AN ANGEL 12

I was  in the kitchen just starting to make our luncheon soup. Mom was downstairs doing I don't know what. I heard a crash so I went to investigate. As I descended the stairs the scene that came into view sucked the life out of me. My angel was on the floor. Mom was on her right hip but she was twisted at her waist so that her back , head and arms were also on the floor. As I knelt beside her restraining my tears of agony she managed to say, "I missed the step".

While I was thinking of phoning 911 Mom made an effort to get up so I knew I could help her. As I gathered her into a sitting position I tried to console her and  asked her if she had hit her head. "Yes", she replied, so I checked it  and discovered a lump that fit nicely into the palm of my hand. Not one to sit around however, after a few minutes of hugging Mom rolled onto her hands and knees and with my help she stood.

Mom sat on her bench by the widow and composed herself as I continued to fuss. When I told her I wanted to take her to the clinic she said she didn't want to go. I insisted, she refused. I said, "Yes". She said, "No". I said, "Yes", so we went. On the way to the clinic Mom kept insisting she was all right and at the end of an hour the doctor confirmed Mom's diagnosis and lessened my concerns.

Throughout the entire ordeal Mom did not shed a tear either in pain or self-pity. Over the next few hours she apologized several times for putting me to so much trouble and for frightening me. I accepted her apologies without mentioning the true extent of my 'injuries'. I will now be thinking of her fall every time Mom goes near the stairs. Her fall was also a brutal, unbelievably painful reminder of the coming time I will not be able to console her.

Comments

[elia]

i guess in some ways it was bound to happen.Nana is not old yet...but in the same respect not quite as young as she used to be. Your doing an awesome job Uncle Doug. Nana is tough and always has been...not one to cry...she has been my grandma for almost 21 years and i can not remember seeing her shed one tear.When we lost papa-yes...but that is a different sort of tears for a unrelentless pain...you can do nothing but cry. I know she was thankful to have you there...but i want to say thank you too. How many people fall...and have no one to console them...make sure they are ok and pick them up? How many parnets who poured their whole lives into their children are left by themselves when they are the people who deserve and have earned our love and attention the most? So for being there to help her up-being her angel...I thank you. I truly believe that God sees what your doing as important as anything...loving someone else and investing your whole in them...taking good care of nana-as I am sure you would agree she did for you. Thank you...thank you...thank you. I'm sure you're one of the best sons she could have prayed for...as I feel your one of the best uncles I could of hoped for. I sure am glad it turned out that way-that God not only decided to put me in this family that I have but that he thought enough of me to give me an uncle like you...and a grandma like Nana. I love you-Nana...and I miss you both.