This event took place on New Year’s Day in the evening.
Scary Call
“Teleaha put on your clothes; your mom is having chest pains!”
My grandma received a call from my aunt that my mom had chest pain around 10 PM. I had just finished texting my friends about Day 1 of Purpose Driven Life. I quickly got up from my bed and put on my clothes. Panic wanted to settle in my body, and I knew I couldn’t follow my feelings, so I went straight into praying.
I knew I asked God to help me with faith over fear. I had some agree with me in prayer at church earlier that day. I didn’t think I would have been put into practice this quickly.
As I’m driving to her house, God tells me to talk to Him as I drive. I told him that a million thoughts were going through my head. Doubt, fear, and anxiety. Also, hope, confidence, and faith.
My grandma and I arrive at her house. I called Adonica, a close friend, to pray for my mom and texted my squad. I knew it had to be either a stroke or a heart attack by how she looked.
The ambulance was already there before we arrived, and my aunt called them.
I wanted to comfort my dogs and my mom simultaneously, and I was determined to stay strong. I called my dad to let him know what was happening with my mother. He told me to let him know if he needed to come to support, and I told him, “I would.”
When they put my mom in the back of the ambulance, my grandma and I hopped in the car to meet them there. We couldn’t sit in the back with my mom because of COVID restrictions. The EMT said that they would take good care of her.
Arrival at the Hospital
I called Adonica about my mom, and after, my grandma went inside. She told me to pray and release my faith like never before. It is in God’s hands, and He is in control. She said it is okay to cry, release my emotions, and take deep breaths. We don’t know why she is sick; maybe this could bring us closer together. May its God’s way of having her slow down.
I asked the lady at the front desk where my mom was; she said that she was getting a CT or CAT scan. I went to the bathroom, and I saw my slightly red eyes. I prayed once more, knowing that my shouting and praise at church weren’t for me but for my mom and her healing. I spoke in His spirit. I do not know what I said, but I know He was with me at that moment. I felt comforted. I returned to my car; I updated my dad on the situation.
I asked God for a sign that everything would be alright. The first song played was Joy in the Morning, and the next song was Relax by Marvin Sapp. A total of 10 minutes went by, and my mom FaceTime me and talked to me, saying that she had a blood clot in her brain and was having a stroke.
Wow! What a way for God to get you to grow in faith and not have fear. I knew He did this to help me grow spiritually.
Joy In the Morning
There were a lot of wake-up calls and moments of realization. When my aunt called, you could tell that she had been crying. I know she was sad, my mom has done a lot for you, and you have realized that you could have lost her. I had to realize how God kept her overnight. God had given me peace over the situation because He was in control.
Around 1:00 PM, the doctor confirmed that MRI showed that my mom had a mini-stroke. The doctor explained that she would have to undergo significant lifestyle changes. She would no longer be able to smoke because she smokes in response to stress and would have to talk to someone about her anxiety and how to manage it. And she would need to wear a nicotine patch to help the withdrawal for a week.
I updated my friends about my mom’s condition and what the doctor said.
Tough Conversations
On Wednesday, January 4, I had a challenging conversation with my mom. She was moved to a different room where she could be more mobile. I talked to her about how I felt she cared and showed more concern for her sister than myself. I explained how I didn’t feel a part of her story. I expressed how I felt invisible to her when she didn’t make an effort to want to spend time with me or call me; and how she was more willing to spend time with her “boyfriend.” She didn’t spend every day or call me every second. She told me that she did show how she thinks about me by getting me shoes or clothes.
Mom, you should have noticed the point of the conversation. It is about your presence in my life. I want to tell my children how I spent my time with her. I told her that I had to change what I expected from my mother because I kept getting hurt. I told her that I did not fault her because of the environment she grew up in. There were some head nods between the exchange to acknowledge what was being said. My mom asked about getting our nails done on Saturday, and I agreed.
They released my mom on Thursday afternoon.
Encouragement
You don’t know or understand why you go through what you do or the timing of it all. I am happy to see how I have grown spiritually. My first response was to pray when I heard the bad news. I would have been an emotional wreck if I had to go through this last year. In those moments, I had to take the posture of being a child of God. Of course, I am my mom’s daughter. I knew Who had control over the situation.
No one wants to see their parents go through any bad. I know this was a wake-up call for her to prioritize herself and put herself first. For myself, I need peace to know that God will help my mom in whatever way that may be. I need to work on setting boundaries with my mom as well. He knows what is best for the best of us.