Two years ago seems like yesterday- this scene has run through my mind endlessly for the past two years- my night's sleep are like reruns, often interrupted, and never restful....
April 23rd, 2013.... I had coached a game. We played Urbana at home and beat them 17-4. I left the stadium, walked in the office to call in scores and went home as usual.
I was tired.. decided not to pack my lunch or lay out clothes for the next day. I figured I would wake up a little earlier and have time to do that in the morning.
I climbed into bed for a good night's rest-
A little after 1 a.m. my cell phone, which I never hear at night, began to go off. Confused, I assumed it was my alarm. I quickly realized it was the phone and that my brother, Will, was calling. I answered in a panic, thinking something was wrong. Anticipating Mom was having trouble breathing... he began by saying that Gene was at the hospital.. he was on a fire... and burned his hands.
I remember my heart beat slowing and a calmness came about. Nothing was serious! A burn.. that is nothing. He said he was at Northwest, not even a burn center. I asked if he really needed me to come... anticipating a minor burn... and that he would be done before I got there. He said yes... when I questioned why.. asking why he was going to Northwest if the burn was bed... he responded with just come. I started getting ready, still anticipating nothing could be that bad.
A few minutes went by and he called back... we are going to Shock Trauma.. come there. I questioned why there? if its a burn tell them to take him to the burn center... I was not sure how he would respond but did not anticipate the words that followed... "He is in cardiac arrest."
Heart rate speeding, panic set in, I hung up and woke up Jim. I don't remember what I said but I got ready fast.. all the while trying to call my sister. No answer.. I called and called and called.
Jim and I headed out... and Will called back.. this time to tell me I need to go tell Mom.
My heart stopped.. or so it felt.
The drive seemed forever long... and I could not come up with what to say. I got out and knocked on the door. I could hear her running down the steps... she opened the door in a panic... looked up saw Jim and I and said whats wrong? where is Noa? I calmly said Gene was hurt on a fire and that we needed to go to the hospital. She asked hurt how? I said he burned his hands... I stayed calm.. the whole way there she asked how he was hurt and I just kept repeating "he burned his hands."
Jim was going as fast as he could... I was still trying to reach April, no luck
I was texting Will the whole time giving him updates on how close we were.. have someone ready for Mom I said....
We pulled up to a scene from a movie.. lights, firefighters, chiefs... as soon as the doors open, Will greeted us. My mom fell apart.. she could tell something was really wrong.
I wanted to see Gene but we had to wait..
Lots of people I did not know were gathered in a room... finally, they let us go up.
We walked in to the TRU and Gene was laying on a cot lifeless, hooked onto many tubes... an officer sat to his right and Chief Hohman in front of his bed.
I wanted to scream, cry, yell, break down... but I stayed strong. Mom had not been told about the cardiac arrest-
The next few hours were the waiting game.. we gathered in a waiting room as they ran tests and moved Gene to the 5th floor.
To be continued....
This is what fills my mind so vividly when I go back to 4/23/13- I can hear the sounds, smell the scent, and recall almost every detail-
Life will never be the same as that day. That day was so normal- and ended so differently.. so scary... so life changing.
These next 8 days will be challenging... they bring up such raw emotions, such heartache, and so much reality-
Hoping for a good night's rest tonight-
