This has been one hell of a week. 

On Wednesday night about 11 o'clock, I started to get a cramp in my abdomen on my left side.  I thought it was just the way I was lying in bed.  I tried to fall asleep but I couldn't because the cramp got worse and worse.  I tried going to the bathroom, nothing.  So about 1 o'clock in the morning I called my boyfriend Steven on his cell phone.  I told him that I thought I needed to go to the hospital.  I had a really bad cramp that wasn't going away.  He told me he would be at my house within minutes. 

Steven lives about a 15 minute walk from my house.  About five minutes after I called him, he arrived at my front door, soaking wet and out of breath.  He had run in the cold and pouring rain to get to me.

We called a cab to go to the Burnaby General Hospital.  It was a $15 ride, $20 if you count the tip. 

The doctor said I probably had a kidney stone, but there would be a bit of a wait for a CAT scan to see if that was the case.  I was in excruciating pain, so much so that I had to be given morphine.  The nurse came in to set up the IV.  I started to panic and hyperventilate because the pain was too much.  Once the morphine was injected, I started to shake uncontrollably.  I'm sure this was disturbing for Steven, all he could do was hold my hand.  

Through the next eight and a half hours Steven stayed with me, holding my hand, stroking my forehead, kissing my face.  He massaged by back where the cramp was when it flared up, got a waste basket when I started to dry-heave because of the pain, put my socks on when I needed to walk on the floor and he helped me get in and out of bed when I needed to use the washroom.  Finally he had to leave because he was so tired.  He paid for my cab ride home, another $20.  Steven ended up missing class Thursday night because he was too tired to get up. 

I have never experienced such tenderness before in my entire life.  Every time I think about his love and devotion that night, I start to cry.  I am humbled that this man would do this for me. 

I thanked him for that, he said to me, "What else was there to do?"  He meant that there was no other option for him.  I was a priority, end of story.

There are no words to express my gratitude for Steven.  He is a gift from God, one I certainly do not deserve.  I hope some day I can repay him for all the sacrifices he makes for me.

I love you Steven Orlowski.

Pax Christi,

OrlosGirl