When the Storm Comes to Your Door.

The storm was here this morning...it was going to get worse.  Little did I know how this analogy was going to be true-to-life.  Ran to the doctor, ran to the bank, ran to the supermarket.  It was only 9:30am when I was done and the car was already slipping and sliding. Parked the car, that I know will need to be dug out tomorrow, ugh, and ran upstairs to my haven I call home.  Talked with Mr. Mak - yep, he seems to be  back.  Made me laugh until my stomach hurt...Said goodbye, got up, made myself some cafe con leche and a toasted multi-grain muffin.  I sat down, and was going to watch the View that I had Tivo'ed...and then I got the call.  Never took a bite.

"Judy...it's mom.  Chuito's been in an accident... "  It is one of those moments where your mind only hears certain words.  These are the words I heard:  snowblower, lost so much blood, unconscious, the baby, hospital. 

"Chuito" is my middle brother, 31, father of a one year old daughter, husband to my sister-in-law.  He is like me.  He sings, he writes, he's funny.  My brother and I have shared that common bond all these years.  He has a gospel hip-hop group called Gospel City, where he sings and raps and writes ALL his songs.  When I watch him perform, I am in awe of his talent and how easily he connects with the audience.  He tells me all the time he got that from me.  To this day, it may very well be one of the most honoring compliments I've received.  Long story short - I love my brother.  He's my brother. MY brother.

I'm so stressed, I don't even know if I got the story right.  I understand he was cleaning the snowblower and somehow the lever was accidentally pressed.  His hand!  Oh, my God, I cannot even imagine.  One time, many years ago I sliced my finger while opening a can of cat food.  It was a small cut but a deep one, and went right through a nerve.  I screamed and used every curse word in existence to describe the excruciating pain I was in - and for 4 months I had no feeling in that finger.  So I cannot, cannot fathom what he felt.  He lost consciousness.  My strong, wonderful brother - hurt.  Can't believe it.  His wife, thankfully, was in the house, heard him yell, and ran out and found him passed out.  Called the ambulance.

He was taken to the hospital, where they informed the family he needed to be transferred to a hospital where he could have proper surgeons fix him.  Nearest hospital? Over one hour away.  They could not take him in a helicopter because of the storm.  You know what is freaky and ironic?  On my brother's facebook status he warned everyone to be careful, and he said, "...today the snow is not your friend."  He posted that about 2 hours before this happened.

I just got word that they are performing surgery and believe he will do well since he has some sensation in his hand.  Chuito is in surgery now.  Worst part? I can't be there.  I can't be there with my brother and I can't be there and comfort mom.  For the first time in my life, I am physically unable to be there.  I am always, always, always there.  I tried, but it is treacherous.  My car would never make it.  My other  brothers begged me to stay home.  So I am left to pray.  I called mom and I said, "Isn't there something in the Bible that says, 'When two or more are gathered in my name, there I am...or you get an express line or something to God?"  Mom says, "yes." So we prayed together on the phone.  We prayed hard.  And I said toward the end. "I pray that the surgeon's hands and eyes are now YOUR hands and eyes....and I thank you, God, that the same hand that the enemy tried to take from my brother is saved..and that same hand will raise up in testimony and praise!.  I rarely get very religious, but this is the time.  And then I said, His hand will be raised as a testament to Your goodness that no weapon formed against me (him) shall prosper!

Please pray for my brother...he is still in surgery.  When you do so, use his name, Chuito, as God prefers when we are specific.  I love him.  I need him to be okay - for himself, for his wife, for his daughter.  He is a good, good man...one of the few good ones!