Part Two: When the sun rises

The sun finally rises. I decide to use all my energy to get out of bed. I need to pack. I make my way to the kitchen. I am overwhelmed with joy when I see my father sleeping on the couch. I know he will wake up when I make some noise. I am still ambivalent if I should seek medical care. I tell myself, "I will take my temperature. If I am running a fever, I will go to the emergency department." I find a thermometer on my night stand. I take my temperature. It reads 101.8 degrees. I reluctantly make a final decision. I am going to the emergency department.

I slowly gather up some of my belongings. Moving very sluggishly, I immediately am overwhelmed with fatigue. I think I might collapse from sheer exhaustion. I push through the fatigue. I return to the kitchen and start making some noise. My father wakes up. I use all my strength to speak. "I feel very ill. I need to go to the emergency department." My father immediately wakes up. He bolts off the couch and heads for his bedroom. I can hear him wake up my mom. Very soon, my parents are running around the house, trying to pack and load the car as quickly as possible.

I continue to collect my belongings. I am so weak, I am shaking. I collapse a few times. My head is spinning. Nothing makes sense. I wonder if I will have the strength to make the 400 mile journey to the medical center. My mom immediately tells me not to move. She tries to finish packing for me. After resting a while, I finally have the strength to head for the car and collapse into the backseat.

The journey to the medical center is quite hazy. I constantly am in and out of slumber land. I am often surprised how much time passed between my bouts of consciousness. Thankfully, traffic is very light during our travels; my father makes record time getting to the emergency department. About 90 minutes from the hospital, my right shoulder explodes in pain. I attempt to get comfortable, but nothing helps relieve the incredible pain pulsating in my shoulder. When we are 45 minutes from the medical center, I receive an email from my pulmonologist. She gives instructions on what I should do when I arrive at the emergency department.

At 3 p.m., we arrive at the emergency department entrance. As I cross the threshold of the building, I am overwhelmed with the number of people waiting. My heart sinks. I am so sick. I do not think I have the strength to wait several hours for medical treatment. I send up a prayer to God. "Thank You for Your abundant blessings. Thank You that You gave me the ability to endure the long car ride. But, Lord, look at all these people. Please help me get medical treatment fast. Please continue to shower upon me Your loving kindnesses. Amen."


(Link to Part Three click here)