It’s not always a wrong number

You know those evenings:  the kids are in bed asleep, you and the hubby are just relaxing watching a movie.  Okay, a late movie, but tomorrow won’t be a terribly taxing day and it is nice to just share some quiet time.

Then the phone rings and you think, who would call at this hour?  Ah, wrong number!  Or, maybe mom, just to say hi.  Well, it was mom, but she sounded funny.

"Are you okay?" I asked.  "Not really", was the reply, "I am on the way to ICU." 

It was one of those phone calls.  The nail-biters that come out of nowhere, just when you have settled back into your calm existence, anticipating the holidays, but knowing, for once, everyone seemed healthy and happy.

But she isn’t, according to her doctor, who called an ambulance after an initial examination this morning.  When mom first mentioned her problem, she simply said "heart blockage" and I didn’t really think.  Then I talked to the nurse and she actually said the words "heart attack", which made my own heart skip quite a few beats.

So she is on her way to ICU, but I can’t help but worry.  We are no longer a three hour drive.  We are now a five hour flight, if we are able to get tickets.  So, we are finishing the movie and instead I wonder if maybe we should have just spent the money to go home or if I should be rapidly reserving a flight.  The nurse said, "Not yet", but when does one really know?