Matters of Conscience
Yesterday Mom became ill with intractable right lower quadrant pain ... in the absence of those things which normally cause this type of pain like her appendix and gallbladder. She gave me a call and there was nothing to consider. I told her as soon as I dressed I would depart and I made haste to her house and subsequently to the emergency room.
After a very lengthy stay in a crowded ER she received her first pain shot along with the nausea medication and it provided relief quickly as it was delivered intravenously.
Prior to our departure from the ER almost 8 hours after our arrival she was given another dose of pain medication, had a CAT scan with contrast — then was sent home with instructions and prescriptions.
Now the moral of the story involves behaviors in matters of conscience. My siblings want to project concern as long as it's under their terms. Emergency Room visits, illness, and such cannot be made to conform to a particular set of criteria in real time because they involve too many unknowns.
I recall mom repeatedly apologizing to me for taking her to the hospital. All I could do is be glad I had the privilege of doing so. Love is not always a huggy kissie sort of thing. Often times the highest form of love you can provide is caring enough to be there in times of trouble regardless of the circumstances. I did nothing for her that she hasn't done for me many times over.
I already suffer from the "what if's" and the "if onlys". No one who is sick should ever go to the hospital unaccompanied for reasons which are multidimensional. I can't fathom why mom might think that the duty of a son to his mother is anything but the right thing to do.
Some things simply don't require a reason for action. You do it because a situation presents itself and acton is appropriate and necessary.