Voice Memo
Gabby Tate
3 months, 3 weeks, 5 days after the accident
I haven’t done one of these in a few weeks. Mostly because there hasn’t been much of anything new to tell, but after last night, I figured I should probably update you. Or I guess, update me? I don’t know. I’m pretty tired.
I had to wake August up in the middle of the night. It took me a couple of hard shakes to get him to respond, but when he did, he grabbed at his chest like he was ninety-six and not just twenty-six. If I hadn’t been in so much pain, I’m sure I would have laughed.
My left ear had started ringing sometime after dinner last night. I didn’t say anything to August then because I figured it would go away on its own. It usually does. It got a little better when I laid down, but then it woke me up out of my dream, and it was a good dream, too. I dreamed I was with Mom and Dad and that they had come home for a visit. I kept asking them to stay, but they just kept telling me they loved me. Anyway, the pain in my ear finally woke me up. It felt like a knife jabbing over and over into my skull. I’m not sure if I was crying from that or from the dream.
August must have been able to tell something was really wrong with me because I’ve never seen him move so fast. He almost forgot his shoes in the house! We drove to the emergency room, and thankfully they got me in to see a doctor right away. We were there most of the night, running tests and pulling up my medical file to add notes for when I see my doctor tomorrow afternoon. The pain finally did fade like the nurse promised, but when I saw the ER doctor say the word surgery to my brother, I almost cried again. I asked him about it later, and he told me not to worry and that w e’d have to see what my doctor says. I tried to act brave, but the truth is I don’t want another surgery. I’m beginning to really hate hospitals as much as August does. On the way home, he took me to get a cookie pizza, and I swear I’ve never tasted anything so good in all my life. I saved the leftovers for breakfast.
I prayed that God would help me remember what He did for me after the accident. How when I was scared, He took away my fear. I asked Him to do that again. I don’t want another surgery, but I do know I can trust Him. So that’s what I’m going to do.