Pretty Momma

I'm glad my sister called me this morning from the hospital to warn me about how Mom looks following surgery. My beautiful Momma has stitches (actually staples) from ear to chin, a swollen and bruised face, a tongue so swollen she can't speak, and tubes running all over the place carrying meds in and wastes out of her body.

If Dad wasn't sure what was going on when we sent her off to surgery, he certainly got his dose of reality today. Not only was it a shock to see Mom in this condition, it was a diffcult visit because there was no place for Dad to sit in the ICU room. We'd let him stand there beside the bed holding her hand for a while, then take him out to the hallway to sit down and rest. Then we'd go back in and visit a little more. Finally, I had to take Dad home so that he could get dinner and some rest.

Before going to the hospital, Mom assembled a plastic baggie of essentials that she wanted by her bed. There was no sense in leaving it in ICU, so I'm holding it to take to her tomorrow when, hopefully, she'll be in a regular room. But I noticed that one of the things she put in the bag is a mirror. I'm not ready for her to look in the mirror. I don't want her to feel sad, depressed, fearful that she's never going to be pretty again. Of course, she will be, but it will take time. I'd do anything to spare her the shock and anxiety that's bound to come from that first look in the mirror.

Sue