Florida 2013: a Preview? or a Tribute to Pulmonary Embolisms?

Just after Christmas, my parents left NY for Marco Island, FL.  They first went to Marco Island two winters ago (before their mission).  While there in 2011, they met another retired couple playing softball at a park.   My parents got together with Bob and Rita and some other couples and played softball. They stayed in touch and when they finalized their plans for this winter, Bob put my dad in touch with the people in charge of Old Man Rec League softball in Marco.  Dad filled out paperwork, was approved, and joined a team.  My mom is a true-blue baseball fan and former competetive softball player ( the result of growing up with four older brothers, one of whom was a baseball fanatic), so all of this ball playing suits her just fine. On non-game days, my parents often take their pitching machine to the park. It's fun to see them enjoying themselves during their retirement.  I'm happy they have the opportunities they do. But I digress.

When mom and dad left for Florida two days after Christmas, mom wasn't feeling good. She'd had cold/sinus stuff going on, but they were anxious to head south, so they did.   Mom and dad took their time driving down the east coast and stayed a day or two with my Uncle Drew and Aunt Suzanne in South Carolina.  While there, they went on a walk and mom had a lot of trouble breathing and keeping up. She attributed the weakness to her cold.  A day or two later they'd reached Florida and mom scheduled a doctor's appt. She was treated and sent home with medication for a sinus infection. Her lungs sounded clear.

The next morning an ambulance took her to the hospital. 

When dad called, he said something like, "Mom's in the hospital. She has blood clots..." my heart sunk a little when I heard "blood clots".  After all, they can be serious.  But when I heard the rest of the sentence, "...in her lungs,"  I was on instant alert. Pulmonary embolisms?  People die from those!  Fortunately, my dad is calm and level headed, and he assured me that things were under control and promised to call later in the day when he knew more.

Several hours later he told me mom's pulmonologist had found not one, but several clots in her lungs. She was being given heparin and was already doing better; I talked with her and was reassured by her happy, almost energetic voice. Still, each time I talked with dad I asked, "Should I come to Florida?" Dad always assured me that mom was fine and there was no real need for me to make the trip.  After three or four days, when mom had been realeased and sent home, he told me that a visit might do her good, and he offered to buy my plane ticket. But he didn't pressure me or make a big deal of it. The offer excited me, but I still wavered. We had two kids going all directions with basketball and we hadn't been back from our Christmas trip very long. Plus, I had chemistry and work to consider. And who would take care of Corbin?  I didn't want to cramp Jared's work style, and I wasn't sure it'd be nice to go on vacation and leave him here.

But a few days later my chemistry teacher mentioned that there would be a week during which we'd only have one day of class.  I started to look for tickets.

Ten days later I was on my way to the airport.  Eleven days later I was in Florida.  (I had an eight-hour delay at DIA, which led to an overnight stay in Charlotte, NC, which led to my vacation being a bit shorter than planned. Still, a great trip.)

While with my parents I walked on the beach , attended my dad's softball game, ate at Olive Garden, gathered seashells, went shopping, and did a lot of reading, talking, and relaxing. I enjoyed being with my parents without my kids or their schedules governing our activities.

Two weeks from today our family flies to Florida to visit. Dad helped make this trip possible, too.  I'm excited to show the kids the ocean and relax together as a family.

Here are some photos from my trip.


My mom and I at my parents's condo complex.



There are dolphins in several locations around the island.


This is the only picture I was able to get of my dad at his game.