The Importance of Being There
Two weeks ago, I found myself in a sea of purple cap and gowns at my son, Ben’s college graduation. I felt enormous pride and emotion in celebrating his success at college. His was the class of 2020 that did not have graduation from high school due to Covid. This made his graduation even more poignant. As I sat in my seat, I felt grateful he was able to have this moment. I felt grateful to be there, too.
And I have to admit I also felt pride in myself. I had recently been hospitalized with a serious bacterial infection. Five days before graduation (the Friday before leaving on Tuesday) I came down with a 102-degree fever with chills. I had never experienced this before. I was quickly summoned to my doctor’s office where they quickly put in an IV and gave me antibiotics. They also did a blood culture where they assess whether I had bacteria in my bloodstream. I went home and by Saturday (the next morning) in rapid succession I got phone calls, showing that I did in fact have bacteria in my blood and that I must go to the ER immediately. Having blood in your bloodstream can quickly lead to sepsis.
Steve and I quickly rushed out the door and went to the ER at UCSF. The ER there is not a place of beauty. We were brought to a chair in the hallway. Where we stayed for 6 hours (!). This was a race against time. I kept telling EVERYONE who would listen to me I got to get to New York. “My son is graduating from college and I HAVE to be there!” All the doctors and nurses were very sympathetic to my plight, and I was soon admitted from the ER into the hospital. They quickly put in another IV and I started on more antibiotics.
Within an hour, I was feeling much better, but I still needed more antibiotics until there was no evidence of bacteria in my blood. Monday afternoon I was discharged from the hospital. Miraculously, I was going to be able to get on my original flight leaving the next morning, Tuesday at 8am. It felt like I just had enough time to shove my white jeans and a few cute t-shirts into my suitcase. I was exhausted but thrilled to be on my way to Ben’s special day.
One little wrinkle aside from the hospitalization. My birthday was going to fall on the same day as Ben’s graduation. Steve and I had planned to celebrate before we left for New York. Lo and behold, stuck in the hospital, who shows up with presents (and a Super-Duper burger) but Steve!
Once we were in New York, I felt amazingly fine. The first graduation was at Yankee Stadium (it wasn’t particularly moving) but the second graduation was beautiful. Ben was part of Gallatin; the school of Individualized study and they hosted a ceremony the next day.
I am truly grateful for the antibiotics, my strong body, the nurses and my primary care provider who quickly identified the bacteria and got me started on antibiotics. If it was not for her, I may not have made it there. I think I would have left the hospital even if they hadn’t let me!
To all my dear friends and families celebrating this poignant milestone, whatever the color of your gown may have been, mazel tov!
And to you, dear Benjamin, I’m so incredibly proud of you.
Love,
Mom
