“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – Gandhi

Around 9:30 a.m. this morning when I was preparing for my appointment with the naturopath, I looked at my cell phone for messages.

I was totally surprised at the flurry of texts back and forth between members of my husband’s family in Hawaii. Realizing it was a group text which included me, I quickly scrolled up looking for the one that had instigated the others.

I’m sure I gasped when I read that one of my brother-in-laws, a sister-in-law’s husband, had suffered a stroke in the early morning hours.

The other messages were probably all from other sisters-in-law inquiring into the specifics, as well as asking how my brother-in-law was doing.

I quickly text my daughter on the east coast, and a nephew who lives about 20 minutes from my husband and me. Both messaged back glad that I had told them.

Throughout the day, as I went about my errands, I continued to check my text messages for any updates.

By early afternoon word came that my brother-in-law was in ICU, and had been given medication which was causing him to feel some dizziness and nausea. He could talk, although his speech was a little slurred. An MRI of his brain would be taken later in the day. Evidently, the stroke had been caused by atrial fibrilation.

Upon returning home after dining out, my husband and I listened to two phone messages from my sister-in-law. Both said pretty much the same thing. However in the first message she sounded somber and unsure. Thankfully, in the second one she sounded a little more upbeat.

My sister-in-law and her husband have been married many years, probably more than 30. As with my husband and me, they are best friends…in sync in every way. They had just returned from spending time with their son and his family on the Big Island of Hawaii. They are extremely loving parents and grandparents, giving of themselves so selflessly. Their generosity extends to all who are blest to know them, family, friends, coworkers…even strangers.

What happened today will surely remind them, and the rest of the Ohana…Hawaiian for “family”…that the time we spend with loved ones is extremely precious indeed.

It also reminds us that we should do what we can to ensure we’re around to enjoy our loved ones…

…for a very, very long time.

…prayers and loving thoughts go out to…Dennis, Julie, and their beloved family.

………hugmamma.

(Enjoy other inspirational words at
https://beccagivens.wordpress.com/2015/02/05/nurt-thurs-live-fully/