The Silver Spoon

“Lab, calling holding on 103” After finishing the blood draw I bandaged the patient’s arm, wished him well and walked to answer the page I had gotten over the intercom. “This is Lizzy.” “Busy?” I recognized her voice immediately. “Hey momma. Yeah, I think everyone in Montgomery has been in today.” I had spent most of my life in and around the hospital at home so it was only fitting that I would do something in the medical field myself. My mother had been the nurse manager over our hometown emergency room but I had taken a different path and worked in the lab. When I moved to Montgomery six years ago I had accepted a job in this massive emergency room. It was always so busy. “What are you up to?” “Not much,” she replied. “I just had a question. How long does it take to get direct donor blood?” “Seventy-two hours from the time the donor donates until it is ready for the receipient. Is this a test?” I laughed. “No, just a question. I know you are busy so I won’t keep you. Will you call me if it slows down?” “Sure. Did you get the answer you needed?” I couldn’t imagine why she would be asking such a question and I was quite confused. “Yes, call me when you get a chance. Love you, little one.” Even though the ER was loud I could still hear her voice shaking as she said it. “I love you too. Is everything ok?” I heard a click on the other end as she disconnected. Before I could call her back the beeper on my hip began to chirp. Looking at the screen, “Trauma Alert, car accident, multiple victims.” Patient after patient poured into the ER over the next three hours. This had not just been a car accident but a head on collision with a church van filled to capacity and a carload of teenagers. It had taken medics time to get surviving victims cut from the wreckage. As they were triaged I collected blood from each one and made several trips to the blood bank to retrieve bags of blood for the severe patients. As I passed units of blood to the nurses I was drawn back to my conversation with my mother. Once the last patient had been taken care of I called the main lab to let them know I would be off the unit for few minutes. When I saw my relief walk through the door I grabbed my cell phone and went outside. I tried the house first, no answer. Workaholic, I thought as I dialed her emergency room number. “ER, this is Sandy.” “Hey Sandy, it’s Lizzy. Is momma around?” I asked. “Um, yes, but she’s not down here. Let me transfer you.” She sounded stressed but if she was having the same day as me I could completely understand. The phone rang a couple of times before I she picked up. I didn’t know how much time I had so I didn’t offer up any small talk. “So why did you need to know how long it would take to get blood?” I asked. “Well, I needed some and I knew we were the same type.” She replied. I waited a beat to see if she was going to elaborate but she said nothing. “What do you mean you needed some?” I felt a lump in my throat. Why would she need to receive blood? “Are you still at work?” “Yes, but I’m on break. What’s wrong?” I was trying to remain calm but it was becoming difficult. “I think we need to wait until you get home and discuss it then.” Her voice was shaking like it had before. My mother was never one to cry and I wasn’t sure she was now but something was upsetting her. “No, I think we need to discuss it now. Please tell me what’s wrong.” I pleaded. My mind was racing and I was imagining the worst but my worst thought could not have prepared me for what she was about to say. “Lizzy, I have a grapefruit size tumor on my cervix causing me to lose blood. I’ve been admitted to the hospital while they do some further testing. They think it’s cancer.” With those words our lives changed forever. Only God knew what would lie ahead of us. It was out of our control but I could have never fathomed what her cancer diagnosis would cost my family.