An unexpected event and family support

Last Sunday morning was one of those beautiful Sacramento summer mornings. The sky was blue and the air on the cool side. My son, Michael, and I attended the 7:30 mass at St. Francis and then stopped by his office before going to the neighborhood Starbucks for coffee. Well, as life has been occurring for me, that plan for coffee was delayed several hours. Instead we found how helpful and concerned some of the downtown Sacramentans are. As I lay flat on the sidewalk with the contents of my purse spilled around me, blood streamed down my face from a cut on my forehead. Yes, I fell, I think tripping over my own feet. My sunglasses cut my left forehead and the other scrapes were minor. Off to the emergency room at Mercy General Hospital; again the irony to be a patient where I once supported patients and their families. The care was outstanding and not too long of a wait.

Today, my left eye looks as though an old lady overshot the lavender eye shadow on the left eye and totally forgot any makeup for the right eye. The stitches are dry and healing well. Again how fortunate I am because my glasses did not break and cause any other injury. My humor about my physical abilities have returned. I can assure you, that was not the case on Sunday.

Michael and his wife, Cath, have been wonderful to me welcoming me to the reality of their family and providing a safe place as I await my doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Food is purchased and served, I am driven where I need to go, my grandsons tell me how beautiful I am after a haircut, things that have broken get fixed (cell phone and laptop). My other children and their families continue to be present to me in many loving ways. All my children engage me in probing conversation that enables me to articulate my feelings and reflect on the realities we are facing. Their phone calls express their deep concern for my well being. They are also working on returning my car to California; no small feat.

The miracles of this week are:
1) the woman I met while having a pedicure, who spoke of encouragement from her doctor to continue driving even though she had only one good eye. She was an angel of hope for me, as one of my fears is not being able to drive again.
2) Receiving the Sacrament of the Sick after a weekday mass at St. Francis with a woman who was having surgery the next day, She happened to have retired as a chaplain from Mercy Hospital several years before I started.
3) The arrival of my granddaughter Isabella (age 12) here in Sacramento to spend a few days while her father Patrick is on a business trip in San Francisco.
4) Having a sense of humor about my Sunday morning fall.

Both Michael and Patrick will share the experience of meeting the doctor at UCSF tomorrow. We have many questions regarding the diagnosis I have been given and the potential treatment plan. Then the three of use shall all share dinner with Cath, Isabella, Kevin and Mandy.

Yes God continues to reveal his love and compassion as I walk this path. I have only to keep my eyes and my heart open to receive the grace to stay balanced and at peace. It is not the end of my life, it is the beginning of the next segment. I know the fears and the insecurities will again resurface and yet tonight my heart also feels gratitude.

Once again I thank you for your calls, prayers and outreach for my family and myself. May God continue to bless you in all your endeavors.