{"id":5478,"date":"2025-11-24T15:10:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T15:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/?p=5478"},"modified":"2025-11-24T15:10:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T15:10:57","slug":"i-awoke-with-a-voicemail-from-the-doctor-how-did-i-miss-this-i-raced-to-the-hospital-i-got-teary-eyed-and-said-to-him-i-love-you-you-are-going-to-be-ok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/?p=5478","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I awoke with a voicemail from the doctor. \u2018How did I miss this?\u2019 I raced to the hospital. I got teary eyed, and said to him, \u2018I love you, you are going to be ok.\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe night my husband Albert died will replay in my mind like a movie scene. A movie that I wish was not my life. Albert died from complications with pneumonia, an illness most people recover from, but at the young age of 39, my husband was taken from me and our 2- year-old son. Albert was a fighter when it came to sickness. He was born at just around two pounds, and his mother was told he would never leave the hospital, but he did. He had battled a rare cancer called chondrosarcoma that had implanted in his maxillary. He had endured multiple heart attacks, and survived. And he lived with diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, and sleep apnea. There was no way that something so easily curable could take him, but it did.<\/p>\n

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I looked at Albert sitting on our couch the morning of Tuesday, January 8, 2019, and was very worried. Sweat was pouring from him and he was shaky. I told him I wanted to take him to the ER, but he said he thought it was just the flu, so he called his doctor. I had to help get him dressed because he was shaking so bad; his whole body was clammy. I got our son and we all loaded into the car. Luckily, our doctor\u2019s office was right up the street. I pulled up in front so he could get out. We exchanged \u2018I love yous,\u2019 and I drove off and took our son to Chick-Fil-A to have dinner and play. As much as I was worried about Albert, he was always honest with me and made me feel like I had nothing really to worry about. So I didn\u2019t. When I drove off, I didn\u2019t realize that would be the last time I saw him standing, walking, and breathing on his own.<\/p>\n

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After an hour or so, he called me and said they were taking him to the hospital via ambulance. That he had been diagnosed with Pneumonia and they wanted to keep him overnight. I was so relieved it was \u2018just\u2019 Pneumonia. The doctors were simply using caution because of his medical history, I told myself. Later that night, I had put our son, Theo, to bed but was unable to get over to the hospital that night and had planned on going first thing in the morning. Once Albert was settled in his room, he called me and told me he had been placed in the ICU. That scared me, but he reassured me everything was fine. We told each other \u2018I love you\u2019 for the last time.<\/p>\n

I awoke the next morning at 6 a.m. with a missed call and voicemail from the doctor. \u2018How did I miss this?,\u2019 I thought. I got my son out of bed and dropped him off at a friend\u2019s nearby. I raced to the hospital where his parents were already there. I went in the room and Albert was on a ventilator, unable to talk and very out of it. I was not prepared for that. I truly had no concept of how bad this was. The doctor said that he was septic, and they were going to run a 24-hour dialysis on him. I instantly regretted and felt so much guilt for not coming to the hospital the night before. I sat there and talked to his mom. She told me she had talked to him last night and he had told her he was really scared. I knew in that moment he had hid his true pain from me and had tried to protect me. Albert started making noise and I got up. I stroked his arm and he tried to speak to me and hold my hand. Both of which he couldn\u2019t do. I got teary eyed, and said to him, \u2018I love you, you are going to be ok.\u2019<\/p>\n

I had to leave to pick up my son from my friend\u2019s house. I took Theo home and got lunch ready. While I was feeding him, Albert\u2019s sister called and told me she had talked to their mom who had spoken to Albert\u2019s doctor and things were not looking good. I started crying, pacing back and forth, and my breathing became very shallow. I called the hospital and demanded to talk to a nurse, while I got Theo ready to drop off at yet another friend\u2019s house. I screamed and sobbed, barely breathing for her to tell me what the hell was going on. Her words were, \u2018Nothing has changed since this morning. I don\u2019t know where you got that information.\u2019 I was confused, slightly relieved, but still overwhelmed with emotion. I dropped Theo off and raced for the hospital. I got up to the ICU and his parents, sister, and her partner were there. It was then I realized that the nurse I talked to had not had the most updated information. Albert\u2019s heart had gone into AFib and they were shocking it to bring it back into rhythm. The doctor finally came out, he told me his heart was back in rhythm and he wanted to get a swab into Albert\u2019s lungs to clean out the fluid. The doctor seemed calm and reassuring. But, I also know that is their job. To remain calm under pressure.<\/p>\n

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A few minutes later, Albert\u2019s room was called over the loudspeaker, we all looked at each other worried. I went up to the nurses\u2019 station and asked what was going on. She called back and said everything was fine. So, I went back and sat down with our family. About 15 minutes later, his room was called over the loudspeaker, again. My stomach dropped, and I went back up to the nurses\u2019 station. There were other nurses and doctors running towards the ICU entrance. The nurse told me a doctor would come out and talk with me. I paced back and forth. A woman came out and told me to come with her. The halls were completely empty, a blue light was flashing above his door. I got to the entrance of his room and it was chaos. There were 20 people in there, beeps going off, people shouting, people taking turns performing CPR on Albert. The doctor showed me the x-ray of his lungs and the left one was completely full of fluid. I started crying and asked, \u2018How could that happen so fast?\u2019 I don\u2019t remember what he said, all I remember is running down the hall shouting and sobbing to his family. I was hysterical. The doctor came out and took us to the \u2018special room\u2019 where I was told my worst nightmare. \u2018It\u2019s not looking good,\u2019 he said. He told us they tried to get the swab down to clean out his lungs, but there was so much tissue build up at the back of his throat from his sleep apnea it wouldn\u2019t go down. His heart was failing as a result of all this. I sat there so shocked by all these words, by what was happening. I just wanted to see Albert.<\/p>\n

We went back to Albert\u2019s room where I watched as they continued CPR. I looked at his vitals, willing them to change, seeing them jump a little, giving me a glimmer of hope. I screamed, \u2018You can do this. Fight. I need you. Theo needs you. We can\u2019t do this without you.\u2019 I went up to Albert and held his hand but, I knew in my heart he was gone. They had been performing CPR for an hour, but to me it felt like everything was in slow motion. I made eye contact with the doctor, tears streaming down my face, and said, \u2018It\u2019s ok. I know.\u2019 He was holding Albert\u2019s head, and simply said, \u2018I am so sorry.\u2019 They finished the last round of CPR and called time of death. 4:56 p.m. January 9th, 2019. I screamed, sobbing over Albert\u2019s body. Making sounds that can only come from the deepest loss, the part of yourself you don\u2019t discover until you experience something so soul crushing, you can\u2019t possibly come back from it. All the dreams we had were gone in seconds. And my sweet Theo would have to grow up without his wonderful dad. It just breaks every part of me. I looked up and saw that I and Albert\u2019s family were not the only ones with tears in their eyes. The nurses and doctors never gave up, and I knew they did everything they could. But Albert\u2019s body was tired. Tired of fighting. He lived in pain every day of his life. He worked so hard to better himself and his health. He loved us with every fiber of his being, and for that I will always be grateful.<\/p>\n

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As I left the hospital, all I could think about was how am I going to tell my 2-year-old son that his daddy died? This is not something someone so little should have to experience. I admittedly kept Theo sheltered by trying to stay positive, and not saying the word \u2018Daddy,\u2019 that first week after Albert\u2019s death. I think I was so afraid, that keeping Theo in a bubble was, in a sense, my own coping mechanism. We packed up everything and moved halfway across the country to live with my parents. We put most things in storage, but 8 suitcases, 4 carry ons, a dog, and a toddler later, we were on the plane to our \u2018new life.\u2019 Once settled, I brought Theo into my room and showed him a picture of his dada. He smiled and said, \u2018Dada.\u2019 I said to him, \u2018Mommy and Daddy love you very much, but Daddy got very sick, and his body stopped working. We won\u2019t be able to see him anymore. We can always look at pictures and talk about him, anytime. It is ok to cry, Mommy is so sad, and I know you are too.\u2019 I then sobbed in front of my son who looked at me with an inquisitive face and continued playing.<\/p>\n

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A few days later, we were looking at pictures of Albert together, and he pointed and said, \u2018Dada gone.\u2019 It was like a punch to my stomach. I looked at him and said, \u2018Yes, honey. Dada gone.\u2019 Children are wise, and understand so much more than we give them credit for. I came across a quote, \u2018If you are old enough to love, you are old enough to grieve.\u2019 Nothing rings more true, as I look at my beautiful son, who has endured so much. He is what keeps me grounded.<\/p>\n

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As I wade through the waters of this unrelenting storm, I have so much gratitude. Gratitude for all the people in my life who brought meals, called, messaged, packed up our life, cleaned our house, walked our dog, showed up and helped put together Albert\u2019s Celebration of Life. To the people who continually support me. The ones who check in, who answer my texts, and who listen, even when your own life is overwhelming. I see you. I will always remember your kindness. And to my parents who have provided a soft, safe, place to land while I figure out these next steps of my life. Of Theo\u2019s life. To simply put it, I don\u2019t know what I would do without you. The love Theo and I have been shown is so beautiful. Thank you.<\/p>\n

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Albert. My sweet Albert. I miss you every day. You once told me that seeing Theo being born would be a death bed moment for you. I will always wonder if that is what you saw, I hope so. I can honestly say, that watching you die will be one of my death bed moments. It is the most devastatingly, beautiful thing I have ever witnessed. Time stopped for that moment. I hope you know you were surrounded by love when you went. I have read that hearing is usually the last thing to go when someone dies. So, if you heard us pleading for you, know that while I am heartbroken, I understand. I see you in our amazing son. His eyes are your eyes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This path I am walking is not one I imagined I would have to walk so soon. You were 39, I am 32. I am here, being present for myself, and our son, even on the really hard days. I took Theo out for pizza on Valentine\u2019s Day, because that was always our tradition. We celebrated your 40th Birthday with a balloon release and Theo had an amazing Easter. He hunted those eggs like a champ, but I am sure you saw that. You see everything, because no matter what, you are with us. Showing up in the most unexpected places and bringing smiles to our faces when we need it most. I never thought I could be this strong and vulnerable at the same time. I promise to be the rock you always told me I was. I am working on myself, in every sense of the word. I am going forward with my dreams of becoming a Doula, I have been singing a lot more and using music as my healer, and eating lots of ice cream. I reconnected with old friends who take me as I am, and it\u2019s like no time has passed. I even started working part time and taking Theo to swim class. In everything I do, I will honor your life, by living mine, and helping Theo to live his. Theo and I will live out this beautiful, wild, and brave life together, side by side, with you in our hearts. Always.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe night my husband Albert died will replay in my mind like a movie scene. A movie that I wish was not my life. Albert<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5478","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5478"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5478\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5490,"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5478\/revisions\/5490"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5478"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5478"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storieshub.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5478"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}