While Ana Carolina whispered in David’s ear to open his eyes on her birthday (June 2), Eddy would ask David to speak to him on his birthday (June 15). We all whispered in David’s ears. We repeated to David that he had been in an accident, where he was, that we loved him and not to worry. We learned that “hearing a familiar voice telling a story could help coma patients with recovering their consciousness faster and start responding”, (medicaldaily.com) and so we did. We were all in this together.
At one point as we waited for the ICU visiting hours to begin, Eddy met us at one of the waiting rooms and informed us that the staff had taken David to perform a brain angiography. This intervention is used to identify or confirm problems with the blood vessels in the brain and is done to evaluate arteries before surgery. We all entered the chapel and prayed without ceasing until it would be over. Not even 20 minutes later, Eddy came back and told us that because David’s cranial pressure had changed the doctor had aborted the procedure. We all looked at each other and praised and cried of joy for there had been a divine intervention instead. Afterwards everyone gathered to celebrate my nephew’s Hector Luis birthday at his apartment. Celebrating life was the constant theme.
Back home, dad’s tests indicated he had accumulated water in his lungs so he would remain at Winter Park Hospital until all would clear. My sister Gaby would constantly keep us informed. She had created a group to text message dad’s and David’s progress every day.
The next 6 days we would experience one victory after another. First, David’s brain swelling continued to subside by the hour to the point were he was taken off the paralytics. Just for a second, he opened his eyes at the doctor’s command in one of her rounds. A tracheotomy (a surgically created hole through the front of the neck and into the windpipe/trachea) was performed. He was breathing on his own and the ventilator was turned off. Back in Casselberry, dad was given the thumbs up to go home from the hospital and we all rejoiced at all the good news.
My uncle Carlos prepared dinner and had us meet at his house on May 29th, which would be the first time I would leave the hospital. David’s friend John and my nephew Hector Luis’s fiancé Sue would watch over David while I was out. The time with family at my uncles’ was refreshing and rejuvenating. The food was delicious. The warmth and love of God was made present in each one of them.
Relationships help us practice love, forgiveness, compassion, service and kindness. Mother Theresa’s quote, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”, reminds me how blessed I am with my family and all the people I’ve met in my life. Blessed with each one I’ve laughed with, danced with and cried with and those with whom I have shared a dream, a hug, a kiss and a poem. We are not meant to be islands but to connect with people. Life is formed with all these connections, which enrich us in a unique special way. I no longer expect to meet anyone but feel blessed with those who cross my path each day.
(Romans 12:6-18)
At one point as we waited for the ICU visiting hours to begin, Eddy met us at one of the waiting rooms and informed us that the staff had taken David to perform a brain angiography. This intervention is used to identify or confirm problems with the blood vessels in the brain and is done to evaluate arteries before surgery. We all entered the chapel and prayed without ceasing until it would be over. Not even 20 minutes later, Eddy came back and told us that because David’s cranial pressure had changed the doctor had aborted the procedure. We all looked at each other and praised and cried of joy for there had been a divine intervention instead. Afterwards everyone gathered to celebrate my nephew’s Hector Luis birthday at his apartment. Celebrating life was the constant theme.
Back home, dad’s tests indicated he had accumulated water in his lungs so he would remain at Winter Park Hospital until all would clear. My sister Gaby would constantly keep us informed. She had created a group to text message dad’s and David’s progress every day.
The next 6 days we would experience one victory after another. First, David’s brain swelling continued to subside by the hour to the point were he was taken off the paralytics. Just for a second, he opened his eyes at the doctor’s command in one of her rounds. A tracheotomy (a surgically created hole through the front of the neck and into the windpipe/trachea) was performed. He was breathing on his own and the ventilator was turned off. Back in Casselberry, dad was given the thumbs up to go home from the hospital and we all rejoiced at all the good news.
My uncle Carlos prepared dinner and had us meet at his house on May 29th, which would be the first time I would leave the hospital. David’s friend John and my nephew Hector Luis’s fiancé Sue would watch over David while I was out. The time with family at my uncles’ was refreshing and rejuvenating. The food was delicious. The warmth and love of God was made present in each one of them.
Relationships help us practice love, forgiveness, compassion, service and kindness. Mother Theresa’s quote, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”, reminds me how blessed I am with my family and all the people I’ve met in my life. Blessed with each one I’ve laughed with, danced with and cried with and those with whom I have shared a dream, a hug, a kiss and a poem. We are not meant to be islands but to connect with people. Life is formed with all these connections, which enrich us in a unique special way. I no longer expect to meet anyone but feel blessed with those who cross my path each day.
(Romans 12:6-18)
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