It’s So Helpful To Know You Are Not Alone

I was just finishing up a business meeting when my husband called yesterday to tell me he needed to get to the emergency room. Now anyone who knows my husband Rollin can understand why hearing those words over the phone shook me – My husband grew up on a dairy farm and he is stubborn as a pack mule and strong as an ox and the last thing he would ever do willingly is go to the emergency room.  I put the pedal to the metal and rushed home to get him. 

When I arrived I saw the blood vessels on his eyelid and around his eyes were broken from the force with which he’d been throwing up.  He was holding his stomach and doubled over in pain. I got him into the car and rushed him over to the hospital.  He kept saying he was shivering cold, which he’s never said before as he’s always the guy complaining the temperature is too hot…it was clear things were bad.

By the time they had us back in a bed he described his pain as a 9 or 10 on a 1-10 scale. A few minutes later he said the pain was up to a 12.  …I’ve gotta say it was really scary to see my husband like that. He is always the big, strong man who acts like he can handle anything – literally the man could have a limb hanging by a thread and would probably say it was only a 2 or a 3 on the pain scale so for him to say it was a 12, I knew it was bad.

Watching as the nurses hooked him up to two different IVs at the same time in order to get pain medication and fluids into his system fast enough as he groaned in misery was rough. He was shivering cold and kept asking for more and more blankets until he literally had probably 15 blankets over him and he was still cold.  The nurses kept drawing so much blood I thought I might pass out myself! 

I stayed totally calm in front of my husband – I didn’t want him to see how scared I was because I knew that would just make things harder on him, but the truth is I was really scared. My husband is my rock and I wasn’t prepared to see him like that…

Tonight we still don’t know what’s causing the pain he’s in– all we know is his body is fighting an infection of some kind and all we can do is wait to see what his lab results show when they come back. We’ve been allowed to bring him back home again now that he has pain medication and fluids in him and that’s allowing him to sleep while we wait to get the results, so that’s a blessing. Here’s hoping he wakes up tomorrow feeling a million times better!

I’m so grateful for the outpouring of love and support so many sent when they heard Rollin was sick.  Not only for the love it shows they have for Rollin, but for the comfort it was to me as I was trying so hard to be the strong wife when all I really wanted to do was breakdown and cry.  So thank you for that. And thank you for the prayers offered on his behalf.

When things go wrong in life it’s so helpful to know you are not alone.

~Amy Rees Anderson (author of the book “What Awesome Looks Like: How To Excel in Business & Life” )

6 Comments

  • Carol Walker says:

    Sending love and prayers! Love, Carol Walker

  • Craig Spjute says:

    We are praying for all of you. Rollin is a great man–

    • Anonymous says:

      Gosh, that really sounds traumatic Amy. I’m praying he’s better really soon. Hang in there! I don’t know anyone stronger than you. All good wishes

  • Linda Campbell says:

    I’m so sorry he’s so sick! I can really empathize- I’m hovering near the couch for two days with a nasty chest cold & headache hoping it’s not the flu. Made the mistake of watching a documentary called Pandemic on Netflix- scary. Being sick makes you realize we often take our health for granted! Hugs!

  • Howard Hyden says:

    Stay strong Roland. You’ll beat this bug, I’m sure. Roland needs a strong person at his side during this discomfort and I can’t think of anyone better that you. I’m sure he know that. My prayers are going out for both of you. Stay Awesome my friends/

  • Howard Hyden says:

    Stay strong Roland. You’ll beat this bug, I’m sure. Roland needs a strong person at his side during this discomfort and I can’t think of anyone better that you Amy. I’m sure he know that. My prayers are going out for both of you. Stay Awesome my friends/

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