Unfrugal Easter

**Kaos Kitty** · 04-15-2009, 12:59 PM

My sister and her husband went out of the country on a holiday and had my mom look after her four kids. It was only discovered 45min after they left that my niece was very ill. My sister had thought it was just the flu. My mom took her to the hospital - it was actually appendicitis. My niece arrived at the hospital at 10am. The surgeon came at 5:30pm. By then her appendix had burst. She's only 8 years old. I drove 2hrs down to the hospital and stayed with her for the past 3 days, taking shifts with my mom. I had to return home today for final exams at University and work.

My niece is slowly healing, the wound is left open to drain (with a tube), and she has a tube down her throat to pump out her stomach (her bowels stopped working), and she is on oxygen. She hasn't been allowed to eat for the past 5 days. Any prayers would be appreciated.

I think it's things like this that money is for. My moms house was full, and 1/2 hour out of town, so I had to stay at a hotel. Same with meals (although we brought a cooler with food). All together the trip cost $250. I would do it again, I would spend it again - without hesitation because family is important. But it always seems that as soon as I get a bit of money (Canadian GST refund checks just came in) that an emergency of equal cost always comes along to take it away again!

**JanieD** · 04-15-2009, 01:36 PM

Well, at least you had the money & didn't have to charge it on a credit card. I'm sure your family (sister, mom & all) appreciates you helping out. During an illness/emergency you can't worry about cutting corners. You do what you need to do & afterwards you get back to the frugal way of life. I hope your niece recovers quickly.

**peanut** · 04-15-2009, 01:53 PM

Oh boy! If I were the parents I'd be absolutely frantic! Good thing you were able to go help out. I agree with the OP, be glad you had the cash in hand to do this and didn't have to put it on CC. I don't know though...there's no such thing as a 'full house' in our family! As long as there's a floor and a Walmart to buy an airbed, there's room for one more!

**Michelle** · 04-15-2009, 02:01 PM

So happy that you could be there for your niece. Prayers for her.

**frugal.lass** · 04-15-2009, 02:12 PM

I understand that you're bummed about spending that money but don't be hard on yourself for having an "unfrugal Easter". You were spending money to be with your family in a difficult time. That's not being unfrugal...that's WHY we're frugal, so we have money for times like that.

An unfrugal Easter would have been if you had your Easter meal catered for 12 even though you only had 4 guests, used paper plates and plastic cups, threw all the leftovers out and spent tons of money on Easter themed novelties/toys that will be broken or thrown out 30 minutes after they're taken out of the package. What you did was awesome and I know your family appreciated it!!

**YankeeMom** · 04-15-2009, 02:20 PM

Poor kid! Sending lots of prayers for speedy healing.

**rsbs** · 04-15-2009, 02:34 PM

Oh hon, don't be so hard on yourself! Emergencies, or times like those, are why we are frugal day to day - to be able to be there, or do that special thing.
I feel for your niece - I had appendicitis when I was 9 & they got mine before it burst, but that was enough of an experience for a kid. I'm sending her lots of prayers for healing.

**Momto2Boyz** · 04-15-2009, 02:59 PM

I hope she is feeling better soon! How scary, especially with mom & dad out of town!

That is why we save our EF's, so we have them when they are absolutely needed!

**Kaos Kitty** · 04-15-2009, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by peanut

Oh boy! If I were the parents I'd be absolutely frantic! Good thing you were able to go help out. I agree with the OP, be glad you had the cash in hand to do this and didn't have to put it on CC. I don't know though...there's no such thing as a 'full house' in our family! As long as there's a floor and a Walmart to buy an airbed, there's room for one more!

Actually I did seriously consider having Dh and I sleep on the floor at mom's to save money (despite the commute and it being cramped with 5 people already, 1 who is very grumpy all the time

). But mom has had a series of floods at her house without proper clean up. They're cleaning up the black mold, "when they get to it". I can't convince her that many of her health issues might be mold related. Last visit I was in her house for an hour and went home sick for a week.

Mom is the soul of generosity - I was the one who told mom I'd stay at a hotel since she has no room (she shakes her head when I mention toxic mold). Otherwise you're right, I would have just brought my sleeping bags!

**KKCondrey** · 04-15-2009, 06:48 PM

HOpe your niece start to feel better real soon. How horrible. I would have been frantic myself.

**craftypam** · 04-15-2009, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by JanieD

Well, at least you had the money & didn't have to charge it on a credit card. I'm sure your family (sister, mom & all) appreciates you helping out. During an illness/emergency you can't worry about cutting corners. You do what you need to do & afterwards you get back to the frugal way of life. I hope your niece recovers quickly.

I agree. Hope your niece is getting better everyday and it up on her feet soon

**onencgirl** · 04-15-2009, 08:57 PM

Wow what a scary time for all. I hope your niece is on her way back to good health.

**shortstack** · 04-15-2009, 09:25 PM

That poor ,poor baby. I will be sending lots of prayers up for her. Please keep us updated on how she is.

Andrea

**Debbie-cat** · 04-15-2009, 10:36 PM

Oh I am sooo sorry! That is horrible! I hope she gets better fast. Sending prayers.

**peanut** · 04-15-2009, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Kaos Kitty

Actually I did seriously consider having Dh and I sleep on the floor at mom's to save money (despite the commute and it being cramped with 5 people already, 1 who is very grumpy all the time

). But mom has had a series of floods at her house without proper clean up. They're cleaning up the black mold, "when they get to it". I can't convince her that many of her health issues might be mold related. Last visit I was in her house for an hour and went home sick for a week.

Mom is the soul of generosity - I was the one who told mom I'd stay at a hotel since she has no room (she shakes her head when I mention toxic mold). Otherwise you're right, I would have just brought my sleeping bags!

sigh. I can sure see your point! I'd be heading for a hotel too.

{{{Hugs}}}