“Mitch, Jessica is not responding to me! Her lips are a blueish tint and… OMG! I think she is having a seizure!”
“Brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you go on even though you’re scared.“
Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give
Seizures
Everything hits me at once – is this the day the seizure will win? Will Jess be able to get enough oxygen? Will this be the seizure that doesn’t end quickly? And how much I hate F!@#$%^ seizures!
Jessica is unable to communicate with words, even when she is not in the midst of a seizure. Oh, how scared she must feel, and she will never be able to tell us.
Bravery
I want to run ~ Out of the room…Out of the house… And come back when the seizure is over and Jessica is well.
But, of course, I can’t. I wish I could say my fear encouraged bravery. However, my fear encouraged more fear.
Jessica’s dad, Mitch, my husband, is the brave one in this scenario. He is also fearful for Jess and, unfortunately, needs to manage me, as well.
Mitch tells me,”Call 911.” After that, he says, “Go upstairs and get supplies for our trip to the ER.”
He is taking me out of that room ~ giving me the steps that I need to collect myself and find my bravery.
Once the ambulance arrives, I am brave~ I am brave as we travel to the hospital speeding down the roads. I am brave when we sit in the ER exam room, as Jessica slowly wakes up… as Jess becomes herself once again.
Jessica
The true brave person in our story that happened more than once and more than twenty years ago is our daughter Jessica. No matter what hardships she has~ she overcomes them and starts again.
Bravery isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s Mitch calmly telling me, “Call 911… go get supplies.” Sometimes it’s me holding it together in the ambulance. And most of all, it’s Jessica—our daughter—who faced the unimaginable every single time.
Mitch
Bravo our brave daughter and thank you Mitch for the numerous times you helped me find bravery.
As I write the following words, my superstitious self is yelling at me, “STOP!!!!!,” and I hope that I am not putting a whammy on our luck. Jessica’s seizures “appear” (maybe using that word helps with superstition 😉) to be under control with medication. Perhaps, at age 43, other metabolic changes have occurred. So we hope and pray that Jess remains on this path.
Have you had a moment of bravery in a time of crisis?
(WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS – PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO COMMENTS)
Have you read Raising Jess: A Story of Hope? I’d love to join your book club—for an engaging, heartfelt discussion.
We can discuss the real-life moments behind the pages, including parenting a child with a rare chromosome deletion, the challenges and joys our family has faced, and the journey that inspired the book. Message me here or write to vickierubinauthor@gmail.com to set it up.
For an inspiring stories about Raising a Child with a Rare Chromosome Deletion, check out 3-time award-winning memoir, Raising Jess: A Story of Hope!
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Dang . . . you always tell it the way it is and on so many issues few people experience. Your life experiences are so important to share with others. They learn, they become more aware of the life issues others deal with and in many cases makes them greatful for their own lives.
Vickie, you Mitch and I as well as many others likely have a “different perspective” on many of life issues and experiences. We see or have seen the lives not only in our own space but that of others who face challenges unknown to most.
Fortunately we have folks like you and Mitch sharing the issues and often-times struggles others live through daily . . . and as a result help the human race more informed and sensitized in positive ways.
Keep up sharing the stories and life issues. It makes us all better people.
Thank you for all you do for Jessica . . as well as your fellow humans.
Stay well.,
Mike Reif
Mike, I am so touched and grateful for your comments.
I appreciate all I learned from you about advocacy and strength.
Thank you so very much – I will keep your note for when I get writer’s block ( often!) and think I’m done with this whole writing thing!
Be well and thank you,
V
Your story is very timely for us. My son had a seizure last night, he has the same condition. You’re are right though, you never get used to watching your child have a seizure. I feel so useless when he has one. My husband is the calm one too, and is always tell me to calm down and everything will be ok.
Thank you for your story Vickie, it makes me feel less alone in this would 🫶 xx you have such a beautiful family!!!
Thank you for writing and sharing your experience. I appreciate your comments and yes we are not alone. ❤️❤️V
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Freshman year of college. My anti-semitic homophobic roommate was swapped for a really nice girl in October. The 2nd morning with her I woke up to a crash, she was having a seizure and fell off her lofted bed. I had to call 911, I waited holding her hand and doing whatever I could to keep her calm and safe. She was taken to the hospital and she was okay. She’s actually one of the only people from college I still keep in touch with today. Everybody commended me but… what else was I going to do?
It only says anonymous wrote this- so I’m not sure who’s writing it although I have my thoughts 😉
How brave you were to keep your calm and hold your roommates hand until emergency helped arrived. As a young college student that showed a lot of bravery and strength.
I’m glad that to this day you both are still connected
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These seizures sound harrowing and must be even more horrifying to experience. You three work well as a team to bravely face each moment together. 🙏
Thank you, Ab. We are a pretty cool team.
I thought I would eventually get used to seeing a seizure, but that never happened .
Your comment is beautiful and I appreciate it ❤️
Mitch’s calm demeanor…giving you the moment to gather yourself. So important…so glad you two are partners in loving Jessica. Beautiful, dear Vickie! 🥰❤️🥰
Thank you so much ❤️
I know you understand as a sibling, daughter and professional ❤️
Hugs to all! 🥰❤️🥰
So well said Vicki.. So many memories over the years. You and Mitch are blessed as Jessica is blessed with you I love reading your stories and am proud to call you and Mitch my friends
I wish that I knew who this was because it only says anonymous. Thank you so much. I so appreciate you reading this and writing to me and your meaningful words. ❤️