Your brother's keeper

Two country girls entering Junior High, 9th Grade, in the big city of McCook. Hardly knowing any of the classmates they found each other to be friendly. Over the high school years they became best friends. It has been a lifetime relationship—best friends.

One, now known as Grannie Annie, married an Air Force guy and lived in far-flung places all over the United States. An interesting life indeed. Service members are able to retire relatively young and Grannie moved back to this area to finish raising her children and eventually tend to aging parents. No relaxing for her she finds projects such as her Adopt a Chaplain ministry in a life of community service.

After high school, best friend moved to Lincoln to attend secretary school and excelled. Jobs in that area followed for a while but she developed a bit of wanderlust and found a position with General Motors in Detroit.

No marriage for her probably her outlook in life tainted by a somewhat rough childhood. She earned a position of executive secretary for a senior corporate official in that huge automotive company. A mark of her excellence she was sent to England to be the secretary for GM’s corporate officials there.

Eventually reaching retirement age best friend chose to move back to McCook and bought a very nice home. Distances are short in McCook so she was relatively close to long time best friend Grannie Annie and a surviving sister residing here. A few girlhood friends live in the area and it was fun to keep in touch. Life was good so best friend got a job in her specialty in an attempt to keep busy. Volunteered also doing community service jobs. Involved.

As happens as we grow older best friend’s sister deceased. She was no longer needed in her part time job. Then she dissolved her community service jobs and mostly was home alone with her rambunctious rat terrier dog. A hired yard man kept her lawn and flowers in beautiful condition. No computer, no cell phone just keeping in touch with the outside world with her TV, the landline and somewhat frequent visits with long time best friend Grannie Annie.

If best friend didn’t feel like talking or a short visit by Grannie Annie she wouldn’t answer the phone but eventually would call back to get together. Then Grannie Annie noticed that best friend was having trouble walking and complained of associated pain. Her home was slipping from the immaculate “The everything has its place and everything in its place that had always been the standard” “Come on call the doctor and I’ll take you to the appointment” Grannie Annie suggested. “I’m not ready yet. I’ll call and get an appointment when I’m ready!” “Don’t boss me!” the proud lady admonished her friend. Well it never happened.

Grannie Annie was growing more concerned and unknown to and against best friend’s wishes called and explained her concern to a younger brother who lives in South Florida. He called and visited with his sister and thought she sounded rather normal like old times. Called Grannie Annie back.

Next morning Grannie Annie called best friend on the telephone and the rather not unusual no answer but left a message to call back. Tried again a couple times but no answer. Was getting very concerned. Next morning called the McCook Police Department to meet at best friend’s house to make a wellness check. They found the lady lying disabled, barely conscious, on the floor where she probably had been some 24 hours. The ambulance was called and professionals came and transported her to our emergency room.

After a multitude of tests the diagnosis was stroke and evidence of multiple strokes in the past. The prognosis to date hopefully points to recovery but it will be a long-time struggle. Modern stroke treatment depends on speed. Shortness of time is critical. The future is unknown but most likely if her best friend Grannie Annie had not been her sister’s keeper a few more hours lying unattended on the floor would have been fatal.

I relate the above to encourage people living alone to have family, a friend or friends check on them frequently. Get yourself a lifeline that will automatically call for help if needed. We are community together and it is imperative that we look after each other. Christ enjoined each of us to be your brother’s keeper and that includes sisters too.

That is how I saw it.

Dick Trail