On Friday, my mother called Mikayla to tell her that she had broken her leg. She was washing her car and tripped on a parking block. The security team at the temple complex came to her rescue, and enlisted the help of some missionaries to take her to the hospital. The ER doctor confirmed her leg was broken, gave her a brace, and told her to get in to the orthopedist as soon as she could get home.
Mikayla changed our airline tickets, and we flew down yesterday (Sunday) to pick her up. Our fun weekend plans to see all the places where Mom had served and meeting people she has grown to love as well as playing at the beach were all foiled. A missionary couple Mom has been working with graciously came to pick us up at the airport. We found Mom in bed, leg propped on a pillow, sad and in pain.
Mikayla and I were able to quickly pack up Mom's little studio apartment. We cleaned out the refrigerator to disperse food to other people, cleaned the bathroom, and managed to find a spot for all of her things in the back of the car. Many of the couples that Mom has worked with came to bid her bon voyage and to express their condolences that her mission was finishing as it was. They were all very kind, considerate and concerned.
On our way out of town, we stopped at the home of a woman Mom helped teach. Her name is Norma, she is 92, and she loves Mom. She, too, was sad that Mom was broken and leaving her mission early, but was delighted to meet us, Mom's daughters. It was fun to meet her as well because we had heard so much about her conversion.
We drove from LA to St. George, where we got a hotel and stayed overnight. Mom was incredibly uncomfortable as I remember being when I broke my leg and as Mikayla remembers well considering all of her surgeries. We slept, and rose in the morning to continue our drive home.
We made good time, and although Mom was super uncomfortable, we did have a lovely visit on the road. Mom told us about her mission, the things that she liked, the ways she felt she contributed, and the wonderful people that she met. Her mission has been a good experience. She didn't really want to go to Los Angeles but came away at the end with a wonderful love of the whole experience.
When we got home, we got Mom into the house, and Mikayla and I unpacked everything. We put her clothes away, we unpacked food, and generally made sure that there weren't a lot of obstacles around. She was very unstable on her crutches, so I borrowed a walker from my friend Maureen. We will look to borrow a wheelchair too.
I hope that my mother heals quickly, and that this break will not require surgery. Doctor later in the week. In the meantime, even though the summer will now look different than she had anticipated, we are so happy to have her home.
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