Troubles

Troubles

Other than Erik’s weekly tutoring with his teacher, normal summer routines began.  Erik and Natasha continued to spend most of their time at Albert and Barb’s house, while I went back to work full days at the post office.  They would also get to participate in the local library’s Summer Reading Program and the Baptist church would host a Vacation Bible School.

Albert and Barbara also had a busy calendar at the church.  A MAPS team was scheduled to come and do some repair work on the church building for a couple of weeks.  Then long-time family friends from Arizona were scheduled to come up for a visit in late June.  Albert and Micah had some small remodel or repair jobs to do. There was also a larger remodeling project for a lady in our church, looking to sell her house and move to Kansas.  All of us were looking to be pretty busy this summer.

One day my boss at the post office informed me that she was going to apply for the secretary position at the school.  If she got it, she would then give up the contract for the post office.  She told me that if Micah and I were interested she would help us fill out the application, since it was long and could get confusing.  We began to look into the possibility, and immediately asked our friends and family to pray about it with us.  The summer was looking hopeful, and financial stability seemed to be just around the corner.  I was looking forward to no longer relying on the state for help with groceries and medical.

Vacation Bible School began, which excited the children.  It was also the same time the MAPS team was finishing up working at the church.  Barbara was busy being the hostess for the workers and watching the children as I worked.  I would try to help her out in the evenings the best I could with dinners, and keeping the children out of her hair.  Luckily, with Vacation Bible School, she would only need to watch the children for a few hours in the morning.

On the morning of June 13th, I went to drop the children off on my way to work.  Barbara was already looking pretty tired and her face was ashen in color.  I asked if she was feeling all right and she said she was just tired.  I turned to Erik and Natasha and told them to be extra good today so their grandma could rest.  Yet, when I came home at lunchtime, Barbara was sitting on the couch watching the children play a game.  Her face looked worse and she had her hand on her chest.

“Are you all right, Mom?” I asked

“Oh… I’m fine,” she replied, “I just had this severe gas pain.”

“Are the children being good?”

“Of course!” she exclaimed, “Erik beat us three times at Memory.”

“Wow, Erik!  That’s great!”

Erik looked up and smiled at me.  Natasha went on sorting the cards.  They were both watching the clock waiting for the time to leave for V.B.S.  I finally headed back to work, still concerned about Barbara.  I made sure the children were ready to go.  Barbara was planning to walk with them as far as the church, to meet up with Albert and say her ‘good-byes’ to the MAPS team.

The afternoons were pretty quiet at the post office.  I would hurry and get the mail ready to be sent out before the mail truck arrived to pick it up.  Then the rest of my afternoon would be a few customers coming in to pick up their mail and sometimes visit.  I had just settled into my book, with music playing quietly in the background, when the phone rang.

“Anderson Post Office,” I started to say, “This is…”

“Louie!” a crackled voice came in, “I have… Barbara… at the church… she collapsed on me…waiting on ... ambulance… heart attack!”

“Oh-no!” I cried.

“Call Micah!” Albert said and then hung up the phone.

I almost began to cry as I dialed the number of the house.  When I reached the answering machine I left a quick message and then started to dial the house where Micah was working. I began to pray as I waited for the phone to ring.  I got the answering machine again.

“Micah!  If you’re there pick up the phone!” I said, “Mom is having a heart attack and Dad has her down at the church waiting for the ambulance!”

I started to pace the floor.  I was debating on whether I should stay or head on down to the church.  I was also frustrated I couldn’t reach Micah.  I just kept praying that Micah got one of my messages and the Albert and Barbara would be all right.  I was also thankful that the children were not there to see any of it.  Debating if I should try to call Micah again I kept pacing.  The phone rang.

“Ander…”

“Louie!”

“Micah!  Where are you?”

“I just heard your message!  I’m on my way to the church now!” he said with panic.

He hung up the phone.  I started to pace again.  After about five minutes I decided I couldn’t take it any longer.  I called my boss to see if she would mind if I ran down to the church to make sure everything was all right.  Once again, I reached the answering machine.  I left a message and then proceeded to close up the post office window.  I left a note saying I would be back in five minutes, and went over to let the city clerk know the same thing. Then started for the church.  

Two other cars were turning onto A Street, where the church was located.  When I arrived, the ambulance was already there and a small crowd of people was around Albert and Barbara. Micah was pacing back and forth in the parking lot.  

Barbara was in a tilted folding chair with an oxygen mask on. The PA and a nurse from the Air force base was arriving to make sure Barbara was stabilizing before transporting her to Fairbanks. Calls were being made for Guardian Flight to pick her up at the small airport in between Anderson and the base.  I looked in her eyes and saw a tremendous amount of fear.  She looked from me to Albert to Micah, trying to reassure us she was all right.  Albert remained by her side, as Micah kept pacing.

Fortunately, members of the MAPS team knew what to do and responded quickly.  They gave Barbara an aspirin to put under her tongue and grabbed the folding chair for her to sit on.  I really feel that they were a Godsend that day.  If they had left any earlier, I don’t know if Barbara would have made it until the ambulance arrived.

Micah finally calmed down and came over to where I was standing.

“You should head back to work,” he said, “It looks like they got everything under control.  I’ll stay with Dad.”

“I know,” I said, “I just wanted to make sure for myself.”

“I love you,” He said as he wrapped his arms around me, “I can’t lose her now.”

“She’ll be fine.  We’ll just keep praying.”

He let go of me and I headed back to the car.  Once I made it back to the post office and opened the window I sat down and started to pray.  Twenty minutes later, Micah walked up to the window.

“They took her to the airport,” he said quietly, “Dad left with them in the ambulance.”

“I’m almost done here.  We could go as soon as we pick up the kids.”

“Dad told me to wait until he can call us and she’s stable at the hospital.”

“Did you call Tim and Kandi?”

“Dad had already called them, they’ll be coming tomorrow.”

Micah stood there for a few more minutes before he decided to head home.  I only had an hour left of work, so I started my closing paperwork.  As soon as I was done I headed home.  The children would be walking home from V.B.S. and I figured I would let them walk instead of picking them up.  This way Micah and I could have a few minutes to collect our thoughts.  Micah was on the phone with his brothers to make sure they knew what was going on and praying.   When Erik and Natasha came into the house we sat them down and told them Grandma was in the hospital.  We all stayed home that night waiting for the phone to ring.  Erik sat quietly on the couch, while Natasha went and played with her toys.

Finally, around ten o’clock Albert called.  He told us that Barbara was stable and in the ICU.  The doctors were monitoring her heart to see if it would stabilize.  Albert told us that Tim and Kandi, Micah’s brother who lived in Anchorage, would be coming up the next day. 

We decided to wait until the following day to go in, just in case Albert needed us to bring anything.  I was still scheduled to work and the children did not want to miss V.B.S.  This way Micah could get things together at home and answer phone calls.  We could then wait for Tim and Kandi, and all go up together.  

The next day, Albert called wondering where we were.  Micah and I decided to pick up the children from V.B.S. and head on up to Fairbanks.  Apparently, Barbara was wondering why we weren’t there yet.  Albert met us in the parking lot and took us right up to the room.  

We weren’t for sure if the children could go in, but a nurse told us it was all right for a few minutes.  Erik stood back, unsure of all the machines.  Natasha walked right on up to Barbara’s bedside and laid some dandelions on the tray in front of Barbara (we didn’t know she had them).  Barbara then showed the children her “E.T. finger” where they monitored her heart rate. Erik relaxed and started to investigate all the cool machines. Natasha stayed right next to Barbara’s side taking everything in.

Albert decided to take the children down to the cafeteria for ice cream.  

Micah and I stayed behind so we could talk with Barbara. Micah stayed for a few minutes, but left when the nurse came in to take Barbara’s vitals.  I stayed with her as the nurse checked everything out and then left.

“Who had the heart attacks in your family?” was the first thing that came out of my mouth.

Barbara smiled, “My mother had three before she died.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”  I shook my head, “We could’ve been watching for it better.”

“I didn’t want anyone to worry.”

“Your heartburn the other day?”

She just nodded her head.  I held onto her hand some more as we talked about other things to keep our minds off our surroundings.  Micah and Albert returned, so I stepped out to watch the children.  Ten minutes later, they came out of the room and we all walked to the cafeteria.  

Just as we reached the elevator, Tim and Kandi showed up with their two children, Brandi and Ivan.  We talked for a few minutes in the hallway, as they took turns visiting Barbara.  Then Micah and I suggested that Brandi and Ivan come back home with us for the night.  Tim and Kandi could stay with Albert.  Tim let us know that Randy, their brother from Idaho, was flying in that evening with his oldest daughter, Autumn.

The next day, Barbara went in for a stress test.  She said she felt fine, but when they hooked her up to all the monitors’ alarms started to go off.  The nurses quickly got her back into bed and stabilized.  It was then decided that she would be sent to Anchorage for surgery.  Albert and Randy got plane tickets to fly from Fairbanks to Anchorage.  Tim, Kandi, and autumn drove down to Anderson to pick up Brandi and Ivan, and some clothes for Albert and Barbara.  Micah and I followed them with our kids.

We spent the rest of the week at Tim and Kandi’s house while Barbara recovered from her surgery.  Micah and I headed back to Anderson after Barbara was released from the hospital to help lessen the chaos in the house.  We also wanted to make sure things would ready for when Albert and Barbara came home.  I instantly got together a dinner schedule for a week, so they would not have to cook meals.  Albert and Barbara’s friends would be flying in shortly after that, and I knew they would help to make sure Barbara took it easy.

We had missed Erik’s eye doctor’s appointment.  Luckily we were able to reschedule for the following week.  Since I had to be at work, Micah would take Erik into see the doctor on the morning of June 25th.  When the doctor examined Erik, they said he could use the glasses but that would not correct his eyesight.  We would probably be looking at surgery.  The doctor then fitted Erik for glasses and set up an appointment to see an ophthalmologist.   Micah and Erik returned home that evening and filled me in with everything the doctor had told them.

“Surgery?” I asked again.

“Yeah,” sighed Micah, “Just what we need after Mom.”

“I guess when it rains it pours.”

Erik’s glasses arrived in the mail the following week.  He was so excited to have them.  He would talk about how he could see things better. Erik continued to go to the school for tutoring. When Erik’s teacher commented on his improvement in reading, he told her is was his glasses.

As Barbara continued to recover from her surgery I started to take on more of her duties at the church.  It was time for our Brush Arbor service on July 7th.  I made sure the church was decorated and coordinated the food, so Barb would not have to worry about any of it.  There was also a going away party scheduled for the following Friday that I took charge of.  I had a busy week ahead of me between the two events and work.

Then the ophthalmologist’s office called and had a cancellation that week.  They could see Erik on Thursday, July 11th.  I had the day off, but had a doctor’s appointment scheduled and needed to pick up food for the going away party.  Micah and I took separate cars into Fairbanks, since we weren’t for sure how long either appointment would last.  Micah borrowed Albert’s cell phone to keep in touch with everyone at home.

When I finally made it home, Albert told me they had heard from Micah.

“The doctor ordered an emergency MRI,” Albert said, “He believes there’s nerve damage in the eye and he wants to make sure.”

“When?” was all I could ask.

“They’re waiting to get in right now.”

I could not believe what I was hearing.  Everything just seemed to slip into a fog.  Around four o’clock Micah and Erik walked into the house.  The first thing I noticed was Erik wasn’t wearing his glasses.  He was mumbling something when they came in, but I didn’t catch what was said.

“Where’s your glasses?” I asked

“Don’t need ‘em,” Erik answered shortly.

I looked at Micah for further explanation.

“The doctor said if it is nerve damage they’ll have to do surgery.  We won’t know until the MRI.”

“I thought that was today?”

“They couldn’t get us in until tomorrow at noon.  The doc wanted us to stay in town overnight, but I told him we had to get home.”

Fear started to creep in as we talked.  Micah started to make phone calls to get people to pray.  I called my parents in Idaho.  I felt better after our conversation.  I had to believe everything would be all right.  Surgery scared me, and I did not want Erik to have to go through it.  

Later that night, Micah and I talked in bed.  We both were feeling apprehensive over the whole situation.  It was a little too much to deal with, especially right after we almost lost Barbara.  We kept reassuring each other that God would take care of Erik and he would be all right.  Erik had to be all right.

The next morning, Micah and Erik left for Fairbanks.  I had to work, so Natasha went to over to “help” Grandma out.  Albert stuck around so Barbara wouldn’t feel she had to do things for Natasha.  That Friday had to be the longest workday I ever endured.  I kept hoping the phone would ring with news.  As soon as I got off work I went to get Natasha.  Albert and Barbara had heard nothing either.  I went home to see if there was at least a message on the answering machine.  Nothing.  I knew I couldn’t just sit around the house waiting, so I went over to the church to start getting ready for the going away party.  At least my mind would be preoccupied.

Another lady from the church came to help me.  We kept talking about different things, which helped my mind stay off the clock.  Just as we were setting vases of flowers on the tables Albert walked into the room.

“Micah called,” he stated.

I looked up at him and noticed he couldn’t stand still.  Something was wrong.  Albert never acted this jittery unless something was wrong.  Yet, I still looked for some glimpse of hope.

“They’re flying him to Seattle to the Children’s Hospital for surgery on Monday.”

I felt my whole body go numb.  I couldn’t even speak.  I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“They found a tumor on the brain stem,” Albert finally said.

A tumor.  Brain stem.  My mind was trying to process, but nothing seemed to function.  My Erik has a tumor.  I felt my hand reach up to cover my gaping mouth.  Tears were forming and I knew I couldn’t stop them.  All my feet could do was remain motionless.  I felt an arm around me, and then a hug, but all I could do was watch Albert’s face.  This can’t be happening.  Not to us.  Not to Erik.

“Are…are they coming home?” I finally asked.

“They’re on their way now,” Albert reassured me, “Micah has to stop and get a prescription for a steroid before they leave town.”

“How’s Mom doing?”

“She’s doing fine.”

I finished getting things ready for the party.  It would help to stay distracted until Micah and Erik could make it home.  I had at least an hour and half to wait.  I worked on getting the food trays ready as people started to show up.  News of Erik spread fast.  People kept coming up to me to give me hugs as I kept trying to work.  I did not want to stop because I knew I would fall apart if I did.  

Albert and Barbara showed up to visit for a few minutes.  Barbara pulled me aside, with tears in her eyes.  I knew I was about ready to lose it.  I was concerned that the news of Erik would be too much for Barbara, a trigger something in her heart again.

“I need to tell you something,” she said.

We moved to a corner so we would not be disturbed.

“For three nights now I’ve been having a dream,” Barbara began, “I was wondering around with one of my grandchildren.  I couldn’t see which one it was.  We were heading somewhere but got lost.  It was dark and we couldn’t find our way.  Then a man appeared and showed us where to go.  Where there was light and peace.  I know now that the grandchild I had with me was Erik.”

I began to cry, but fought to hold it in.  She reached in and hugged me and I held on to her tightly.

“It will be all right,” she told me, “God has everything under His control.”

I finished setting up for the party.  Then I went to say good-bye and give my well wishes to our departing friend.  She hugged me tight and told me she would be praying for us.  When I looked at her tears started to form in her eyes.  I quickly made sure everything was going smoothly before I left to go home.  I wanted to be there before Micah and Erik.

When Micah and Erik walked through the door to the house I noticed Micah’s arms were full of papers, bags of prescriptions, and a very large yellow envelope.  The envelope had large red letters that read: Do no bend. X-rays.  My eyes must have lingered to long on the envelope, because Micah began to explain what all he had.

“These are the MRI pictures we have to take with us on the plane.  Here’s the letter of reference for the doctors…” 

As he continued to speak I tried very hard to focus on what he was saying.  Micah told me about the doctor’s visit to get the results from the MRI.  Apparently when he showed up at the office, the staff immediately ushered him in a room to speak with the doctor privately.  Then Micah was sent to the upstairs offices to see a pediatrician named Dr. Mary McFarland.  She did further exams on Erik’s balance.  That is when he was given the prescription for the steroid to help with any swelling in the tumor until we get to Seattle.  Dr. McFarland began to order immediate flights out, but since we were still on Medicaid through the State of Alaska, the ticket vouchers would not be ready until Monday.  Micah would have to go back into Fairbanks to pick them up.

We settled in for the evening.  I called my family in Idaho to tell them what was happening.  The news was very shocking and upsetting to everyone.  We then called my uncle who lived in Woodinville, Washington to see if we could stay with them. He said we would be more than welcomed, and they could help us out since their daughter had just had gone through a similar situation.  The last thing we needed to work out was my plane ticket.  The State of Alaska would only pay for one parent to accompany the child.  There was no way I would be left behind.