June 18th, 2018. 4pm.

 “We found something. Your doctor will give you more details, but the hospital can’t release you in your condition. They’re prepping to receive you at the emergency room. We’re going to walk you over.”

How do you receive those news? More importantly, how was I supposed to explain it to my loved ones? How would I tell everyone that a brain mass had been found and that I needed multiple surgeries? Does an appropriate reaction even exist?

But at least I had some sort of proof that this time, I wasn’t overreacting. There was something seriously wrong and the resolution went beyond my knowledge, beyond my skills, beyond my abilities.

Though time stood still for me, the clock kept running, life kept moving. The situation set off a series of events that wouldn’t have materialized otherwise.

At least for now. I think.