Opinion : Memories are the worst part of the wait

This last week had a little extra going on in my world. I'm slowly learning how to compartmentalize...a little bit. I've finally learned how to shut off work when it's done for the week...for the most part. I've learned how to realize that when I need to step away during the week, to just do it. I've learned how to take time for a little bit of "fun" though my idea of fun would be boring to most.

So when my extended family had a bit of a scare last week as one of my relatives was airlifted to Iowa City, I quickly tried to keep all my worries at bay. Set them to the side, while I worked and then took them of the shelf when I was done. It wasn't the first time that I had heard the words "brain tumor" in our family. What none of us were saying out loud were the worries that we had. We had lost an aunt the last time we heard these words. She was a mere 46 when she passed.

It has been a week of holding our breath and an awful lot of praying. There was waiting while the doctors tried to get other things regulated before surgery. Then when things were getting better, there was putting the patient under again with medical help until the patient could better mend. It hasn't been easy for them, or for their immediate family.

For those of us a step removed, we had memories of the last time we went through this, and dreading what could be. Our family feels very fortunate that we're all still here. It was just a blip of time on the radar for us. At the same time, we knew the devastation that a little slip could make, or some little thing to not go correctly.

After what seemed like an eternity of waiting for the surgery to be completed and the results given, we finally got word that things would be alright. It really does feel like you have been holding your breath until you give that sigh of relief.

Sometimes people mock the whole idea of praying for someone, but I'm a big believer that prayer matters. When someone asks you for prayer, send them up. For many in my circle who prayed, thank you.

It's times like these that I appreciate those of you that deal with family emergencies every day, for the rest of us. Even though this call didn't require a local response team from my town, I am reminded of all of the EMTs, police officers, fire department, and those who fly Life Guard, the nurses, doctors, and everyone who assists families every day. Saying, "thank you" never feels like enough. Thank you for your care, Thank you for following your calling. Thank you for all of the extra hours of training you take so that you can do what you do. Thank you for the service that you put in for all of us, especially in times like this. Most of us won't need anything as drastic, but when we do, we really do need you, thanks in advance.

But most of all, God, thank You once again.