Christmas Road Trip (Part 5)

I am always astonished at how fast December goes. And here we are at the weekend before Christmas and the day for the final installment of this year’s Christmas story already! If you have taken the time to read it, I thank you. I hope it has been a blessing to you. And now…on to Part 5! (Find the rest of the story here.)

     Thankfully, Mike was already driving off the closest exit. Providentially, he had noticed a sign for an Urgent Care Center just about the time the boys started shouting about Aunt Hattie. While it wasn’t a hospital, we knew they’d have emergency equipment available and could get an ambulance if necessary. It was just a half mile or so off the exit.
     Mike drove straight to the door and I helped a breathless Aunt Hattie out of the car and into the office. A kind staff member noticed her struggling as soon as we entered and brought us a wheelchair. She wheeled her to a private room and made her as comfortable as possible. Soon an ambulance was picking her up and taking her to the local hospital, which was only about five miles away.
     Mike followed in the car with the boys while I rode in the ambulance at Aunt Hattie’s side. I was filled with worry for my dear aunt who had become so precious to me in the course of just a few days. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I also recognized God’s great kindness and mercy in providing a place to take her just when it was needed and this filled me with faith to trust Him for whatever lay ahead.
          A couple of hours later, Mike had taken the boys on an adventure of eating and shopping to pass the time while I found myself in a small curtained-off area of the emergency room with Aunt Hattie, who was now resting comfortably. A variety of tests had been administered and we were waiting for the results.
     A thirty-something doctor with dark hair and very distinct green eyes soon pulled back the curtain and sat down. A name tag indicated that he was “David Mathisen, MD”.  Immediately, Aunt Hattie seemed preoccupied as he started to tell her the good news that she would not need to be admitted and that her condition could be treated with medication, giving her a diagnosis of heart arrhythmia.
     I smiled broadly at this and turned towards her, expecting to see her smiling broadly, as well. Instead, her face was filled with a puzzled look that belied what she had just heard.
     “Aunt Hattie, are you okay?” I asked anxiously.
     “Oh, yes, dear, I sure am. Young man, may I ask you something personal?”
     The young doctor, had just been about to go into the treatment of her condition, looked up with surprise at this interruption of his professional counsel.
     “Uh, sure,” he said uncertainly. Which was ironic and a bit humorous because he seemed very self-assured.
     What was Aunt Hattie up to now? I thought.
     “Would you happen, by any possible chance on God’s green earth, to be related to a Harry Mathisen?” She said with a twinkle in her eye.
     I knew Aunt Hattie had an older brother Harry, who had died many years before.
     The doctor was astonished, “Why yes, Harry was my grandfather,” and then added sadly, “I never got to meet him, though.”
     “Harry was my brother,” announced Aunt Hattie joyfully.
     “Your brother…?” the young doctor stammered.
     “Yes, he was! And your green eyes are just like his!” She exclaimed, “His eyes were just like my father’s and Harry was the only one of us kids to inherit them. And here is his grandson in the middle of Georgia with those same eyes!”
     The doctor smiled, “I have always been told that I have his eyes. Both my brother and I have them, although my dad, his son, does not.”
     Aunt Hattie continued, “So how have you come to be in an emergency room in the middle of Georgia? The last I heard Harry’s wife and children had moved to Minnesota after his death to be with her family. We completely lost touch after that move but, oh my, that seems a long way from Georgia!” Aunt Hattie laughed.
     As the doctor explained his journey to Georgia, which seemed to have something to do with a young lady he fell in love with during his college years, I listened on in sheer wonder. What a trip this had turned out to be. Aunt Hattie had actually mentioned her brother, Harry, on the way down and expressed her sorrow that she had lost touch with his family. And here was his grandson? What were the chances? Only God could have orchestrated this!
     The young man had transformed from professional doctor to warm and friendly nephew in the course of a few minutes. It was fascinating to watch.
     He told Aunt Hattie that his grandmother was still alive and well in Minnesota, happily married to his Step-Grandpa Marvin for many years. He was sure she’d love to hear from her sister-in-law. He was able to pull up his grandmother’s information on his phone and I carefully copied it on to my phone for my aunt.
     An hour later, with a prescription in hand, we were tucking Aunt Hattie carefully back in the car. Doctor Mathisen was with us and, advising her to take it very easy for the next few days, had warmly hugged his new-found great-aunt before helping her in the car.
     With smiles and waves and promises to stay in touch, we were off. Five hours had been taken up in diagnosing Aunt Hattie but we all marveled at God’s Providence in introducing her to her great-nephew, in the midst of a very harrowing few hours. We were also filled with gratitude that Aunt Hattie’s condition wasn’t serious and could be treated with medication. This was an unexpected blessing, as well.

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     The final three hours passed uneventfully and soon we were pulling up to the sprawling rancher that my parents now called home. As my dear family poured out of the doors to welcome us all, despite the late hour, I realized that I was not the same person I was when I had left home just a few days earlier.
     I had learned to be more intentional in my love and concern for others. And to be more thankful. God had taught me the value of appreciating and learning from those who have been living life far longer than I have. And I had also learned that God will provide for His children in the midst of any trial and may even add an unexpected, incredible blessing in the midst of it.
     I took a brief second to thank God that we had brought Aunt Hattie on this trip and for the many blessings and challenges to my status quo Christianity that had come because of it.
     And then I was out of the car, enveloped by the love of my parents and family, ready to celebrate Christmas with a whole new perspective!