One Day Changes Everything

One day can change your life forever - It's not really true... One second can make all the difference in the world.

2 weeks ago I wrote a blog about a man I barely knew who lost his life while fighting for our freedom. This week, it's about a man I've known all my life who was fortunate enough to have his life saved.

Monday morning my father had a heart attack. My mom saved his life. She probably doesn't realize it, but she did. As I sit here and type, while everything seems crystal clear, everything for about 17 hours is a total blur. The 5:45 a.m. phone call, the 1.5 hour drive to Temple (that might I say, I don't even remember), the waiting and more waiting. I keep playing it all back and every time all I know is that we are so very lucky. I've still got my Dad - the first man I ever loved, the one man who taught me how to love unconditionally.

Mom gave him that aspirin... Mom took him to the hospital... Mom saved Dad. She will credit doctors and nurses and the science of medicine, but it was her quick thinking and strong will that kept him here.

I cannot for the life of me imagine my life without either of them. They are not old, they are supposed to be here forever. All I know is that Dad's time wasn't up - God has bigger plans for him and I am so grateful for that. I talk to God, but over the past 48+ hours, he and I have been best friends. Maybe I am selfish, but I am not ready for him to go either. It's just not his time.

I am so blessed with a wonderful family. My husband, who was at my side every second on Monday, man I love him. When he realized something was wrong with that phone call, he immediately started making calls and rearranging schedules (yes, at 5:45 am) so that we could get on the road. My brother, the stoic one, he was worried, but he was so strong and held it all together although I know he was just as worried as I was. Misty, who somehow got those kids ready for school and never let on that anything was happening - I don't know how she did it. My in-laws who sent texts and prayed for us that day. And most of all, my Mom. What would we do without her? She is our rock - the glue that holds us all together. Man was she brave. She went from one hospital, to another - from a room to the ER to the Cardiac Center, with each move I'd get a call on how to find her once we got to the hospital.

My Dad is one lucky man - the doctors tell him that every chance they get. We are one lucky family. Over the last 3 days, I thank God every second of every minute. I thank him for giving us a second chance. I keep pushing forward and I am trying so hard not to think of all of the "what if's" that could have happened. They didn't, so there...

Tomorrow is a new day - a new chance to make wonderful memories. We will take that family cruise in December and 2010 will be a whole new year!

I ask my friends to always remember to tell people you love them. Maybe it seems goofy, but it's not. One second is all it takes to change everything.

I called to check on Dad tonight - I've done that every night this week. The best part was that tonight, Dad answered the phone. No nurse giving me an update, it was the man himself, sitting there watching Batman and talking to his daughter - It doesn't get any better than that!

Thanks to all of my wonderful friends. You will never know what the calls, texts and e-mails meant.

Love to you all.

shelly

Life as we know it

A soldier died this week. A soldier Dave and I were honored to spend time with 3 years ago. Close friends, no, more like acquaintances in passing. How blessed we were to get to know him. Darryn Andrews made an impact on our lives and leaves an footprint in our hearts.

His smile lit up a room, his sense of humor would not be topped. He was a star in his own right.

He told us stories of his first tour of duty, the good, the bad and the ugly. He lit up when telling these stories. This was his life, it is what he lived to do.

It's times like this you question "why?" Over the past few days, with this hitting home, I wondered why in the hell are we over there fighting this war? What are we really hoping to get out of it. And then, it was pointed out to me today that I cannot question why... Darryn died a hero, he died doing what he believed was the thing he was called upon to do for everyone of us. As his brother said in an interview, it was something bigger than life itself.

His was the ultimate sacrifice. His family and friends will miss him terribly, a community will remember their American Hero. Everyone is in mourning, but everyone will get through this together. The community will rise above this and be a better place for having been blessed, even for a short time, with Darryn.

To his family, thank you for sharing him with the world. It is your unselfish giving that allowed the rest of us to know how special he was and always will be. May God Bless you and may the wings of Angels carry you through this difficult time.

Thank you our Hero...