Virginia heart attack

I was going to take this time to post about my short work trip to Virginia earlier this week (found here on my travel blog), but as I'm sitting in my mom's living room in Pennsylvania, it occurs to me how quickly things can change, and how you can find yourself under very different circumstances than what you were expecting.

I'm posting below what I shared on my Facebook page earlier this weekend...

After a particularly challenging work week for me that included a trip down south, my mom recommended that instead of trying to make my way through the endless hell of traffic on 95 yesterday, that I should detour through Kennett to have a bit of a pit stop before heading back to the office this morning.
After a lovely bottle of wine after dinner (you know how we Rutledge’s roll), she recounted that all week she’s been feeling my dad around the house, something that hasn’t happened really at all since she moved in. I thought this was quite serendipitous, as all week I’ve been thinking about my dad due to some crazy times at work.

Cut to 2:30 this morning, when she had me drive her to the hospital after waking up with numbness and chest pain. Good news is that everything is alright, but all I kept thinking today was that I shouldn’t have been anywhere near here. Most of you know that two summers ago, my mom, grandfather and I got into a car accident that ended up with us all in the hospital - which unbeknownst to us at the time probably saved my grandfather some future additional grief from an undiagnosed illness that was caught while we were all in the ER. We’ve joked since then that it was obvious my grandmother intervened because she knew Gramps needed to go to the hospital; since he was just being stubborn about seeing a doctor, she simply made it so he HAD to go see one.

Although I’m currently running on fumes, too much caffeine and only two hours of sleep, it’s now entirely obvious to me that dad and Grams have been conspiring the same way about mom, and maneuvered me here at the right time. He would make sure it was the weekend before Halloween too - if he was going to “haunt” my mom towards a doctor, there would need to be some ghost-related humor involved in the situation 👻

Thanks to Jennersville Hospital for their amazing service and staff, including the nurse who took one look at me this morning and made me a fresh pot of coffee from the nurses station. I’m going to give dad bonus points for that one too - he always made sure mom and I had our morning caffeine to start our day.

I'm not always the biggest believer in religion, but I am a believer in things happening for a reason. It just goes to show that when things don't seem to go to plan, maybe they're actually working out the exact way they're supposed to.

Twenty Six.

I've been walking around the last couple of days with Yellowcard's "Twenty-Three" rolling around in my brain, and I can't help but feel that everytime my birthday has come around in the last few years I've pulled Ocean Avenue down from my shelf and given it a listen.

This last year has been an interesting one. A lot has changed for me, relationship wise, family wise, and even work-related, and yet I couldn't help but feel like I've been a little bit stagnant. It's only been in the last month or so that I've really been getting back into my own thing again, and I'm glad to say I've missed it.

Which you know, is very cliche of me to say, but apparently I'm getting sappier in my old age.

So here's to the first year of the next quarter-century of my life starting. Let's see what it brings, eh?

Helping Helene at Home

I went to Alfred University with Helene, and though I didn't know her well, her story is just too memorable not to share. Please keep reading and donate to such a wonderful and worthy cause!

"Helene Lumia went into the emergency room on June 22, 2013 and received the news that all families pray not to hear. She was told she had a cyst on her spinal cord where it connects to her brain stem. She would need to have emergency surgery to remove it.

Helene fought hard through many surgeries and procedures; however, her spinal cord was severely damaged. She was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia for intensive physical therapy, hopeful that she would be able to recover. Unfortunately, the damage done by the cyst was irreversible and Helene is now living her life as a quadriplegic.

Helene is a loving daughter, sister and friend. She has an infectious laugh and a beautiful smile that has touched so many people’s lives. Her unyielding strength and spirit is an inspiration to all her family and friends.

Helene’s family is working hard to do everything they can to return her home from Atlanta so that she can live comfortably in the familiarity of her family’s home. The cost for Helene to travel is enormous, as is the cost to remodel her home so that her family can provide her with all the necessary care she will need.

They need your help!!

Family, friends and loved ones will be holding a benefit, as the family is encountering mounting medical and household bills. We are asking for you to help us make this benefit a success. A Chinese Auction, 50/50 raffles, door prizes and more will be featured at the benefit.

You can help support this WNY family's benefit in several ways: by donating gift certificates, gift cards, gift baskets, single items or a tax deductible* donation in any amount. All donations - big or small - are greatly appreciated, as we would be truly honored for your support

Any contribution will be greatly appreciated by the Lumia Family."

To donate, please click here, and please spread the word!