One of the good things about finding yourself laid up in a hospital is that you really do get to find out who your friends are. Susan apparently has a LOT of friends. Part of the reason I'm so exhausted is that friends, relatives, and coworkers have been wearing out my cell phone trying to get some news on her condition. There really are a lot of very concerned people out there.
It's come to the point where I've had to ask people to call me on my cell phone instead of calling her hospital room, because that phone is ringing constantly and keeping her from getting the rest she needs. I understand that people are concerned, and I appreciate their desire to find out how she's doing, but so many people are calling that it is preventing Susan from sleeping. Before I left yesterday, I had to turn off the ringer on her phone so she could get some sleep.
It's been said that you can tell what kind of an impact a person made by how many people attend that person's funeral. We, of course, do not plan to stage a funeral anytime soon, but if you apply that theory to Susan's hospital stay, it's clear that she has touched the lives of a great many people. It's been an impressive thing to see, and that's why I've not been upset about the number of people calling. I understand and appreciate their desire to be supportive, and I know that many people are feeling as powerless as I am. They want to help, to feel like they're doing something positive, but the reality is that there really isn't anything that anyone (myself included) can do- except wait. It's the not knowing that is the most difficult thing to handle.
I know that this can't be easy for Eric, but I've been impressed at how he is handling things. Perhaps 16-year-olds don't recognize or deal with serious illness in the way that adults do, but he seems to be dealing with this much better than I am. I've cried more times than I care to remember, but Eric has been the one cracking jokes in an effort to get a smile out of me. Being with him has helped to take my mind away from the 24/7 worrying I might otherwise be doing. Taking care of Eric has helped Susan achieve some peace of mind, and it helps me to feel as if I'm doing something positive. Of course, I'm not nearly the cook that Susan is, so Eric has been getting more fast food than usual- not that he is complaining about that.
Now, if only I could get some sleep. Stay tuned....
