If you could relive ONE day of your life, what
would it be? And would you change anything?
During this 30 day blog challenge, I have really been going with the first thing that pops in mind. Like, my most heartbreaking breakup or the last day I truly felt blissful. I could set back and think about some of these questions for days. But, I don't want to end up making something up or lying to myself. Just like with this challenge, I'm going to go with the first day that comes to mind.
I honestly cannot recall when this day was. I met Joey in 2003 and he had his transplant in 2006. So, my guess would be in 2005 because I know this was before he had his transplant. We had just ate dinner at Smokey Bones out at Jefferson Pointe. When we went to leave, it was pouring outside. I waited inside while Joey went to go get the car. I stood there FOREVER. I had seen him get into the car, but I had no idea why he wasn't backing out and driving up to the front of the restaurant. FINALLY, he pulled up to the front and I got into the car. I think I said "what the hell were you doing?" He turned to look at me and he could barely speak. When he was running out to the car, he had started to cough and was coughing up blood. And, I'm not talking just a little blood. It was a lot. He had the car door open and was coughing/spitting outside so that it wasn't getting into the car. I immediately panicked. I picked up his phone to try to call his mom. He had one of those phones where you could push the side button and then it ended up being like a walkie talkie. Anyways, I had NO idea how to use it. Anyone ever have to dial 911? Somehow those three digits become the hardest three digits to dial. That's how I felt. I could not push any of the right buttons and I couldn't focus on the menus that would come up. I finally took my phone out and I tried calling his mom. No answer. I tried calling his sister. No answer. I finally called his sister-in-law and she had me on speaker and so I told his brother what was going on. I'm not sure if his sister ended up calling me back or if she was with his brother, but I know I yelled at her because I could not get anyone to answer their phone.
After what seemed like an eternity, I told Joey to get out of the car so that I could drive. He would not move. I finally pushed him out. No, literally. I kicked him out with my foot. I remember when I climbed over to the driver side I went to close the door, and the blood was mixing in with the rain. Joey got into the car and we started driving to Lutheran Hospital. I got to the shopping center where Cebolla's is on Jefferson and I pulled over because the traffic was so horrific. I knew I needed to get him there faster so I called 911. The ambulance came and took Joey to the hospital. I met him there along with his family.
I wouldn't relive this day. But, I would relive these few moments. I don't really believe in regrets. Thinking of the day I would relive was easy. But, the hard part for me was admitting that I would relive it because in my mind, I'm succumbing to the idea that I may very well just regret my actions. I wish I would have handled it better. I wish I would have just gotten into the car, realized what was happening, got back out of the car, helped Joey into the passenger seat, and started driving to Lutheran. I remember feeling almost paralyzed. I couldn't get the phone to work and I couldn't get out of the car. I did apologize to his sister at the hospital for yelling at her.
In the end, I'm glad I was there with him. I don't know what would have happened if he would have been alone.
During this 30 day blog challenge, I have really been going with the first thing that pops in mind. Like, my most heartbreaking breakup or the last day I truly felt blissful. I could set back and think about some of these questions for days. But, I don't want to end up making something up or lying to myself. Just like with this challenge, I'm going to go with the first day that comes to mind.
I honestly cannot recall when this day was. I met Joey in 2003 and he had his transplant in 2006. So, my guess would be in 2005 because I know this was before he had his transplant. We had just ate dinner at Smokey Bones out at Jefferson Pointe. When we went to leave, it was pouring outside. I waited inside while Joey went to go get the car. I stood there FOREVER. I had seen him get into the car, but I had no idea why he wasn't backing out and driving up to the front of the restaurant. FINALLY, he pulled up to the front and I got into the car. I think I said "what the hell were you doing?" He turned to look at me and he could barely speak. When he was running out to the car, he had started to cough and was coughing up blood. And, I'm not talking just a little blood. It was a lot. He had the car door open and was coughing/spitting outside so that it wasn't getting into the car. I immediately panicked. I picked up his phone to try to call his mom. He had one of those phones where you could push the side button and then it ended up being like a walkie talkie. Anyways, I had NO idea how to use it. Anyone ever have to dial 911? Somehow those three digits become the hardest three digits to dial. That's how I felt. I could not push any of the right buttons and I couldn't focus on the menus that would come up. I finally took my phone out and I tried calling his mom. No answer. I tried calling his sister. No answer. I finally called his sister-in-law and she had me on speaker and so I told his brother what was going on. I'm not sure if his sister ended up calling me back or if she was with his brother, but I know I yelled at her because I could not get anyone to answer their phone.
After what seemed like an eternity, I told Joey to get out of the car so that I could drive. He would not move. I finally pushed him out. No, literally. I kicked him out with my foot. I remember when I climbed over to the driver side I went to close the door, and the blood was mixing in with the rain. Joey got into the car and we started driving to Lutheran Hospital. I got to the shopping center where Cebolla's is on Jefferson and I pulled over because the traffic was so horrific. I knew I needed to get him there faster so I called 911. The ambulance came and took Joey to the hospital. I met him there along with his family.
I wouldn't relive this day. But, I would relive these few moments. I don't really believe in regrets. Thinking of the day I would relive was easy. But, the hard part for me was admitting that I would relive it because in my mind, I'm succumbing to the idea that I may very well just regret my actions. I wish I would have handled it better. I wish I would have just gotten into the car, realized what was happening, got back out of the car, helped Joey into the passenger seat, and started driving to Lutheran. I remember feeling almost paralyzed. I couldn't get the phone to work and I couldn't get out of the car. I did apologize to his sister at the hospital for yelling at her.
In the end, I'm glad I was there with him. I don't know what would have happened if he would have been alone.
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