Emergency rooms are the one place that everyone needs at some point in their lives – but no one wants to be in. From the hours-long wait to be seen by a doctor, to the uncomfortable and sometimes frightening surroundings – to the less than empathetic care – being a patient in an emergency room can be a nightmare. Take it from me, I know firsthand.

There have been many times in my life, due to my heart condition, that I have been a patient in an emergency room. Believe me when I tell you that no matter the hospital, the staff or the level of care – it sucks. But what sucks even more is when a member of your family is a patient rather than yourself. Now, instead of having to deal with your own ailments – you have to worry about someone that you truly love. Last night, I had to do that twice – because my mother was in the adult E.R. because she had a seizure – and my nephew was in the pediatric E.R. because he fractured his arm.

I had just gotten home from a real estate expo and was having a beer with my friend Miceli when his cell phone rang. Seeing my mother’s cell phone number on his caller ID, I picked up – only to hear my sister’s voice on the other end telling me that my mom had collapsed at a bridal shower – and was in the emergency room at Methodist Hospital. Hearing that, I immediately jumped in my car and raced to the hospital – praying for my mom all the way there. When I arrived, I literally threw the doors of the E.R. open and began looking for my mother. Upon finding her – and thanking God that she was okay – I learned that my sister was not at her bedside because she was with my nephew Joey getting his arm wrapped in a cast – because he fractured his arm in two places after falling off of his bike in front of – of all places – Applebee’s.

While I was upset, concerned and stressed out from having two of my loved ones in need of emergency care – I felt really bad for my sister. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for her to have to worry about her mother and her son at the same time. Thankfully, she works at Methodist as an operating room nurse – so due to her clout – my mom and my nephew were treated like royalty.

By 1:30am, my nephew was home and my mom was in her private room. She will be there for the next few days as they run all kinds of tests to determine why she collapsed – and I will be traveling there as much as possible to visit my mom and see if she is okay. Like I said, being a patient in an emergency room sucks – but having your loved ones in there rather than yourself is even worse.

Get well soon Mom and Joey – I love you both very, very much.