Last week, while tidying up the living room, Meredith stumbled upon her son Edward’s phone with a mysterious message: “Are we still on for tonight?” Her heart sank as curiosity turned to dread, leading her to uncover a secret that left her in tears.
Last week, I was tidying up the living room when I found an unexpected surprise. While fluffing the couch cushions, I discovered Edward’s phone wedged deep between them. I picked it up, ready to set it aside for him.
A phone between the cushions | Source: Midjourney
As I held the phone, it suddenly vibrated in my hand. A message flashed on the screen: “Are we still on for tonight?” My heart skipped a beat. Edward is married, and this number wasn’t familiar.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I stared at the phone, feeling a mix of confusion and worry. What could this mean? Why would someone send him this message? Just as I was about to put the phone down, another message popped up: “Can’t wait to see you again, love.”
Meredith sees the text | Source: Midjourney
My heart sank. The thought that my son might be unfaithful was devastating. Doubts filled my mind. Was my son hiding something? I needed to know the truth.
Lately, I’ve felt out of place in my own family. Edward, my son, was always busy, going out more often. Each time he left the house, I felt a pang of loneliness. He used to share everything with me, but now, there was a distance between us.
Edward is busy with his homework | Source: Midjourney
My husband, Robert, seemed more distant too. He spent a lot of time absorbed in his own activities. Our conversations had become brief and superficial. We used to be so close, sharing our thoughts and dreams. Now, it felt like we were just two people living under the same roof.
I missed the days when we were all so connected. When Edward was younger, he would confide in me about his school, his friends, and his dreams.
Robert and I would plan our future together, excited about our plans and adventures. But now, it seemed like they both had their own worlds, and I was no longer a part of them.
Robert works in his home office | Source: Midjourney
This feeling of isolation was heavy. I felt like an outsider in my own home. I yearned for the closeness we once had. The fear of being left behind by the people I loved most consumed me. I just wanted to feel connected again, to be a part of their lives, and not just a bystander.
I decided not to jump to conclusions. I needed more information. The next evening, Edward mentioned he was heading out. He seemed relaxed, but I was on edge. My mind was racing with questions.
“Where are you going?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“Just out for a bit, Mom,” he replied with a smile.
Meredith follows Edward | Source: Midjourney
As he left, I grabbed my keys. I had to know the truth. I followed him discreetly, keeping a safe distance. My heart pounded in my chest. Anxiety and concern swirled inside me.
What if he saw me? What if I found out something I didn’t want to know? Each turn he took increased my dread. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my palms sweating. The drive felt like an eternity, and I struggled to keep my breathing steady.
Edward waits for someone in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Edward finally parked his car in front of a cozy little café. He stepped out, looking around as if expecting someone. My stomach churned as I watched from a distance. He walked inside, and I quickly found a spot where I could see without being seen.
Minutes felt like hours as I waited. My mind raced with possibilities. Was he meeting someone? Was it serious? I had to remind myself to stay calm and not assume the worst.
Linda arrives at a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Then, I saw her. My best friend, Linda, walked in and greeted Edward with a hug. They sat down together, laughing and chatting like old friends. A wave of relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. What were they doing together?
I stayed hidden, watching their every move. They seemed so comfortable, so familiar. It didn’t make sense. The messages, the secrecy—what was going on? I needed answers, but I was too scared to confront them. Instead, I stayed in my hiding spot, hoping to piece together the truth without causing a scene.
Edward and Linda discuss something | Source: Midjourney
As I prepared to confront Edward and Linda, my heart raced. I took a deep breath and started to walk towards them. But just then, I saw another familiar face—my husband, Robert. He walked into the café and joined them at the table.
My confusion grew. Why was Robert there? What was going on? I watched from my hiding spot as they all greeted each other warmly. Their faces were filled with excitement and joy.
Robert approaches the cafe | Source: Midjourney
I stayed hidden, trying to make sense of it all. They began talking animatedly, and I could see the excitement in their gestures. They pulled out some brochures and started discussing something earnestly. I couldn’t hear their words, but the enthusiasm was clear.
Linda showed a brochure to Edward, and he nodded eagerly. Robert pointed to something on the brochure, and they all leaned in closer to look.
They seemed to be planning something big and important. My anxiety started to ease as I watched them, but the confusion lingered. What could they be planning that involved all of them together?
Travel brochures on the table | Source: Midjourney
My mind raced with possibilities. Were they planning a family trip? A surprise party? I couldn’t piece it together, but I decided to wait a bit longer before revealing myself. I needed to understand what was happening first.
As I watched them, I felt a mix of emotions — relief that it wasn’t what I had feared, and curiosity about what they were planning. I stayed hidden, my heart beating steadily, waiting for the right moment to step in and join the conversation.
My heart pounded as I walked up to their table. Edward was the first to see me.
“Mom!” he exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
Meredith makes an appearance | Source: Midjourney
Linda and Robert turned to look at me, equally shocked. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I said, my voice trembling. “What’s going on here?”
Linda quickly spoke up. “Meredith, we were just about to call you!”
Edward nodded. “Mom, I’m sorry for the secrecy. We’ve been planning something special.”
Linda smiled warmly. “We’ve been arranging a surprise retirement cruise for you and Robert. We wanted it to be perfect before telling you.”
Linda and Meredith | Source: Midjourney
I stared at them, trying to process their words. “A cruise? For us?”
Robert put his arm around me. “Yes, honey. They’ve been working hard to make sure everything is just right. We didn’t want to get your hopes up until it was all set.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as the realization sank in. “I thought… I thought something else was going on,” I admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Meredith | Source: Midjourney
Edward reached out and took my hand. “I’m so sorry, Mom. We should have told you sooner.”
Linda nodded. “We didn’t mean to worry you. We just wanted it to be a wonderful surprise.”
I wiped my tears and smiled, feeling a wave of relief and gratitude. “Thank you,” I whispered. “This means so much to me.”
We sat down together, and they started sharing the details of the cruise. As we talked, my initial fear and confusion melted away, replaced by excitement for the journey ahead.
Meredith on a cruise ship | Source: Midjourney
A few weeks later, Robert and I boarded the cruise ship. The sea breeze was refreshing. I felt a sense of excitement.
“Isn’t this beautiful?” Robert asked, smiling at me.
“Yes, it is,” I replied, squeezing his hand.
We explored the ship, marveling at its luxury. The dining hall was elegant, the pool inviting. We found our cabin, which was cozy and comfortable.
Tropical getaway | Source: Midjourney
“This is perfect,” I said, unpacking my bag.
Robert nodded. “I’m glad we did this. We needed a break.”
Each day brought new adventures. We enjoyed the shows, tried new foods, and relaxed on the deck.
One evening, as we watched the sunset, Robert turned to me. “Thank you for being patient with us. We wanted to make this special.”
Meredith and Robert | Source: Midjourney
Tears filled my eyes. “Thank you for this wonderful gift. It means so much.”
As the ship sailed on, I felt our bond strengthen. We were reconnecting, finding joy in each other’s company again. This cruise was not just a vacation; it was a new beginning.
Patrick Hardison received a new face after third-degree burns, this is him today
The life story of Patrick Hardison from Mississippi is nothing less than a mind-blowing one. This man is the first American who has received a face transplant back in 2015 after his face and neck were left completely disfigured during a house fire.
Patrick’s life was a great one up until the day the tragedy struck in 2001.
He worked as a volunteer firefighter earlier in his life, so when he got called to help with a house fire, he didn’t hesitate. Sadly, once he entered the burning place, it collapsed on top of him and trapped him. He couldn’t move and his torso and face were severely burnt.
“[My mask] was melting to my face,” Patrick recalled. “My hose [was] already melted.”
“For somebody who does what we do for a living, I’ve never seen anybody burned that bad that was still alive,” friend and first responder Jimmy Neal told CBS News of seeing Patrick after the accident.
Patrick suffered third degree burns on his face and scalp. He also sustained burns to his head, neck, and upper torso. The fire also claimed his ears, lips, most of his nose, and even most of his eyelid tissue.
“I didn’t actually see myself until probably November. I got injured in September,” Patrick told Fox News. “They had cut a little pinhole in one of my eyelids because they had everything covered, skin graft. I looked in the mirror and all I could do, I said, ‘this is it? I can’t do this,’” he recalled.
Over the years, this man was forced to undergo over 70 surgeries, as well as other procedures. He couldn’t close his eyes and doctors were able to put together flaps of skin to protect his vision, but he was still facing the risk of going blind.
Patrick couldn’t eat without feeling excruciating pain. He just couldn’t get used to this life because he couldn’t look at himself in the mirror. Wherever he went, everyone starred at him, and he could barely stand being around people, even his children.
In order to hide and protect himself, Patrick wore sunglasses and a baseball cap all the time. He also had ear prosthetic.
“I had kids. It was just a tough time. I never got a day off from the injury. When you walk out in public, it was daily. And, you know, it’s just so — there’s no way to explain everything,” he told Yahoo! Sports.
“You go to the ball field, you have to prepare yourself for the kid that goes running off screaming.”
Years went by and Patrick lost hope of ever having a normal life. But then, French woman named Isabelle Dinoire received a partial face transplant after her face was severely disfigured by her pet dog. This procedure was revolutionary. It was the first ever of that kind. Surely, it gave a glimpse of hope to Patrick who at that point was truly struggling.
Patrick met doctor Eduardo D. Rodriguez from the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York who told him he would do the transplant surgery if they find a matching donor. It wasn’t easy, but one day, out of the blue, a donor appeared. LiveOnNY, a nonprofit that coordinates organ donations in the New York area, had found a match. The face Patrick was about to get belonged to 26-year-old David Rodebaugh who had sustained a massive head injury in a bike accident and had been declared brain dead.
This young man’s mother, Nancy Millar, decided to donate her son’s organs, including his face. “I said, ‘You better save his face. He has the face of a porcelain doll.’ And he’s a donor — we had talked about it,” Millar told People.
The thought of someone receiving her son’s face meant that David would continue to live on through the people whose lives he was about to save, including Patrick’s.
“When I met Patrick, I saw this strength, this strong, manly, burly kind of energy in him — that David had,” Nancy recalled.
“David wanted to be a firefighter, an I knew if this guy was a firefighter — he was willing to walk into a fire to save people and risk his own life — then he had the strength that David had.”
Finally, the day of the transplant surgery had arrived. The procedure lasted for 26 long hours and was performed by a team of 100 professionals.
The risk was enormous and Patrick was given a 50/50 percent chance of survival. Luckily, it was a huge success. Patrick received a new face, scalp, ears, and ear canals. He also received eyelids which allowed him to blink naturally and save his vision.
“Everything in life has a risk,” Patrick told Time Magazine.
“When it’s your time to go, you’ll go—whether you’re walking down the street and get hit by a car or you’re lying on the operating table.”
After he recovered from the swelling and he learned how to talk and swallow again, Patrick met his donor’s mother. Nancy only had one request, to kiss Patrick on the forehead.
“I said, ‘Can I kiss your forehead?’” Nancy said. “That’s the one thing I wanted to do because every night before David went to bed when he was little, I kissed his forehead.”
“I’ve been waiting a year to meet her. I’m just very grateful,” Patrick added. “Without her, it wouldn’t have been possible. It’s like she’s family. We connected that easily.”
Ever since the surgery, Patrick is taking anti-rejection drugs that prevent his immune system from rejecting the face, but he’s thriving. He didn’t only receive a new face but a new life too.
Today, he is divorced and is working on a book which he hopes would serve as an inspiration to anyone who believes there is no way out from the situation they have found themselves in. “Because I want to show the world that you can have hope. I wouldn’t want people that were like me years ago to think that’s it, I have to live like this. You don’t. You can accomplish anything,” Patrick says.
His survival and his recovery are dubbed miraculous. Thanks to Nancy, Dr. Rodriguez and his team, and Patrick’s strong will, today, he is a happy man.
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