The Accident

I believe the death of my father was the first incident to get the wheels turning, to get Mike and I in Iowa. After Dad died on Easter Sunday, I drove the 13 hours to Davenport that next Monday with plans that Mike, Molly, and Maggie would drive up on Tuesday.  I did a lot of thinking during that drive. I thought a lot about what to say for his eulogy and I also wondered why we were not driving up as a family. Tuesday I sat with my sisters and my 90 year old mother and discussed funeral plans and schedule. We would go see Dad later that day. While sitting at the kitchen table, I received a phone call from Molly. They had been in a car accident in Nashville. They were in stop and go traffic and when they were at a complete stop, a women believed to be going 35 MPH hit them from behind.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I was upset with my Dad. Why wasn't he watching out for them and why didn't he want them at his funeral? Molly said they seemed to be okay but Dad was acting weird. I told the girls to call an ambulance to get him to the hospital and to keep me updated. Later, I found out he refused many times to go, but finally gave in.

When we pulled into the funeral home's parking lot, I received a call from Maggie. Unrelated to the accident, they found a tennis ball size tumor on Mike's kidney. The doctor's were pretty sure it was cancer.  Again, I couldn't believe what I was hearing and my heart sunk. Dealing with sadness all around me in Davenport and a distraught family in Nashville. I felt I couldn't do anything for them because I was so far away.

I then realized what Dad had done. He wanted me at his funeral but he needed to get Mike into the hospital without hurting anyone, so they would find that ticking time bomb. I truly believe my Dad saved my husband's life.

I decided not to tell my Mom until after Dad's funeral and right before I headed back home. When I did tell her, she agreed that Dad had something to do with it.

Today is the one year anniversary of the accident.


Mike had the tumor and kidney removed and he is now a healthy guy.