The Laundry Room

This morning while Ivey and I broke out of her room, a room that doesn't have direct sunlight; we did what all wild overly restricted girls in need of Vitamin D do ---

we did laundry.

Here at the hospital there is a place for families with washers/driers, rooms for family to sleep, showers, etc. This place is prepared for those in it for the long haul. I'll have to admit that sometimes it is a great place to be alone, especially late at night or reallllly early in the morning when you need a good cry. It is also like the water fountain - but stories told in the laundry room aren't rumors or hear say..nope, no gossip.  Instead what you get would wipe out any acclaimed reality TV, because the reality is that it is just that...real reality. 

Today there was a lady there. 

She wore a look that I have seen in the mirror from time to time and in other parents that roam these halls.  The look of stress, overly tired, little sleep and beyond worried - yet, still trying to hold in all together in this new place. 

So as we stood there we made small talk...and around here small talk leads to reasons why we are here.  Today I was there with a generally healthy child.  What she saw in Ivey was probably a little more.  But today we didn't talk about Ivey.

Since we have been here for the past week, it seems that life outside of these walls has continued on - Ivey and I haven't really spent much time watching the news - in our room it is the History channel or Discovery channel.  Yeah, I'm a nerd like that. This week it seems there was a shooting in Atlanta where a young boy was shot sleeping in his home. 

Today I met his mother.

I don't know what the media has said, nor do I care.  The woman I met today is living a real life horror story.  It is her reality.  She - however - is holding her own.  She has no other choice.  Her family needs her.  Her son(s) need her.  And from the few details that she gave me - only one thing remains in my mind.  This story will continue long after the media decides it is no longer news.  There is a little boy on a floor above me who needs all the prayers in the world, as does the rest of his family.  Give them strength. 

And I hope today I did for this mom what I have needed so many times.  We chatted - and hopefully telling some of these things to a complete stranger, who was not biased one way or another,  gave her some peace to brave the remainder of this day.  I also hope that Ivey and I slipped out of there leaving her enough time to do a normal chore - alone - undisturbed - to do and be whatever she needed at that moment.  No phones, doctors, nurses or the unknowns of her son staring back at her.  No media trying to talk to her.  No family waiting at home.  Just her alone with the laundry...something methodical -

When Ivey and I returned for our dried clothes...she was gone....

Please keep her in your prayers +