Turning the Corner at Moreland and Euclid

In the fall of ’95 Andrea turned 36, Amanda was 12 going into the 7th grade at Eagle’s Landing Middle School, and David was eight entering the 2nd grade at Oakland Elementary. When I wasn’t at work and when Andrea wasn’t at the daycare center, we spent the majority of our time at David’s little league basketball games and Amanda’s cheerleading at the middle school basketball games. With hectic work schedules and very active and involved children, we were busy, busy, busy; but happy and proud of them nonetheless.
In early November we began making plans to have our “annual” Thanksgiving celebration at the cabin on the lake. Andrea’s parents and mine were planning to come along with Andrea’s older sister and her three daughters. With such a busy life, we were looking forward to a relaxing long weekend at the lake. Weather reports indicated clear sunny skies and clear starry nights with an early chill in the air. Perfect weather as far as I was concerned.
Andrea decided that she and the kids would go down to the cabin on Tuesday the 21st to make the cabin ready for guests; dust, vacuum, wash some bed clothes, etc. The cabin stayed closed up when we weren’t there so she wanted to open some windows and let the cabin “air out” good before our guests arrived on Thursday. I had planned to go down after work on Wednesday the 22nd. I called the evening on the 21st to check on Andrea and the kids and all were doing fine. Andrea said the kids were watching TV and she was washing a load of clothes and doing some prep work for Thanksgiving dinner. We talked a short while then I headed for bed.
After work on Wednesday, I went home and packed a suitcase, loaded the Whippet into my little Nissan pick-up truck and headed for the lake. The pick-up had a bench seat and the Whippet curled up next to me and slept most of the way. I was so excited to get there for a long relaxing weekend. As I reached Twin Bridges Road, it was getting dark and the dock lights were reflecting off the water. I could literally feel my stress level instantly drop. The lights reflecting off the water were so pretty and relaxing. Even though the cabin was only 90 minutes from home, it felt like a world away.
I finally arrived at the cabin and as I walked in the kids ran up and gave me a big hug. Andrea was in the kitchen prepping the turkey and dressing and I walked over and gave her a quick hello kiss as the kids went back to their program on TV. When not being called upon to help in the kitchen, I stretched out on the sofa reveling in the quiet and tranquility. After finishing in the kitchen, Andrea came over and sat with me on the couch and we talked about the day’s events for a while. The Whippet climbed up on her lap and Andrea said, “Whew, this dog stinks. I’m gonna give her a bath tonight before company comes tomorrow.”
Andrea took the Whippet downstairs to give her a bath and I followed and went into the kids’ room to watch another program on their TV. It was about 9:00 p.m. and I stretched out on one of the twin beds and was nearly asleep when Andrea emerged from the bathroom. She came into the kids’ room and I immediately noticed that something was wrong as her breathing was very labored; as if she couldn’t catch her breath. I said, “Hey, what’s the matter, are you alright?” Gasping for air, in a sibilating manner she said, “Get my rescue inhaler, I can’t breathe.” I ran upstairs to her purse, found her inhaler, and rushed back downstairs to find her in our bedroom bent over, holding on to the bed footboard, still gasping. She took several puffs from her inhaler but it did not seem to help.
I opened the sliding door to the outdoor patio and said, “Let’s go outside and get some fresh air….I’ll call 911.” She looked at me eye-to-eye and with a look of fear and panic she whispered, “I’m gonna die.” I said, “No you’re not, just hang on, help’s on the way.” I then called out for the kids to come downstairs. It was easy to see that they were scared to death. I told them what was happening and tried to assure them that everything was going to be okay.” I told Amanda to stay with her mom on the patio and I took David, with a flashlight, to the end of the driveway at the street, about 30 to 40 yards away, to watch for the ambulance. I said, “Hey buddy, when you see the ambulance coming, wave the flashlight so they’ll see where to turn in.” He said in a very nervous, shaky tone, “Okay Dad, I will.”
While I was with David, I heard a distant cry. I ran back to the back patio to check on Andrea and Amanda and found Andrea supine, lying in Amanda’s arms, seemingly unconscious. I had Amanda to move and I laid Andrea flat and began CPR and continued until the paramedics arrived. The paramedics performed a tracheostomy and continued CPR. They placed her on a gurney and into the ambulance. When asked about her condition, the paramedics were silent, never acknowledging my presence. They left en route to Putnam County Hospital in Eatonton.
After the ambulance left, I took the kids back inside the cabin and tried to explain what was going on. I sat on the sofa and gathered them up under my arms and told them, “Mom’s asthma got really bad and she had a hard time breathing but I am sure she’s gonna be okay. Just say a little prayer.”