The Dreaded Phone Call

Today was a day that started like any other and then quickly took a turn for the worse. It was a phone call I never thought I would get. We have always been told if your service member is injured, if at all possible, the service member will call home to talk to the spouse to let them know what was going on. It was information like that, that is always in the back of my head and today I had to rely on that information because the events played out pretty much like I had been told.

I woke to hear the phone ringing, I looked at my clock to see the time and the clock read 6:24 am. I figured the phone call was from my husband. We are still struggling to find a good communication system for this deployment so he calls when he can. I figured he knew we were getting ready for school and called to talk to everyone before we headed out the door on our way for the day. What I didn't expect was the words he would say to me.

The connection was full of static and hard to hear my husband. Once we were finally able to hear each other I started talking like I normally do. Really it was just rambling on about daily life. In between my rambles my husband said "I need to tell you something" My heart sank. I knew what that something was. I knew at that minute he was going to tell me he was hurt. I was bracing myself for the status report. Indeed my husband was injured and was fixing to go into surgery. I knew he had to have surgery on his ankle and there was an accident but not much more than that.

After that phone call I immediately text my girlfriend who in the past has always been my battle buddy. She was going to be my level head and talk me through the process of the day. I knew that I could rely on her advice, that she would pray continually for me and let me get out the emotions that I needed as well as tell me when I needed to come back to earth and put my big girl panties back on.

I knew everyone would have questions that I didn't have the answers to. Like what happened? Is he coming home? Where is he now? None of those things I knew the answer to. Because I didn't know the answers to those questions I became very selective in who I told and in what order. I didn't want to upset anyone and not be able to answer questions. It was bad enough I was freaking out and didn't have answers. I couldn't imagine having to field questions when I was trying to keep my emotions in check and logically work through this process. Not to mention I had kids to get to school, I had school myself and I was still waiting to hear more information.

I decided early on I would forge ahead and go to school. I figured distractions would be good and I had a test to take today. The rule is if you aren't in class on the day of the test then you have to take a zero. I would put my big girl panties and get through the test and come home. Half way through my test my phone rang. I thought it would be my husband or the unit but instead it was the school calling to tell me the damage total for the wall my daughter backed into. My heart sank. It was now 5 hours since I talked to my husband or heard an update. I went back into class and my instructor pretty much told me to go home and I could take the test on Tuesday. I picked myself up and went home.

Once I was home I found a voicemail from my husband telling me he was out of surgery and he would call me later. I also received a call from our unit telling me that my husband came through surgery fine. He has two pins in his ankle and at some point in the near future he would be on a plane home. It was then that I felt that I could start notifying other family members as to what happened.

As I write this our children don't know that their dad was hurt. I wanted to protect them from unnecessary worry and anxiety and since I didn't have many answers I decided to wait to tell them until after school. I now have the information to tell them their dad will be fine which is what they are going to want to hear more than anything else.

Today I am so very thankful for my battle buddy, our unit, family, friends and a God that is right here with us. God is who held me up today. I didn't have the strength to stand by myself but God whispered to me I got you.

I'm reminded to ALWAYS  tell the people in your life just how much they mean to you. It's possible you won't get a second chance. I'm reminded that red paint on the garage floor and a brick wall that needs to be replaced really won't matter in 10 years. I remember how much love I have for my husband every minute of every day and it doesn't matter where he is located geographically or how hard I try to solider on, when he is hurt I hurt.

Take a minute to tell those around you just how much they mean to you. Don't focus on the external circumstances but focus on your love for that person. Today is now and tomorrow is never guaranteed.