Bunn’s Prairie

Amazing that you can discover what you have in common with someone, even when they’re in a coma. After hearing of Kaley’s condition today, I wasn’t sure what to do. If I went to the hospital, would I be in the way? If I didn’t go….well that wasn’t an option. When I arrived, I was met by 7 or 8 pairs of very open arms. Arms open to my being there, arms reached out to grab anything solid at that point. These arms belonged to Kaley’s family members…Kaley’s rock, Kaley’s love house, Kaley’s cheerleaders, Kaley’s hope. When her Mom and Dad led me down the hall to see our girl, their gentleness surrounded even me. So, what would I see in that ICU room with “Rotering” penned on a small sign outside the door. I could see Kaley’s tiny, pale feet, and after putting on gloves, I was escorted into her room by her father. “Just talk to her,” her Mom said. So I did…I started telling her about my dating life, and other “girl” stuff that I knew would make her giggle. I told her of my perfect trip to the State Fair on Thursday night, and how on the first night, the oil for the cheese curds was new and made them taste, if cheese curds could, fresh. Kaley’s Mom was quick to tell me that Kaley absolutely LOVES cheese curds. She’s particular, though, about a certain “brand” of cheese curds. Curds that can even be purchased at the Metrodome. I realized it was easy to just talk to Kaley…let her know I was there. I told her about the details of my day, my week, my life. And I look for signs of reaction, of course, and what I did notice were a few blips on her EKG. We all know the strength of that heart - Kaley’s heart…we’ve seen and felt it so often. During another visit to talk to her, there were many people in the room. Lilting voices of family members created a bit of a party atmosphere. Her Mom and Andy reaching for her hand under her covers…her Aunt making sure her toes were warm. It was then I learned of another thing Kaley and I have in common. As Kaley’s Aunt attempted to “tuck” her feet in, Andy piped in and said Kaley likes to be able to have her toes accessible to the air…she has “foot clausterphobia”. She likes the sheets “loose”, and I like them wrapped tight around my feet,” Andy said. Andy giggled about that little disagreement in their bed. “Hey,” I said, “I like my sheets loose too,” I told Andy. Although I’ve know Kaley for a while, it was in those quiet moments in her room that I learned of two insignificant things we had in common. But it was in those moments that I felt just a bit closer to Kaley, and I liked that. So Kaley and I both love cheese curds….and we like our feet loose in the sheets. So I made Kaley a promise that I’d buy her some perfect cheese curds as soon as she got better…and I’ll leave Andy to keeping her feet loose in the sheets.

Kaley, I love you my sweet girl….

Eileen