FOREVER MINE

SICK MOTHER

Just then, her phone started ringing. She could hear it ring but did not know where she kept it. She remembered she had put it beside her bag just in the purse, she quickly went to it to check the caller ID. It was her brother calling. She quickly did a mental check of why he might be calling her at this hour of the night. Is Mum okay? She quickly picked up to find out why he was calling before the call ended.

“Hello!”

“Hello! Linda! It’s mum, she was rushed to the hospital. I would not have called you, but the situation at hand seems serious”.

“What! What happened to her? She said with a shaky voice.”

“I got a call this afternoon from Hannah. She called to tell me that mum had fainted and had been rushed to the hospital. She said she tried calling you too, but your number was not reachable”.

Oh! My goodness! What about dad? Where is he? How is he handling the situation?

Dad’s not around, he went for a business trip, and he’s not back.

She remembered her dad had told her about the trip, and he’d be spending about a week there.

She started shaking “please hold on. I’m coming right away. I will take the next available flight.

After the call ended, she held her chest as if it was going to fall out, she felt an indescribable pain. She dialed Jasmine's number, but she didn’t pick up. She quickly texted her. “I’m on my way to the airport, my mum is sick”.

She hurriedly packed her bag, took her passport and headed for the airport.

Hannah, her parents’ house help had called her to inform her about the incident, but it seems that the network at Alex’s house was poor, hence, reason why she couldn’t reach her.

Five years ago, her mother was diagnosed with Lupus. She has always complained of fatigue, dryness in the mouth and muscular pain, when the discomfort was getting unbearable for her, they had decided to take her to the hospital for a proper checkup. Her father had acted strongly even though the news of his dear wife's diagnosis broke him, he needed to be strong for her and their children.

“Mr. Jasper Anderson, can I see you in my office please?” the doctor said, not wanting to break the news in the presence of everyone in the private ward.”

With raised brows, he asked, “I hope there’s no problem, Doctor, you can say what you want to say here Doctor, we are all family.”

“There’s no problem, Mr. Anderson, but I would like to see you privately.”

When the doctor broke the news to him in his office, he had shed a tear. “I have always known my wife to be strong, she does not deserve this.”

“I know Mr. Anderson, but the situation can be managed well. If she follows instructions, she will be good and live a normal life, she just needs a change in diet and lifestyle, that’s all.” The doctor said, trying to lift his mood.

Thank you, Doctor, he said, shaking the doctor’s hand. When he got to his wife’s ward he tried to hide his emotions, but Linda noticed his sullen look and quickly asked what happened.

“What happened Dad? What did the Doctor say?”

Seeing that he couldn’t hide anymore, he gave them the report.

“Your mum has been diagnosed with lupus.” He saw their sad expression and quickly added, “the Doctor said it can be managed. Don’t worry, she will be fine.

The news had left the whole family devastated, but they had to be strong for her.

What a weekend, while is everything working as though the universe is working against me, let my mum be safe, she said under closed breath.

Linda ran into the Cedars-Sinai hospital with her luggage and quickly inquired of the receptionist about her mother’s ward.

When she saw her mother’s condition, lying almost lifeless on the hospital bed, her heart broke for her. She felt so sorry for her mother, she must be going through a lot of pain. Her brother Lucas caught the sight of her, he stood and gave his sister a hug, and she couldn’t hold it anymore as she broke into tears on her brother’s shoulder. He gently patted her on her back, saying "it is okay, she will be fine.”

She sat by her mother’s bedside and patted her hand lightly.

“Don’t worry mum, the doctors here are very good at their job, you will be fine in no time.” she said, even though she knew her mother was sedated.

Just as the doctor came in to announce the next procedure to them, Mr. Anderson came in fidgeting. He couldn’t keep his nervousness this time. His son, Lucas, had called him and updated him about the issue on ground. He had taken the next available flight, to be by his wife.

“Hello! Doctor”

“Welcome Mr. Anderson, I was just about to say the next procedure before you came in”.

“Okay, let’s hear it please”

“We would have to do emergency surgery on your wife, though she’s out of danger now, but if we don’t carry out the operation now her condition might become worse or even lead to the unthinkable.”

“Oh!”

“The lupus nephritis affected some tissue around her kidney, leading to inflammation of the kidney. This inflammation can progress rapidly, and it can cause kidney failure or severe hypertension. We need to operate on her before the condition gets worse”.

“Okay Doctor! Do everything you can to save my wife.”

“Alright, I will bring the document for you to fill and sign, and we will do the operation first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Okay thank you, Doctor”. They shook hands and the Doctor excused himself.

The following morning, as early as 7:30 am, the nurse came. They had instructed Mrs. Anderson not to eat any food, her stomach needed to be empty, they prepped her for the surgery, and they rolled her on the stretcher to the operating room.

After about seven hours, the surgeon came out of the theater, removing his clinical gloves, on his way to his office, but the Andersons were waiting earnestly just outside the operating room to hear about how it went.

Seven hours felt like eternity to them, they were tossing up and down the hallway waiting to hear good news.

“The surgery went well”, the surgeon announced. “Though it was a critical operation and Mrs. Anderson faced some unexpected complications during the surgery that required us to take immediate action. It was a very challenging moment, but I assure you that our team responded swiftly and effectively, we manage to stabilize her, and she’d be taken to her ward for close monitoring. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and we will continue to keep you informed.”

“Thank you so much Doctor.” Mr. Anderson said in relief that his wife was okay.

Linda and her brother too heaved a sigh of relief as tension was written all over their faces.

The recovery was fast, but Linda stayed behind to be with her mother at this period. They were taking turns sleeping over at the hospital.

After two weeks, Mrs. Anderson was discharged and Linda announced she’d be going back to school the following week. She booked her flight and went back to California.