Wednesday, July 1, 2009

I don't have enough on my mind?

And just when I thought things were going to be dull.... my younger sister called me last week to tell me she had returned from the emergency room. She may have had a stroke. Maybe. Probably. She had all the signs but apparently they did a CAT scan (negative) but not an MRI. She went to see a neurologist who told her she probably had a mini stroke (trans ischemic attack) but couldn't be sure until he saw an MRI. Then she told me she wasn't sure her health insurance would cover it (they did, but she had to pay 20% of it) and now she won't have the results til tomorrow. She says it's still hard for her to find the right words. I'm not freaking out. I sent her some money and told her to gather her friends and neighbours for support as apparently her husband wasn't handling things too well. If something horrible happened, I couldn't get there fast enough to make a difference. My first thought was that I should be on a plane to stay there until we find out the results. However, it came exactly at the time when I should be on a plane to meet a birthmother.

I get an email from a client last night and have less than 2 days to transcribe several hours of notes before my friends arrive from out east. By which time I will have found out what's up with my sister. And then they leave, and then I'm leaving. Now I'm thinking I should be with my sister. The problem? If I go this will cause a great deal of stress on DH who would be footing the whole bill. It's a good thing I'm making money this week. He is not fond of my sister. Well, that's an understatement. Not to worry, he'll do the right thing, he's a good man, but if I can limit my stay with her for a week.... There's the dog, my mother left behind for him to deal with, this whole birthmother meeting..... Some how I feel like I should fix everything for everybody. Just waive my magic wand and make everyone happy and healthy.

Got to get to work now.... might be able to post later this weekend.

Happy Canada Day!

6 comments:

Guera! said...

Yowzers! I am so sorry. A stroke? I hope she is ok. Older or younger sister? You didn't ask for my opinion but here it goes....if you have to choose between meeting the birthmother and seeing your sister. Meet the birthmother. That's my gut feeling. I could write a couple of paragraphs on why I would choose that but I will spare you. Stay in touch with your sister but go meet the birthmother. Having said that obviously you should do what you believe you should do but if there's any doubt that's my two cents.
Happy Canada Day. I was in Toronto on Canada Day several years ago. What fun that was!

cowboyboot lady said...

Good luck meeting the birthmother next week. How exciting! I am really sorry to hear about your sister. It must be hard waiting for the MRI results. I know what you mean...wouldn't it be nice to be able to be everywhere all at one time! You will make the right decisions...whatever is right for you.

Evergreen said...

Wow, that's a lot to deal with at one time. I'm sorry to hear about your sister - scary. You'll do the right thing - whatever that is for you.

loribeth said...

Yikes!! It never rains but it pours, doesn't it? I'm sorry about your sister -- scary stuff. It's a tough call as to when you should hop on a plane for these things... but I think the birthmother is the right choice at this point. Good luck & positive thoughts all round!

annacyclopedia said...

Oh, Deathstar! What a week! I'm sending good, healing thoughts to your sister, and all my love to you. Keep up the good work not freaking out and just taking it all one moment at a time. A TIA is scary but hopefully with the right treatment she can avoid further episodes. Both my Granddad and FIL have had them - although obviously they are much older than your sister - and so far have recovered without further incidents.

I'll be keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Barely Sane said...

Sorry to hear about your sister - how very scary for all of you.

Obviously the decision of where to be is yours alone to make but I think if you look at the last couple months of posts, it's obvious where your heart is on the subject. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is help ourselves before we help others.

Either way, I can see you have a lot to think about these days.