A Year Ago I Almost Died
On December 30 2021 I was looking after a beautiful dog, my favorite, when I bent over to get my purse and instead of getting up, rocked straight back into the wall, hitting my head against the drywall so hard, I dented it. Then I vomited before losing consciousness. Fortunately, a friend was with me so she called 911 and all I can remember is big stomping boots, lights, and crisp winter air. The lights in my mind went out. The next time I regained consciousness it was after two brain surgeries.
Filling in the blanks between hitting the wall and the road to recovery involved talking to everyone who witnessed the events. Life-changing events rarely announce themselves ahead of time. Signals may show up like an early warning system but interpreting what they mean can be hit-and-miss.
After the first surgery, I regained consciousness to feel my daughter’s presence beside me, and the world started to make sense again. I could breathe. Then I saw my brother who lives in Edmonton and never travels my way. Normally that would have triggered a major flag of abnormality but the best I could say was: What are you doing here? The real question was What am I doing here lying in a hospital bed? My niece, a force in her own right, a nurse and now acupuncturist and healer, was also there assuming an advocacy role in her highly competent way.
