Tags
Back Pain, Coffee, Death, Doctor, Family, health, Heating Pad, Insurance, Life, love, Shower, Water Leak, writing
Currently, I’m in my recliner—coffee in hand, heating pad doing its best to negotiate peace with my back. And as I sit here, I can honestly say this past weekend is one I wouldn’t care to repeat anytime soon.
The emotional rollercoaster alone was enough to wear me out.
A few months ago, my doctor of 40 years was involved in a near-fatal car accident. For four decades, this man has been more than just a doctor—he’s been a steady presence in my life. The kind of doctor who knows you, not just your chart.
Since the accident, his daughter—a nurse practitioner—has been stepping in and taking care of his patients. The last I heard, he was in rehab and making progress. There was hope. Even with the complications from his pancreas injury, things seemed to be heading in the right direction.
Then Easter weekend came.
We had family over and made a conscious decision to set aside the plumbing chaos and focus on what Easter is really about. For a little while, everything felt normal again. Laughing, eating, spending time together—it was a much-needed pause.
But Monday morning had other plans.
Like I usually do, I started my day with a devotion and then sat down to scroll through Facebook. That’s when everything shifted.
Right there on the screen was the news—my doctor of 40 years had passed away due to complications from his pancreas.
Just like that… he was gone.
It’s hard to explain the weight of that kind of loss. It’s not just losing a doctor—it’s losing someone who has walked alongside you through so many seasons of life. Someone you trusted without question.
And in the middle of processing that, reality didn’t pause.
I had been waiting on MRI results from the previous week, and now I’m left wondering how—or when—I’ll even receive them. It’s a strange feeling… needing answers, but suddenly not knowing where they’ll come from.
Then there’s my son’s situation.
After all the speculation and stress, we finally got to the root of the plumbing issue. It turns out the culprit was a mixing valve in the guest bathroom shower. It had been leaking hot water for quite some time, and the damage… well, let’s just say it didn’t hold back.
Walls will have to be removed.
Flooring in the living room—gone.
Parts of the kitchen tile are also coming out.
It’s one of those situations where the problem hides quietly until it decides to introduce itself in a big way.
The repair itself was handled today, and the water mitigation crew has already started their work—cutting into walls, setting up fans and dehumidifiers, and beginning the long process of drying everything out.
Now comes the part nobody enjoys—dealing with the insurance company.
So far, they’ve been less than eager to step up. If it were up to them, I’m pretty sure they’d prefer to pretend the whole thing never happened. Thankfully, the mitigation team has experience dealing with this kind of pushback and has assured us they’ll fight to make sure the necessary repairs are covered.
We’ll see how that plays out.
But if there’s any silver lining in all of this, it’s this:
At least we didn’t have to tear up the living room slab chasing a mystery leak.
He’ll end up with a new wood floor.
And he has people in place who know how to handle the construction—and the insurance headaches that come with it.
Sometimes, that’s about as good as it gets.
This weekend was a reminder of how quickly things can change. One moment you’re celebrating with family, and the next you’re dealing with loss, uncertainty, and unexpected challenges.
But through it all, one thing remains the same—faith, family, and the strength to take the next step forward… even when you’d rather just stay in the recliner a little longer.
And for now, that’s exactly where I’ll be.
Coffee in hand. Heating pad on.
Taking it one moment at a time.
Grayfeathersblog 