A Daughter's Love: The Longest Day.
- Joy Garcia
- Nov 2
- 3 min read
July 23, 2024, is a day forever etched in my memory — the day of Mom’s heart surgery.
What follows isn’t a polished story, but a real-time glimpse into that day as it unfolded — a timeline made up of the text messages I sent to family and friends who were checking in, praying, and holding us up.
Each message captures a moment — the waiting, the fear, the relief, the exhaustion — as we walked through one of the longest days of my life.
Through it all, I could feel God’s presence in the quiet moments and in the caring voices around me. He carried us, even when the waiting felt unbearable.
July 23, 2024:
6:50am
Took her back but have not started surgery yet. The staff love her, and are going above and beyond.
The cafeteria has diet Dr. Pepper, it has to be a good day! lol
8:15am
They just started surgery. Feeling a little weepy all of a sudden.
Waiting room feels too big to be safe, like I'm in the principal's office to be punished if that makes sense?
8:20am
We had a wonderful day and night together. We've found a good place in our relationship, God is so good.
8:49am
They just called again to let me know she’s now on bypass and the replacement has begun.
11:14am
Valve replacement complete. They are keeping her in the OR for a bit longer to monitor her vitals and will notify me once she is taken to recovery.
Can't stop crying happy years.
1:06pm
The surgeon just spoke with me, all went well. She does have an external pacemaker in, when they replace both valves it can affect the electrical circuits of the heart. Will monitor her and then decide if she needs a permanent one inserted before going home.
2:38pm
The recovery nurse just came in and talked to me, they are still trying to get her stabilized. She has some discharge and bleeding from the incision site, she reassured me this can be normal, but it’s just taking her a bit longer to stabilize her.
3:53pm.
With her now. They are going to try and wake her up while I’m here.
4:17pm
Still a lot of things not right.
Not awake yet.
Giving her blood soon.
It’s a lot.
4:58pm
This is awful.
5:01pm
Her arms are tied down and she started going nuts when they tried doing an x-ray.
Hard to watch, they had to sedate her again.
5:09pm
She’s been asleep for about two hours and it’s the most peaceful she’s been. Gave her hospital strength Tylenol and an anxiety med, that combination seems to be working so far.
I went for a walk outside and feel more refreshed.
6:49pm
Bleeding stopped, on meds for blood pressure, woke a few times and thrashed around, back to sleep now.
Hard to watch.
6:56pm
Still resting peacefully again. Seems like meds wear off every couple hours but when they administer them again she relaxes.
7:15pm
She is still on the vent, they want to take it out tonight. When she wakes she goes a little nuts kicking and thrashing around, so they won’t take it out until she calms. Gave her something for the anxiety, and will try again later. She looks rough.
8:04pm
I just came out to the waiting room to snooze a bit while she’s sleeping with the vent still on. The nurse told me to, the staff is amazing here. I think I could sleep all night . . . and I did.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Looking back, that day feels both like a blur and like it lasted a lifetime. Every update carried a mix of fear and hope, exhaustion and gratitude. But even in the hardest moments, I can see how faithfully God’s hand guided every step — from the first anxious text to the final exhale of relief.
He was there in every prayer whispered, every nurse’s reassurance, every breath that reminded me to keep going.
It was the longest day, but it was also the day I witnessed just how deeply God loves and sustains us.
All my love,
Joy
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