Yes, today is August 18th, a very special day for me. Since this was the day my mother was brought into this world years ago, it has been marked a day that I look at with joy and happiness. My mother is an asthmatic that has seen her fair share of hospitals and ambulances. Back in 1997, over 12 years ago, she suffered from a massive asthma attack that put her in the Intensive Care Unit. Unable to breathe on her own, she was non responsive and in a coma. I was told to fly home back to Hawaii and “pay my respects” to her before she was taken away from us. This was such a hard and difficult time for me. I remember being “lost” with the idea that my mother can be ripped away from me. I was dazed as I sat at the Airport awaiting my long 5 hour flight to see her. When I first arrived at the Honolulu International Airport, I was driven straight to Straub Hospital, where I was escorted into ICU to see my mother. My heart stopped for a few seconds and my stomach fell to the ground when I turned the corner to see my mother connected to machines and tubes. I immediately went up to her with tears in my eyes to try and “wake” her, thinking my voice would snap her back. I was wrong.
I stayed there for 8 days by her bedside, only leaving between Six and Eight AM and PM. This was when ICU was being treated and no visitors were allowed with any patients. So, I was with her for 20 hours a day, for 8 days straight. Her doctor informed my brother and I that we needed to make a decision because she was not progressing. I remember my body going numb and falling into my brother’s arms when she mentioned that. How could she even suggest we think about “MAKING A DECISION”. They wanted to take her off of all the machines that were breathing for her, since she was not able to do so on her own. She gave us 2 more days to discuss it. She said there was not going to be any quality of life. My brother and I went into heavy prayer, hugged and talked to my mother, telling her we needed her. As I lay on the bottom of her bed and my brother holding her hand next to her, she suddenly opened her eyes. That was the best day of my life. The emotions that ran through my body that afternoon was unlike anything I have every felt before. Because she was in a coma for so long, she had to do physical therapy to relearn some of the things we all take for granted. It was challenging for her, but she soon regained all of her skills and has been strong as an ox ever since. She is now living in Hawaii, still working hard as a CNA and caregiver. She travels and visits my brother and I here in Cali frequently. It’s amazing.
12 years ago, in the summer of 1997, I almost lost my mother. I am so lucky and THANKFUL that I can still celebrate it with her. While I’m not back in Hawaii with her this year, I called at 12:03 last night to wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Her response to me was, ” the more birthday’s I have, the longer I live”. What a great day today is. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and my mother is celebrating her birthday today.:-) No photos on this post, because this is just a simple, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I’ll be going out to dinner tonight to CELEBRATE! 
by gayla
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