Life Hits Hard and Fast! Are You Prepared for the Unexepected??

Life has a way of kicking us in the nuts when we least expect it! One moment, you’re making plans for the weekend with your partner; the next, you’re grappling with a reality that feels like a nightmare.?

As I sat alone in the empty waiting room trying to busy myself with “work”, the sounds of an old western echoed off the tile floors and empty walls, failing to drown out the deafening beat of my own heart.?

The heart and soul of our family, the one who makes my life worth living, was lying on the cold, hard table having her brain scanned to determine the cause of her rapidly declining physical and mental health. While I tried to maintain a stoic demeanor, my racing thoughts betrayed me! As much as I tried to block out “worst-case scenarios” I knew something was terribly wrong; something that would change the course of my life forever.?

“Mr. Tyrrell. Excuse me, Mr. Tyrrell,” the deafening silence was broken as I looked up to see the radiology tech walking towards me. My heart was racing. After several deep, visceral breaths to keep my heart from exploding outside of my chest, the tech commandingly said “Mr. Tyrrell, your wife will be out of the procedure momentarily, we need you to get your car ready to drive her to the nuero-ER for direct admission; they’re expecting her arrival.” My worst nightmare was unfolding and there was nothing I could do to stop it…?

We held hands in silence as we drove across town. Tears intermittently flooded my eyes; fear of an emotional breakdown left me unable to speak. I needed to be on my game. Decisions needed to be made; and made quickly.?

The familiar, acrid, metallic taste overwhelmed my mouth as I swallowed my emotions to deal with them later; privately. I needed to be her rock; the one she could lean on, the one she could trust as she struggled to stay conscious. This was no time to indulge my emotions…?

Life’s unpredictable nature punched us right in the face! Before I could even process what was happening, I found myself trailing behind her hospital bed through the stark, cold hallways of the hospital. As she was being rushed to surgery, the whispers and the subtle eye contact among the medical staff betrayed their attempts at “lightheartedness”. The urgency was palpable; my partner, my person, my best friend needed surgery to remove the tumor from her brain that was hours away from taking her life.?

“How the fu*k did I get here?” I said to myself as walked along the cold, linoleum floors just outside the surgical suite after kissing my wife goodbye; perhaps for the last time. I knew I had 8-12 hours of busying myself ahead of me, and did the only thing I knew to do, I went to my home gym and proceeded to kick my a*s lifting heavy sh*t. I needed my wits about me, to focus, and to stay “fit 2 fight” to face whatever challenges were coming my way.

After several rounds and many tears later, my kettlebells finally beat my mind into submission. I was exhausted, and out of tears, but could think clearly again. My thoughts went from fear to those of gratitude. Whatever the outcome, I was grateful for the life we built together, for the family we created, and for the experiences that we shared since meeting in second grade 45 years ago.?

Being physically exhausted and emotionally drained, I busied myself with menial tasks like folding laundry, emptying the dishwasher, and making sure that our floors were clean enough to eat off of. Here I was, alone, grappling with a reality where every passing second felt both like an eternity and a reprieve from hearing the news I didn’t want to receive.

After eight long, agonizing hours, my phone finally rang. It was Abby, the charge nurse; the surgery was a success! The tumor was removed and the surgeons were closing her up. She would be back in the ICU within 2 hours. While the long-term outlook and prognosis were uncertain, I was grateful to have more time with my wife!

This experience has been a sobering reminder: If you’re not prepared for change, you’ll only experience challenges when it happens! Over the years, I've learned that to pivot effectively to face life’s challenges, we must be "fit2fight." It’s not just about physical fitness, though the grueling hours and days I spent at my wife’s bedside, supporting her recovery, certainly demanded every ounce of my energy. It's also about mental and emotional readiness; being able to endure, decide, and act under pressure.

During those long days at her bedside, my ability to stay clear-headed, to be supportive, and make critical decisions on her behalf, all hinged on my own health and preparedness. If you’re not "fit2fight," life will beat you down unmercifully! Being physically strong and mentally sharp isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. As previously mentioned, life has a funny way of kicking us in the balls when we least expect it.

Thanks to the skilled surgeons, the incredible nursing team, and my wife’s incredible strength and resiliency, she is quickly returning to her life. Through this experience, it’s become crystal clear just how important staying “fit2fight” actually is; not just for ourselves, but for those we love. We may find ourselves needing our physical strength to heal or recover quickly, or we may find ourselves being the caretaker for a loved one and need patience, grace, and understanding.

Remember, it’s not always about how hard you can hit, but how hard you can be hit and still move forward.