My mom called my dad names

and I am so very proud of her!

You see, my dad – almost 83 years old – hasn’t seen a doctor in over fifteen years. His faith in medicine is very small after taking (experimental) sleep medication years ago, prescribed by the family doctor. These pills were affecting him in very strange ways. For example: while driving, he suddenly wouldn’t know how to operate the car anymore. At full speed! Later we found out that this medicine literally drove people mad. So his aversion to doctors is understandable.

Lately dad hasn’t been feeling too well, but he just kept on going and didn’t say a word. Until one day at a shop, mom found him hanging on to a stand, hardly able to drive home. But seeing a doctor? Noooo way. Then the other day, he was holding his head, which – as he described it – was almost exploding. And he was dizzy. And tired as hell.

And that was the moment my mom called him names. Told him she had had it with him. That she had made an appointment at the family doctor and that he was going and that was the end of it. End of discussion. Eh discussion? NO discussion!

The next day, they walked to the doctor. By that time, he wasn’t able to drive their car anymore. The assistant (tipped by my mother to thoroughly examine him) ushered him into an examination room. Ten minutes later they called for an ambulance: dad’s blood pressure was up to 260, and his heart rate down to 38. After spending two days at the IC, he had an emergency operation last Friday. Since then he can call himself the proud owner of a pacemaker.

I drove to my parents’ home on Saturday with my youngest son Sean, and at 2 pm we received the call to come and pick him up at the hospital. Ten years ago you would have to spend a week in hospital after an operation like this; nowadays you are dismissed the day after. But perhaps it’s better this way, because now he can recuperate at home, in a safe and healthy environment.

So yes, my mother called my dad names. But if she hadn’t been that stern and strict, no one knows what could have happened. I am SO proud of my sweet tough little ol’ mom, for by doing so, she saved my dad’s life. Hurrah for strong women!