In Case of Emergency

We all know the feeling of getting that phone call or text when catastrophe is upon us. The one that tells you the ambulance is on its way, or your loved one is in the ER, but we really don’t know much yet. It’s the gut punch that takes our breath away as you pause and figure out what needs to be done.

In the last five to seven years, it feels as though these calls have started to happen on the regular. From Mom’s 2017 ICU stay, to her diagnosis and passing 5 years later and various episodes in between, it almost feels like our family just does the scary parts of life in spectacular fashion.

Two weeks ago, we got another one of these texts.

“Pray for Dad. He’s unresponsive. Pray hard.”  

The updates came slowly over the next few hours as we waited for doctor’s assessments and game plans. We prayed, we traveled home, and we waited together, like Mom and Dad taught us to do.  

Of course, we know that this is the risk of love. To love means to eventually lose and the implication of that is that emergencies, gut punching phone calls, and hospital room vigils will likely happen. We have been blessed with an exceptional family bond and it’s true that the more we open ourselves up to love, the more we have to lose. It’s a beautiful predicament.

Though timing may take us by surprise, suffering, tragedy and heartache shouldn’t. We should expect it and we should know how to respond.

“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” John 16:33

In this case, we are so grateful for the two souls who responded medically and gave life saving care to Dad on the scene until the EMTs arrived. Their “in case of emergency” training was providential, and we are so thankful, but what do the rest of us do in case of emergency? What can we do when it seems like there is nothing we can do?

We pray.

We grab our rosaries; we rally our prayer warriors; we go to adoration or mass, and we keep praying.

We pray for courage and strength, wisdom and patience. We pray for fortitude and perseverance, of course preferably aligned with our own desires, but ultimately in the fulfillment of God’s Perfect Will.

Of all the things that we, as parents, need to teach our children, this is the most important. We must teach them what to do in case of emergency, we must teach them how to pray. We must teach them that to pray is to draw close to our Savior and lay our lives and the lives of those we love in His hands, regardless of outcome.

We fret and fret about academics and sports, about raising well rounded, confident kids with leadership abilities, great GPAs, and sports accolades. Those things may be well and good, but they do not compare to the importance of living life in relationship with Jesus, they do not compare to knowing how to turn to God in the good times and in bad. They do not compare to the instinct of knowing what to do in the case of an emergency.

Dad’s medical adventure of 2024 is not over. There’s a long road ahead, one that requires rest, patience, courage and surrender. We pray for these things; we pray for healing. We pray in thanksgiving for skilled doctors, selfless nurses, and those who responded quickly and gave Dad his chance at this fight.

As one of his doctors says, “Good things happen slowly,” and as another explained, “this recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.”

And so, as St. Paul teaches,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of the faith. For the sake of the joy that laid before him he endured the cross despising its shame and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2