This past weekend I was unfortunate enough to experience something so painful, I wish to never relive again. On Saturday morning, I passed a kidney stone. But it wasn’t any regular Saturday morning. It was the Saturday of an awesome wedding in Olds, Alberta that I was supposed to shoot. Leading up to getting to the brides house, I was feeling great. I remember thinking, “what an amazing feeling… I feel very prepared for today.” Well, that alllll changed the moment I stepped foot inside the brides house. Not only did the pain go from 0-10 in 5 seconds, it made me almost pass out in front of my bride and her wonderfully inviting family. Luckily, I got on the phone right away and called Mike. He was helping out with the wedding, but he had taken off to gas up the car and grab a few things. He immediately drove back to come save me as soon as he heard my voice tremble over the phone. Now that Mike was there to help me refocus, I got on the phone and started dialing for anyone who would be able to take this wedding on such a short notice. Deanna Hall was one of the first people I called. She heard the panic in my voice, and despite having such a busy day ahead of her, she came to my immediate rescue. Within an hour of this traumatic event starting, she was at the brides house ready to rock the wedding in my place. In the meantime, Mike took me to the hospital since we weren’t sure what was happening. Since I am 6 months pregnant I thought perhaps there could be a chance I was going into labor, but since my pregnancy has been picture perfect so far… it would have been a completely random event. Turns out it was just a stupid kidney stone. They are awesome because they happen without giving you any other symptoms. As they leave your kidneys, your bodies goes into mega-pain mode for about 1-3 hours while the “little” stone travels down to your bladder. It was a horribly painful experience and I hope I never have to relive this pain ever again…or until I go through childbirth. At least childbirth bears you a cool little baby…whereas kidney stones just give you a stone to have when it’s all said and done (and no, I haven’t seen a stone). After visiting the hospital and being diagnosed, Mike drove me home and put me to bed. He comforted me as I cried all the way back to Red Deer. I cried, not only because of the pain, but because I missed out on a wonderful wedding because of one small KIDNEY STONE. I was hurt, humiliated, and sad. I absolutely loved the couple I was going to shoot so it made it even harder for me to not be able to see their big day. Thank goodness for friends like Deanna. She took my place in such a short span of time, and was still so ready to capture some amazing moments. She even brought along a second shooter: Jenny Jardine from Olds, Alberta. Thank you Deanna & Jenny for helping out and being such amazing people, photographers, and friends. And of course, thank you to Mike. Thanks for wiping my face as I cried, holding me as I shook in pain, and for grabbing a wheelchair once we got to the hospital… I wanted that wheelchair SO BAD I could have kicked a puppy for it (kidding).
This post is for you Mike. I love you.
