Today, my mother called me while I was at work. It is unusual since I am always the one calling her to check up on my daughter, if she is already home from school.

Her voice was different. Rather low, a little bit trembling and obviously unsure.

“I am not feeling well. Can you please come home?”

It took me a while to understand her. She was always the person to do everything in her own power not to disturb her loved ones. I’ve seen her keep up a brave front so many times but this time, she sounded really sick.

“I am dizzy. My fingernails are turning blue. Please come home.”

At that instant, I called my husband and we went home to pick mom up. After quite sometime battling with the usual Thursday traffic rush, we were at the medical center. I know she had been told to have hypertension before but her face looks very much in denial now. I too, could not believe my mother is sick and her face is painted with weariness and worry. Anything can happen when your blood pressure shoots up and right at that moment while sitting in the cold metal chair in the waiting room, hugging my very tired sleeping daughter, I thought I was so not prepared to lose mom.

We were called and her blood pressure was taken. 150/90! which means it is so beyond normal. We paid the bill, got on the elevator without talking and got her meds at the 1st floor of the same building. She took them and after a few minutes felt a lot better but she was not celebrating but instead asked for apologies.

We went home and asked her to take a rest. I did all the work in the kitchen and the whole time thought to myself, if I am constantly slapping myself and asking if this had been all but a bad dream, my mother, in that dark room must be asking herself more.

*****

I am thankful that nothing serious happened to my mother today, that we were able to travel from home to the medical center which took quite a long time because of the heavy traffic.

I am also thankful for the doctor who prescribed her meds that took effect almost immediately.