So Friday night was the
Longest
Night I can remember.
She was miserable, and the sweet
Staff, checking, poking, squeezing, returning,
Allowed no sleep longer than moments.
IV stings, head aches, tears come.
“You can sleep, Mom.”
Right. Sure.
Beeping. Humming. Dripping.
Calling. Measuring.
Saturday, the family together
Tender, watching,
Hands raised to help, to comfort, to Be There.
Cheering for Olympic Arialists.
Hoping she’ll eat something. Drink something.
She tries.
Doesn’t take.
Beeping. Humming, Dripping.
And then Sunday. Oh, Sunday.
Laughing, giggling, joking.
Her gentle irony returning our hope,
Bringing relief to our hearts.
Latex-glove Volleyball
(Go, Team!)
Never bothering the guy next door
With his TV cranked up,
Or the lady on the other side,
Who really couldn’t be bothered by our noise
(Because she couldn’t hear it),
But making the nurses laugh
And stop in to hit the glove a few times, too.
Grandma and Grandpa brought
Snickerdoodles
(Because, never underestimate the healing power of Snickerdoodles)
And she ate one.
Her tongue turned blue from
Overdyed sports drinks, and we could see
That blue tongue poking out when she
Laughed.
She laughed.
(12) Comments for this blog
I hope your sweetheart is home from the hospital now. I hate to see my kids hurting. I love that you played latex-glove volleyball! Way to make a bad situation good. Chin up, Becca.
I hope your sweetheart is home from the hospital now. I hate to see my kids hurting. I love that you played latex-glove volleyball! Way to make a bad situation good. Chin up, Becca.
I hope she is home too. There is nothing worse than seeing a loved one in pain or sick. *hugs*
I hope she is home too. There is nothing worse than seeing a loved one in pain or sick. *hugs*
Sweet, sweet relief and joy! Rest yourself now, and your aching heart. What a long day that must have been indeed!
Sweet, sweet relief and joy! Rest yourself now, and your aching heart. What a long day that must have been indeed!
Glad she is doing better! (Ben was very concerned about her kidney…cute!) What a good mommy!
Glad she is doing better! (Ben was very concerned about her kidney…cute!) What a good mommy!
I’m glad she’s feeling better! And latex-glove volleyball? You’re the best!
I’m glad she’s feeling better! And latex-glove volleyball? You’re the best!
Sigh. Why does Bloglines hate me and not want to pull up this new feed in my blog reader? I love you so much I think I’ll actually remember from now on to click over manually each day. Seriously, that’s REAL LOVE.
I’m so glad your girl is doing better. I had a kid in the hospital once and it just about undid me. Good for you for staying strong.
Sigh. Why does Bloglines hate me and not want to pull up this new feed in my blog reader? I love you so much I think I’ll actually remember from now on to click over manually each day. Seriously, that’s REAL LOVE.
I’m so glad your girl is doing better. I had a kid in the hospital once and it just about undid me. Good for you for staying strong.