1:38AM, ICU Waiting Area, Promises Not to Leave

Nancy is sleeping in the "recliner" (if that is what you want to call it! HA!) beside me. Doesn't recline much, but that's ok. We have pillows. There is one other family at the end of the room. I have noticed a doctor come to see them. I have noticed a few nurses come to check on them. I have prayed for them. I don't know their story, but I'm sure it's not a lot dissimilar to "our story." Hospitals are strange places. It's the only place I can think of that NO ONE is here because "they want to be." I've seen tears, I've seen concern, furrowed brows of folks that have to make tough decisions. I have seen loneliness and of course, death. Death is actually on the hallway down from me as Nancy's friend Danielle who is an ICU nurse is caring for a man in his final moments of life...literally. Does that give any indication of how little we notice the brevity of "life?" Does that tell us just how much we take for granted? In this environment, it certainly does...but once you leave here...you go back into reality and it seems we all "forget."
Earlier, "Young Nancy" and I spent a good while with Frieda. She opened her eyes, she raised her left hand, she responded to our voices. She tried to turn her head to follow the sounds. I was so happy. Even the smallest of things create joy and celebration. Just shows me how little it really does take to "make us happy." It's not about cars, labels, how big your house is, what kind of high end furniture you have, what kind of boat, if your property is on the water or not...it's about something as basic as the squeeze of a hand of a loved one who is very ill. It's about the pure celebration of a fluttering of eyelids. It's about love. I've said for a long, long time, life boils down to one word: LOVE. That's it. That's the deal. That's the reason God has given us this opportunity to LIVE life. He loves us and expects us to do the same for one another.
I look at the sheer size of this building and think about other hospitals I've either been in or visited. I think of ALL the families who are going through the same things that we are tonight. We wonder, we hope, we pray, we try to find a bit of "normal" in all of this insanity. It's really surreal. "Young Nancy" told Frieda we were down the hall having a pajama party with her tonight.
I sang to Frieda...and NO! Not my "real songs!" She would never go for that! It had to be the good stuff...serious stuff like
EIGHTEEN WHEELS ON A BIG RIG!! And you know what? She liked it!! She was mouthing, she was pushing her feet, she was grasping my hand. I know she heard that foolishness and I know she was doing her best to convey that. I didn't get the odd number one just right and we all laughed and Frieda squeezed my hand. She doesn't miss a trick and she knew I was screwing up the all important BIG RIG SONG (see one of the blogs below to learn about that!).
Life is a series of events that we have to roll with. Some are harder than others and with all the difficulty in my life lately, NONE of those things hold any importance to me right now. Let the bad folks keep being bad. For now, my place is with my friend. My place is BEING a friend. My place is to continue to pray and to watch over someone who has watched over me since we met.
I was walking away from Frieda tonight and saw her left hand raise up again. We had been holding hands for some time. I ran back and held her hand until she relaxed. I kissed her forehead and told her we were just down the hall. (She's going to bust my chops for all that kissing stuff. That's not her style at all, but it's my style and I'm determined that Frieda Hudson IS going to be back.) She is going to do all the hard work it takes to regain her strength be all she can possibly be. I'll reiterate...how on earth can someone in ICU be "supporting" those around her when she is in such a serious condition? Well, you would just have to know Frieda. That's exactly how she operates....giving, loving, showing compassion and being the best friend anyone could ever have.
Continued prayers would be great. I hope you will join me in in continuing to lift Frieda's health and improvement up in prayer. Times passes, lives move on and we have to continue to pray. A nurse told me earlier that "miracles do happen." I believe that with all my heart. I know this nurse sees tragedy every day...I know she also sees true miracles. If anyone will beat these odds, whatever they may be, it will be Frieda.
You can take that to the bank.

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