Years ago, when Tierney was three years old… we were visiting friends who had a dog I never trusted. Needless to say, the dog bit Tierney in the face. We rushed her to the hospital. I am sure I was a sight to see… 6 months pregnant… sobbing … carrying my daughter into the hospital… head wounds bleed a lot … There was a crowd at admissions, but they just let us come right through. I was holding it together as best I could. I was filled with guilt… I also had a scar on my lip all my life… now my daughter… my poor baby… she was a perfect angel … she stopped crying… and was so good for the nurses as them came in to check on her. It took some time for the plastic surgeon to come… when he arrived my husband was there too.
The surgeon explained the surgery.. and told me I could stay in the room, or leave.. my preference. I said I had to leave… it was time for me to let go… When my husband was asked if he would stay.. he said my wife needs me more… he could see I was a pregnant woman on the edge. I do love him so much for that.
We kissed Tierney and told her we would be right outside. I ran to the bathroom and began to sob uncontrollably… snot running down my face… couldn’t catch my breath… I came out to Frank… he sat me down and held me for a bit. My world was rocked and I was crumbling.
A woman next to me in the waiting room could see my pain. She asked me what was wrong. I told her my story… a dog bit my daughter in the face… I could barely get the story out… I was sobbing so hard. She put her hand on my knee… told me everything was going to be okay… I felt comforted my her. I calmed.
When my sobs subsided, I finally asked her why she was there. She explained to me, her 17 year old daughter was in a car accident and they didn’t think she was going to make it. BAM!
I was shot right back into reality. My life was fine… Tierney was fine… there was no reason for the drama. Things could be so much worse, and were for this wonderful caring woman next to me.
We sat silently together after that. When Tierney’s surgery was done, they called us to come be with her. I hugged this angel in woman’s clothes good-bye. I never saw her again.
The gift of sharing time with her will stay with me all my life. No matter how difficult you think things are … you can think they are so much better… in a moment I went from devastation to relief. I was blessed to have been touched by that Angel.
Blessings to her and all she does,
Karen
