After many lengthy, exhausting and stressful days and nights at the hospital my wife Kathy would call our home phone. She would let the phone ring, and ring until no one answered and the answering machine picked up and played the recorded away message. Kathy listened to my recorded voice speak “Bill and Kathy are away and please leave a message”. She held the telephone receiver to her ear with love, companionship, sorrow and fear in her heart and tears in her eyes. She felt some relief pulse through her weakened body and mind while my recorded voice brought back memories of better times. Although Kathy liked to listen to my voice, hearing my familiar voice stirred up thoughts of sadness and the uncertainty and loneliness that was now apart of her daily life. This recorded voice of mine was the only connection back to the happy reality Kathy once knew when she had the opportunity to listen to my real voice any time.
While Kathy listened to the recorded voice, I was in a coma hooked to a respirator and other life support devices. Nobody knew if I would ever awaken. Kathy cherished her only connection to my voice on our answering machine and the reality she once knew.
With many prayers from all over the world, determination and faith, I awakened from a 3 month long coma, completely blind and unable to speak. After learning to talk with a Tracheostomy by holding a special device to block the hole in my throat Kathy once again was able to listen to me speak to her with love and companionship in my real voice.
I truly hope nobody ever takes for granted the simple things in life that can go away immediately and forever, such as listening to a love one speak to you. I understand some with certain disabilities may not be able to speak and others cannot hear voices due to hearing impairments and can relate by replacing the ability to hear or speak with other communication methods one might use.
I feel like I was the lucky one at times being in a coma and having been oblivious to all of the uncertainty and sadness that stirred around me as my family and friends wondered if I would live or die. I personally think it would be very difficult to only have a recording of Kathy’s voice to listen to as my only connection to her. I cannot imagine how she felt having to rely on a recording to bring back memories of me. I also cannot fathom how she took care of me daily in the hospital, took care of the house we live in, all of our household needs, taking care of our pets and everything else while going through such stress, fear, loneliness and uncertainty.
Our wedding anniversary is this month; and Kathy and I will celebrate our love together. I was in a coma for our 12th wedding anniversary. Later I was told Kathy was all dressed up nicely in a dress, jewelry and heels as she visited me as I laid there hooked to the world and in my hospital gown; very lovely looking couple.:) I do not plan on missing this year’s anniversary!!
Cherish every day. We never know when the voice of life might be distinguished forever.
Does anyone have a simple gift that means so much? Any other stories of how you stay connected to loved ones? I hope we take the time to cherish life’s simplest gifts and stay connected to each other before we loose the chance.
We all look forward to hearing from you.
Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/