Mama Had An Angel

Mama had an Angel visit her when I was just a child, but I well remember the night the Angel visited.  It started early one evening when Mama became very ill.  We children knew she was ill but we had no idea what was wrong. To remember all of the children’s questions and all of the things we heard the adults talking about would take half a book to tell but it was a horrendous night. The ambulance came and gathered her up and Daddy put all of us children in the car and we all went to the hospital.

 We were sitting in the front lobby of the hospital with our Pastor and he was trying to keep us engaged in conversation so we would not cry or worry.  Daddy came and told us she had to have emergency surgery.  All of the adults were telling us how great it was going to be and we should not worry.

Then Daddy came and told us there was a problem.  He sat down and looked at us and told us that Mama had surgery but she had starting hiccupping and unless the hiccups stopped she could die.  We were horrified and our Pastor was praying aloud.  I know I was praying as were the other children.  The minutes just kept dragging and finally Daddy came and told us she had quit hiccupping and she was going to be fine.  Well that was a long night and the days that followed were long also. Finally she was home and would have to stay in bed for six weeks.

While everyone was on their best behavior, we were still not allowed in her room.  One day I snuck in there and she was happy to see me so I jumped up on her bed and sat there.  I talked a blue streak about everything that everyone was doing and all the problems and trouble that little children can get into.  She soon told me that she did not think she should be laughing so maybe she could talk a little bit. That is when she told me her side of the story about while she was in the hospital.

“I was lying on a gurney in what I thought was a hall but I later learned I was in the recovery room after having two-thirds of my stomach removed.  I had awakened thirsty and my throat was sore but no one could give me water because the Doctor wouldn’t let them.  You see I had to have a tube in my mouth for the surgery and it had dried my throat out.  Then I started hiccupping.    It hurt so bad I was crying.  The nurses were all around me and I tried but I couldn’t stop.  Then the Doctor came and told me to please try because if I didn’t I would have a strong chance of dying.  He was kind but he was blunt.  I was so scared and not for me but for you kids.  I didn’t want to die but I just couldn’t quit hiccupping. I had my eyes closed and I was praying and crying.  That is when it happened.  An older lady in a coat and a hat came to me and smiled.

Then she said, “Honey do you want to live?”

“Oh yes I do. I have nine children and I need to live.”

She placed her hand on my tummy ever so lightly because I had been cut open and sewn up and my tummy was too sore to touch.  I could not feel her hand but I could feel it too. 

She smiled, “You will be fine honey.”

I went sound asleep after that and the next thing I remember was a nurse telling me that she needed to get me ready to move into ICU.

“Where is the little lady in the hat?”

“There isn’t anyone here. Absolutely no one is allowed in here.  Maybe you dreamed about her.”

Well I knew she was there and she was not a dream. 

“Nurse I think my hiccups are gone.”

“Oh yes they are.  That is why we are moving you to ICU but only for a couple of days then you will go into a room and have visitors. Okay?”

“Well sweet girl of mine never forget this story because I promise that Angels are all around us and they do help us when we need them.  The little lady was truly an Angel and God sent her so I would know that he loved us so much that he would send us an Angel.”

I was discovered after that and the older girls ushered me out of Mama’s room.  I knew that I knew I could always count on Angels and especially on God because my Mama had an Angel.

Is this the year for your Christmas Angel?