Snow Day in Georgia

This week, the snowstorm that hit the central and eastern regions also affected GA. Starting Monday, temperatures steadily dropped, and by Wednesday, when I went to pick up my husband from the dialysis center, I was informed that the schedule would be moved up and that patients were advised to bring extra blankets and food in case they got trapped at the center.

This morning (Friday), we arrived at the dialysis center by 4:45 AM, 1.5 hours earlier than usual. Thankfully, the roads were still dry on our way there. I dropped off my husband and returned home, naively thinking that today’s weather wouldn’t be so bad—at least in the morning. But by 8 AM, I panicked when I saw that the roads were already covered in snow.

What it looked like at 8 AM when I opened the garage.

Feeling extremely anxious, I packed my husband’s medication, food, blankets, and my work laptop, then headed to the dialysis center. At the center, patients who had finished their dialysis were leaving one by one, their faces filled with tension. We exchanged wishes for each other's safe return home. The nurses were quicker and calmer than ever. Thinking about how they would only leave after ensuring every patient had departed safely, I felt a mix of gratitude and concern for them. The nurses are always amazing, but today they truly felt like heroes.

Arrived at the dialysis center

While waiting for my husband to get off his chair, I noticed that the snowfall had slowed, preventing the roads from worsening. Once we got into the car, I prayed for our safety and started driving. Although our usual 10 minute drive home stretched to 40 minutes (I was basically crawling), we made it back safely. I felt immense relief and joy.

However, thinking about other patients whose schedules might have been disrupted by the weather, I couldn’t help but pray for them as well. The forecast indicated that the snow would stop by tomorrow morning, so I hope that patients who couldn’t receive dialysis today will be able to do so by tomorrow afternoon. I continue to pray for the safety of all patients and their families.