Having A Bad Day?

Last week a great nephew underwent a 5 way heart bypass. He is doing great !! We are amazed that this can even be done and people survive it every day. They go on to live completely normal lives and are given more time to enjoy life.

The flip side.

Last week a co-worker and friend went into the hospital for a simple 20 minute surgical procedure, and sixty minutes later she was brain dead. After she had just learned she was in remission from breast cancer. Something went terribly wrong. Shock. Stunned. Disbelief. Most people in the plant who know her just can't comprehend what has happened.

She is still on life support. The family is waiting until after today to "pull" the plug. I hate that terminology! Today is her daughter's 11th birthday. She doesn't know, and they aren't going to tell her until after today. She has a 17 year old brother and a 25 year old brother. Mom is a single parent and Dad is in their lives, but he likes the single lifestyle.

So.... Today is the birthday and next Wednesday is the 17 year olds first day of his senior year in high school. The 25 year old is the next of kin. Can you imagine what he must be going through? What day does he decide it has to be done? Does he plan to have it all over with so his 17 year old brother can start school without missing some of it for his mother's funeral? And how does a 25 year old even start to tell his little sister what has happened? He must be sick over what to do. Who is to parent this family? Where will they live? How will they live, and on who's income?

If any one of us should think that we are having a "bad" day, we all need to remember that it could be much worse. My heart aches for this family.