"Heart" Warming

In 2009 my husband of 20yrs suffered a heart attack & after spending the better part of a week in hospital was sent by ambulance to the larger hospital in the city for more intensive testing & what the cardiac unit considers to be a simple procedure. Upon undergoing the scope scheduled for the following day it was discovered that he was in imminent danger of suffering heart failure & was in need of bi-pass surgery. At the time we had no idea how severe the need was, but after talking with our 3 teenage children, I headed to the city to be with him the day of his surgery. I can remember feeling that sense of deep worry inside like an ache in my chest that was mimicking his symptoms & feeling that tightness in my throat every time it became necessary to speak to the friend who was so graciously trying to keep me calm during the 90min drive to be at his side. Another friend, who is actually more like family, met me at the hospital upon my arrival. Armed with my wallet & my desire to stay up until he was safely in the recovery room, I marched into the Tim's in the Hospital and bought my first extra large Triple Triple. Roll up the rim was ongoing at the time, so I absentmindedly did what every Canadian Tim's drinker does, used my teeth to roll up the rim as soon as I'd finished my cup. Having seen too many "please play agains" I was about to toss the cup in the nearest trash can when I noticed a long string of letters around the rim. Whether it was an angel on my shoulder or just Divine Intervention, my very first cup of many had gifted me with a $100 Tim card. It had been the one happy moment in a very stressful day & as silly as it seems, it was a greatly needed sign of positive things. During the 5 weeks that followed, I can't say just how many cups of coffee & tea I consumed. A cup of Tim Horton's was a constant companion during those long nights I sat alone waiting for him to wake up after the surgery. When he first awoke in his room it was the thing he wanted most aside from my company. Funny how something so simple offered hope during a very difficult time. The day we left the hospital we had our picture taken before setting out on the drive back home. Smiling & together, we posed for the camera hugging each other with our Tim's coffee in hand. For all those long nights, the tears shed, all the worry & the wishes made, a cup of Tim Horton's reminds me to pause & say a silent thank you that he is still at my side.