Her Day! Thursday: Joy (My Momma)

The goal for Her Day! Thursday is to, twice a month, showcase women who are doing great, incredible or seemingly normal things in life that make a difference.

My mom gave me life. My mom saved my life.

For our inaugural Her Day! Thursday post. I’ll be highlighting my mom, Joy. She gets the first post because, well, she’s my mom and she’s pretty great. 

 Nominations will open soon for Her Day! Thursday.

Now, back to my mom.

Of course, she gave me life. According to her, I was born during the hottest summer on record. I used to think this was a giant exaggeration on her part until one summer the local TV meteorologist announced the heat record was indeed reached the summer I was born. Exasperating her misery in the heat that year, I was born a full 2 weeks past the due date. Amidst the heat and discomfort and just praying I would be born already, she knew that something was wrong.

This was back in the day before routine ultrasounds. While in labor (finally) she told the doctor about her uneasiness and instinct that something was just not right. He just patted her hand and told her to calm her hysteria, there was nothing for her to worry about, he would take care of it all. Somehow seeing past this gross and outward display of ego, my mom stuck to her instincts and training as a nurse, refusing any type of anti-pain medication or epidural. She saw this as her only avenue to keep her baby safe. 

She was right. I was born in a frank breech position. In other words, y’all, I was born butt first. It was a very hard delivery for my mom. It was a very dangerous delivery for me, her baby. However, through her toughness, bravery, sheer stubborn determination and confidence in her instincts, we both survived.

Fast forward 26-ish years. I had a very difficult and dangerous first pregnancy. My mom worked as a Registered Nurse, with more than 35 years of experience, at my OB/GYN‘s office. Worried about my condition, she began to monitor me daily. Truthfully, I was annoyed. I thought what I was experiencing was normal, pregnant lady uncomfortableness but my mother wouldn’t get off my case.

As usual, though, momma was right. I was diagnosed with Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. My health took a turn for the worse one day evidenced by my dangerously high blood pressure. She wanted me to go to work with her that morning to see my doctor immediately. I, however, did not want to go. I had an appointment at 1:00 that afternoon. I thought I would be fine until then. She used the, “I’m your mother tone” so, I went with her begrudgingly. 

Upon arrival at the doctor’s office, I was immediately sent by ambulance to a larger hospital.  There, I was given life-saving treatments for me and our baby. If it hadn‘t been for my mom’s persistence, I would have waited until my scheduled appointment to seek help. By then, it probably would’ve been too late. (More about our Preeclampsia survival story in a later post.)

In the years between those dramatic birth experiences, Joy worked full time as a nurse. I can not count the people in my life who have shared stories of her giving them shots, swabbing their throats for strep, or keeping them calm during a visit to the doctor. Through all this, she never missed an athletic event or cattle show, sang songs, told stories, taught me how to make biscuits, refereed countless fights between me and my older sister, cared for her aging father, served on the PTA, was our scout leader, a volunteer for our 4-H club, lead Sunday School, served as president of the church women’s group and did the million other tasks moms do that nobody knows about and for which they are never given thanks.

As a Granny now, she makes paper hats, sings the same silly songs I remember learning as a kid, cooks breakfast for the grandkids on Thursday mornings, hosts Sunday Supper every Sunday, sits in back-breaking bleachers at the grandkids athletic events and is fiercely protective of her babies. Something she already proved during that ridiculously hot summer.

My mom gave me life. My mom saved my life. Today is Her Day! Thursday.