Open Heart Surgery and George W!

So...my mom had open heart surgery. She has had some issues for a few years with one of the valves and her doctor has always told her that down the road she would eventually need to have it replaced. We all thought, ok, down the road...that's like 5 years, maybe 10, right?  I guess we were wrong because when came back from our trip to Hot Springs she started to not feel so well and decided to go the doctor. She left with the news that her heart was not doing well and she would need to have surgery immediately. As in...she saw the doctor on a Thursday and by Monday she was admitted with the surgery being early Tuesday morning. None of us were prepared for this...but then again how do you really prepare for a loved one having major surgery that could possibly kill them? Prayer...That's what we did. That's what I did, pretty much all day everyday I prayed as much as I could. I was not ready to have my mom leave me...I kept thinking about how I wanted her to watch my boys grow up and how I wanted them to have a grandma, (something I did not have growing up) but most of all I needed her. The thought of living my life without being able to call her when I needed something or to just chat killed me. So, I prayed.

The day of her surgery came and it was almost the longest day of my life (the first longest day was waiting for the call from our fertility doctor to tell us if we were pregnant of not). After 4 very long hours my dad finally called to tell me that the surgery was over, everything went very well and that she was in ICU recovering. Thank the LORD!

That night, once the hubs got home from work I went to see her. I was anxious, scared and a little excited as well. Excited not just to see my mom and how well she was doing but excited because earlier in the day I had heard that former President George W. was having heart surgery at the same hospital that very morning. I joked to my friends about how I was going to hunt his room down, go in and give him a Texas size get well hug. For those who know me, I have always had a slight obsession with W. He has always proven to be such a wonderful family man, what he stands for morally and faith wise just really make me like him. Not to mention he is the cutest old guy...aside from my dad. Anyway...I arrived at the hospital anxious to see my mom. As my dad and I walked to her room I asked if he had run into Bush yet. His response was of course, no...but he was able to see secret service agents and that W's room was right down the hall from my moms. This just excited me beyond belief. I saw them for myself, just standing there...protecting his room. It was so cool!

What I wasn't prepared for and what I still can't believe happened was that I did in fact get to meet George W. Not only did I meet him but I was able to introduce him to my mom, dad, and brother. He was walking around a few hours after his surgery and decided to stop on in for a chat. It was the neatest experience! Oh, and did I mention that I got to hug him??? He was the one to give ME a giant Texas size hug...and he kissed my mom on the forehead. It is a day I will never forget...He really is such a sweet and kind man...Funny too! I later found out from my mom that each time he had to walk the floors he stopped by her room for a chat. When he checked out the next day he even stopped in to say goodbye to his "Pastor Friend"

What was a really hard and stressful time for my whole family became such a great story, one we will definitely NEVER forget!