Whirlwind Weekend....................

Thursday morning, I woke up to my usual text from Ray

"Good morning babe, I love you and our boys, talk to you after practice"

I was so excited, because he was coming home for the next 5 days and his flight was scheduled to get in at 10pm that night.

It was about 10:30am Utah time, and I text him back and usually he is at practice at that time.

He immediately called me back, which was unusual. He told me he was heading to the doctor, and I immediately thought {football injury}. He said he had been passing blood and was throwing up blood as well, and that he blacked out at practice. They sent him to the team doctors office and they drew some blood and sent him home, told him he couldn't fly that night and so I started working on rebooking his ticket for the next day after his follow up. Didn't think it was anything major at all.

I was heading to my 31 week check up and told him to call me as soon as he got home. After my appointment, I still hadn't heard from him and kept trying to call him.

I called and called and called, but didn't feel right. I knew he wasn't just sleeping, so I kept calling.

After about 100 calls {no joke} some guy named Jason answered the phone.

My heart sank.

It was deja vu all over again from the car accident.

Jason informed me he was a paramedic and that they were rushing him to Broward General hospital....

AGAIN??

I thought right then that he had maybe passed out and crashed the car. Jason told me that they picked him up from our home because he called 911 and that was all he would tell me.

I started freaking out. For Ray to call 911 for help must've been a pretty bad situation. I was just crying, I had no clue what was going on. My Dad was home and I just cried and cried... I tried calling the hospital, and finally after about an hour, I was able to reach the Emergency Room and talk to a nurse, who then let me talk to Ray. I was so relieved to hear his voice and just cried on the phone.

He told me what happened was he went home and started feeling really really sick and was lying down. He got up to use the restroom and just started bleeding and then when he stood up he passed out. When he came to, he figured he must've hit his head on the bathroom counter because his head hurt and then there was blood all over the bathroom. Scared him enough that he crawled to the bed where his phone was and called 9-1-1 right away. That night they took him to ICU. I couldn't get a flight out that night and our friend Vili and Tupou went over to the hospital right away and Vili actually never left Ray's side and kept me updated and slept the night with Ray. I am so grateful for their friendship and love. I know they didn't have to do that. They have their own busy lives and schedules and Vili just dropped everything to be with Ray. I cried even more because I was so thankful that Ray had someone with him and he wasn't alone. Vili sent me updates throughout the night. I did not sleep at all.

Ray had lost 4 pints of blood.

FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our bodies carry 10, so he was functioning off of almost half his blood supply.

He had internal bleeding in the upper gastrointestine and 3 bleeding ulcers.

NOT GOOD!!!!

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7TH

I was up all night and around 5am I called the ICU to talk to the nurse to get an update on Ray. My friend Pam who is an RN called me the night before and gave me some questions to ask and also some information that really helped me. I felt so helpless being 2,700 miles away. I just wanted to get to Ray.

I started looking for flights right away, but didn't know if I could even fly. The nurse informed me that they were doing an endoscopy and also a colonoscopoy to see if they could detect where the bleeding was coming from. The cat scans and MRIs showed nothing so they needed to go inside. The scopes were scheduled for 11am. {9am Utah time}

My OB doctor office opened at 9am. I called them and talked to my nurse and my doctor wanted me to come in and get checked to see if I was dialated. If not, I could go. If I was, I had to stay. I was praying so hard that I wasn't. I called Kamie to come get Toa, my parents were at my Dad's 6 month checkup at the Huntsman's Center and wouldn't be home for a while. Kamie and Matina rushed over and Matina stayed with the boys and Kamie took me to my appointment. I packed my bag and took it with me just in case my doctor said I could go, I was going to catch the 1:25pm flight. It was 11:15 when Kamie came. I cried long enough to give Toa kisses and hugs and then left. My doctor rushed me back, checked me and gave me the OK to go. I needed to be to the airport by 12:25 and it was now 12:05. We headed straight to the airport. While we were driving the hospital in Florida called. Vili had text a little bit before that saying they just took Ray back and put him under for the scopes. The voice on the other end told me that they had had complications with Ray but I couldn't really understand them. I was shaking so bad and almost threw up. They then hung up and then Ray's number called me back and it was him. HE was the one who called and said there were complications, but he was joking and said he had just finished the scope. I was so damn pissed off. It was NOT funny... I almost didnt' get on the plane I was so mad at him. I told him as soon as I got there I was going to punch him in the face. He said he wanted to 'lighten' the mood. Um, no freaka, you made me go into labor. lol I hurry and checked in and got on my flight and arrived to Florida around 10:30pm. Sila and Monika picked me up and took me straight to the hospital.

When I got there, saw him all hooked up to machines and IVs and in ICU, I just started crying. The first thing you think when you hear ICU is 'bad shape'. As soon as we saw each other, we started crying. I was just happy I was by his side and able to get there. Vili, Tuli, and Lua were there hanging out with him and I finally sent them all home. They had done so much and sacraficed so much time to ensure Ray wasn't alone. Forever grateful for their kindness and friendship.

I stayed the night with him. The nurse was nice enough to let me sleep over. Usually they don't allow guests in ICU rooms, and leaving his side was the last thing I wanted to do. Earlier that day they gave him a blood transfusion and they were drawing blood every 6 hours to see if his blood levels were rising. Normal for men is a 15 and Ray's count was at an 8. They said if it dropped anymore that they would have to do another transfusion. During the endoscopy they saw the bleeding ulcers. Thank goodness there was no bleeding in the lower intestine. I just laid there watching him all night. He looked really sick. Pale. Weak. Frustrated. I was so heartbroken. Not use to seeing a big tough guy hooked on machines and tubes everywhere. They came and checked on Ray every hour, vitals, meds, etc. That morning, the showed his blood count had raised only to an 8.1. We just rested most the day and talked and watched TV. He was in and out of it most of the time. I left long enough to go home and shower and then headed back for another slumber party in ICU.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8

At midnight they took his blood again and at 1am they came back saying his levels had dropped again to a 7 and they needed to do another transfusion. So around 1:30 they started the transfusion and it took about 2 hours. 6am they came and took more blood and at 7am his team doctor came in and checked on him again. You don't get much rest in a hospital.. Tupou came to visit for about an hour and we just hung out. I ran home again to shower and get more clothes etc.. Ray got up and walked around the ICU one lap and then rested. His nurses were so awesome. They definitely treated him like gold. I was happy I didn't have to deal with crappy nurses etc..

SUNDAY OCT 9

Same routine of poking and prodding my Ray. He looks so exhausted. Doctor finally told him he could eat solid food and he was SO HAPPY!! I went downstairs to get us some breakfast and the cafeteria and food places are right by the Labor and Delivery unit. Can I tell you that I had about 7 people ask me if I was heading to deliver? I just laughed. I said in my mind, if my husband keeps having crazy incidents happen, I'll be heading there.

While I was getting breakfast, Ray's mom text that they just landed.. Yay.. I had no idea they were coming, but they caught the red-eye flight, so I ran Ray's food back to him and went and picked them up. I know Ray was so happy that they were there. We then ran to the house to freshen up and when we got back to the hospital, they told us they were discharging him from ICU!! YAY!!! As great as the 'service' was, we wanted to graduate from ICU. They moved us downstairs to the big executive suite.. It was so nice. It had a side room hooked to Ray's room, with a bed, TV, computer and chairs. Very posh. The bed would've been nice the last 2 nights in ICU :) Ray was just excited he got to finally take a shower.

That night, I actually went home with my mother in law to rest and my father in law stayed the night with Ray. They went to dinner with Ray's aunty and I went and picked us up some dinner and we just hung out and watched TV. .Ray was definitely looking a thousand times better and getting a little energy.

The doctor came in and told us the good news that the bleeding had stopped and that his blood levels rised to 8.7!! I was so happy...

MONDAY OCTOBER 10

I didn't want to leave Ray last night, but I knew I needed to rest my body. At 7am this morning Ray called that they were discharging him!!

YIPPEEEEE!!! I was so happy. We hurry and got ready and headed to the hospital, got all the information needed, packed his stuff up and left. I told him I didn't ever want to be back at this hospital or any for that matter... ever again!

He looks so good. He said he feels good. His blood level as of 6am this morning was 9.4!!! Progress.. and I'm so happy. He's still a little pale and weak. His mind wants to do more than his body should though.

I know this isn't how he wanted to spend his bye week. We had so many plans this weekend in Salt Lake, who would've thought I would've been back in Florida? I am so happy I am here with him. Now, I really don't want to leave him. I think I'll just pack him up and bring him back with me.

Last summer when he was in the accident and I felt for that brief moment when talking to the paramedic the possiblity of life without Ray, I didn't think ever I would feel that way again... until the paramedic answered his phone this time. It is the worst feeling in the world. I knew I needed to be out here with him. We need each other.

He is me, I am him.

I am so happy and thankful he is doing good. It could've been a really bad situation.

I am glad he called for help and wasn't stubborn and just tried to sleep it off.

He lost so much blood etc, that the doctor said had he waited any longer, he could've died.

He is so tough and faithful. I love him so much. Thank you to our sweet Tuaone family here and Netane family for taking such good care of Ray. For visiting, calling, texting, bringing food... EVERYTHING. We are truly blessed with such amazing people in our lives.

Thank you to my family for taking care of our Toa...it was such a last minute decision for me to come and my family seriously dropped everything to make sure Toa was taken care of.

Our agent Deryk who has been on top of things, making sure Ray's work is taken care of etc

All of our friends and family who have been calling, texting, praying, emailing, Facebooking, etc checking on Ray, sending love and prayers that were definitely felt. We seriously love each and every one of you.

I love you Ray!!! I'm so happy you're ok!! I know you just needed your Wifey here to feel better ;)