The Worst Day

My phone rang at 9:00 am. We were still sleeping. Rob answered the phone. It was my Mom. She was calling to tell us that my Dad had a heart attack. He handed me the phone. What happened? I asked. Daddy had a heart attack. What? Oh no! She explained that he was getting ready to leave to go back to my hometown to work. He went to warm up his van, came back inside and had her check their bank account so they could pay bills. He walked away. She was at the computer when she heard a thud. When she turned around Daddy was on the floor. She went over to him but he wasn't responding. She called 911. They shocked his heart and gave him meds to start his heart. I don't remember my exact words to her, I just remember telling her we would be there as soon as we could. We had to drive 2 1/2 hours. Alot of the morning is a blur. I told Rob to get his shower as I packed suitcases as fast as I could. My girls were asking what was happening and all I could say was that Pap Pap is sick, his heart is sick and we have to go to Nana's house. Rob called the preacher at church to let them know what happened and to relay the message to everyone. Time seemed to be standing still. I couldn't move fast enough. I couldn't think. I prayed to God that my Daddy would be ok. Please let him be ok until I can get there. Be with him and give him strength to get through this. Be with my Mom. We were snowed in. How long would it take to get out? We couldn't get out fast enough. Time was still not moving. 9:31 my cell phone rang. I answered to my Mom's crying voice. Daddy died. I screamed, NO NO NO NO NO. Rob came in from outside when he heard my screams and I just handed him my phone crying. I have no idea what he said. I couldn't breathe. We weren't moving fast enough. We didn't get there in time. I can't breathe. He tried to hold me but I had to get our stuff in the car. This was the worst day. Ever. Two days after Christmas. My Daddy died. What are we going to do without him? I realized after we got our stuff together that all I did was scream into my phone then handed it off to Rob. So I called my Mom back. I'm sorry I just screamed and handed the phone to Rob. I asked how she was and if I needed to call anyone. She couldn't believe it happened. We cried. She told me when she got to the hospital the Dr came out and said he did everything he could. When Daddy came in he had no heart rhythm and no pulse. I told her we were on our way and we'd get there as soon as we could. The roads are bad from the snow storm. I told her I loved her and we'd be there soon. We finally left our house around 10:00 which seemed like an eternity from the first phone call. It was only an hour but it seemed like two. Rob said he flagged down a plow truck and paid him to get us out. We stopped at a diner to get breakfast for the girls. I couldn't eat. Mommy called again. She asked if we were coming to the hospital or the house. I told her to the hospital because I wanted to see Daddy. I needed to see him. We left the diner and she called again. The nurse said they had to move Daddy, they needed the room he was in. I said ok. I'd figure out how I would see him when I got there. The trip seemed to be taking forever. Time was still moving so slowly it seemed. I got at least two phone calls from friends giving me condolences. I don't remember those conversations clearly, but I knew my friends cared and loved me. When we finally got to Mommy's house, we just held each other and cried. What are we going to do without him? What happened? It doesn't seem real. This really was the worst day.