"The Errand Of Angels is Given to Women"

Today started normal. It was a typical Saturday. I woke up and got Diane and we were going out and about, running errands, etc.

We went to Red Robin (yum!) for lunch. And typical Diane went on her phone to check facebook towards the end of lunch.

Then the day took a change.

She looked at me and said "oh my goodness, Julz. Have you seen this?"
My friend had posted she was at the ER with her 16 month old daughter. She had swallowed a penny and it was stuck in her throat. She was able to breath, but that was it. She couldn't eat or drink and barely speak.

The X-ray

At first I was like "oh no! she'll call if she needs me." Then I thought about it more. Her husband typically works Saturdays and is about an hour away. And her mom travels....The thought of her alone with her baby at their first ER trip made me sick.

I tried to call, but she didn't answer. I told Diane I needed to go to the hospital. With out skipping a beat she replied "I'm going with you" was her reply. We went straight to Fair Oaks Hospital. We showed up right as they were getting ready to transfer them to Fairfax Pediatric ER were they would  put her under and remove the penny.

The Penny

I basically left Diane in the parking lot, I was running. I ran in and my poor friend was sobbing, her daughter throwing up and her husband just unsure of what to do. We agreed I would take Diane home and I would meet them at Fairfax.

The whole time there two things happened:
1. I hit every red light. Every darn one. I'm unsure if Heavenly Father was teaching me patience or Satan trying to stop me.

2. I couldn't get the words out of my head "The errands of angels is given to women." The whole drive and whole time I was there. I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Having been to Fairfax with Kelli a month earlier and going every week the previous year I knew my way mostly around. I was able to direct her mom and home teachers to the room. And stay with my friend's mom while my friend and her husband were with their daughter in recovery.

When I got to Fairfax they asked if I had any relation to the patient. I said her mother was my sister... Not a total lie, right? 

Chloe went under and got the penny removed with out a hitch. Diane new the ENT that preformed the removal and kept reassuring us "she's in good hands." I'm happy to say she's home and starting to be her old self again.

I reflected on my experience at the hospital with Kelli. I was terrified. I kept myself together. I knew I had to be calm for Kelli.

But you know what I needed?

A friend.

My home teachers were busy, my visiting teachers never called, a few friends called when I had arrived at Fairfax and at that point was done. I was so dehydrated, so hungry, so sick of doctors, nothing was going to help me at that point. 

The doctors, nurses, radiologist, etc are focused on the child. On their comfort, needs, wants, etc. your spouse is also focused on the child.

But no one is looking out for the parents.
Have they eaten? Slept? Or even just gone to the bathroom? Are they comfortable?

I needed someone to just sit there with me. To talk to me about the new movie out, or the latest celebrity gossip. I needed that joke or that hug.

And I didn't get it.

But I wanted my friend to have that.

So while I didn't really do anything, I hope I made that joke or gave her that hug that was needed.