriousness of everything until he talked to someone who works closely with your FIL who gave Dad the first hand account that your FIL experienced. I have never been more grateful for such an incredible church family!
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
AHH!!! What happened?????? Glad to hear you came out of it okay but man, that’s intense!~
It was SO intense… apparently. I don’t really remember anything from it (still). The doctor’s couldn’t figure out what actually happened to make me faint. It was “unexplained fainting” according to them. My blood pressure (which is normally quite good) just completed dropped out.
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
Oh my goodness!! I am so glad to hear that you are okay! What and ordeal, so very scary.
Hope you continue to recover well, and that you are in good health.
M.M recently posted..Relaxing Reunion
Thank you so much Mandy! I have continued to recover well. I am still getting some headaches every now and then and a few neck aches after full days of work, but considering what happened, I am so close to 100% that I feel lucky!
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
How terrifying for you Laura…and Dan, too! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Thanks Tammi! It wasn’t actually too scary for me, at least once my memory started to re-emerge. I had absolutely no recollection of the whole event (I still don’t) that I really didn’t have a grasp on what happened until I heard the story from others. Now Dan – I think he was very scared. Especially for those hours that I didn’t have any memory.
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
Oh my!! Laura!! how scary!! I hope you’re on the mend!
Thanks Paula! I’ve healed up really quite nicely, thankfully. I just have a slight marking on my face still, my headaches have diminished in frequency and intensity, and I only get a sore neck after a full day at work. All and all I am feeling very close to 100%.
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
Oh Laura! So glad to hear you are all right. Moments like those do bring things into perspective. It reminded me of a similar episode with my DD18 when she was hit by a car at age 12. She also has amnesia about that whole day and she too was quite polite and repeated the same question over and over: “Umm. Excuse me? Are you going to give me a needle, because I don’t prefer needles.” Even in her head injured state – she remembered THAT. Lol.
Thanks be to God for the blessing that is you.
Thank you so much Mary! Your comment was not only super sweet, but I totally cracked up at the “I don’t prefer needles” part. Who does, really?!
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
I’m so glad to hear you’re OK Laura. It sounds like it was a very scary experience, but as usual, you have the right perspective and are using the opportunity to reflect on what really matters to you :) My thoughts are with you and I’m wishing you speedy recovery!
Amelia @ House Pretty recently posted..Same blog, brand new look
Thanks Amelia! I think for me that perspective comes through writing and blogging more than anything. It isn’t organic until I actually sit down and start thinking about it! :)
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
Oh Laura! I’m so glad you are ok. How scary. I wonder what happened?? But regardless, so glad you are ok.
Rach (DonutsMama) recently posted..Mommy Went Overboard with Halloween
Thanks Rach! It was scary – especially for everyone around me. But I did end up okay, which is a super blessing. The doctors had no idea what happened. They called it “unexplained fainting” (along with a long medical term which means just that). My blood pressure just dropped for no real apparent reason. Now I try to watch for ANY signs of dizziness or light-headedness.
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
I am SO HAPPY that you are okay! How scary! What a relief that you fainted at the church and not while driving down the road or something like that. Sending you prayers for a speedy recovery!!
Courtney @ The Mommy Matters recently posted..I Have/Have Not…
I am glad I fainted at church and not while driving. But it was pretty bad luck that I fainted while standing on a stage. When thinking about it, I realized that I always faint in weird, dangerous place. The last time (about six years ago) I fainted in the shower! These days I’m trying to be very conscious of any dizziness I may feel and slow down accordingly.
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life
Girl. I’m so sorry to be so behind. I’m hoping by this time you are recovered and well. Praying that is so. Very scary, I’m sure. Glad to know you are okay!
Courtney recently posted..hi there!
Thank you Courtney! I am doing so very much better! All things considering, I am very close to being 100% again. My face only has a slight redness to it (so much better than the scarring I thought I would have. For the first week the entire right side of my face was a scab!), my headaches, though still around, have diminished in frequency and intensity, and my neck only hurts after a long day at work. All in all I am very thankful for how well I have recovered!
Laura recently posted..Precious Little Traumatic Life