Not Your Regular Listing Appointment

Well, this week brought the unexpected, to say the least.



Early Monday AM we received a call from a prospective client that wanted to list their home in West Seattle. They had been unsuccessful in selling it themselves, and their last real estate agent hadn't done any better. We made an appointment to go and view the home at 12:30 that afternoon. Upon arriving, we were met by the owner's lovely elderly mother, who began to show us the home.



While she was showing us around, she mentioned that she had surgery on her foot last month and was just getting mobile again (she was using a walker to get around, but doing well). This home is a lovely, albeit dated 1960's split level with a view of Puget Sound. As we made our way downstairs to the lower level, "Mary" (not her real name) left her walker behind. She said she didn't need it because the hallway downstairs was narrow and she could lean on the wall as needed. We proceeded down, although not entirely comfortable with this.



Anyway, not more than five minutes after going downstairs, Mary became faint and needed to sit down. We helped her to a stool in a bathroom just off of the hall. I had just turned my back when she passed out, falling from the stool and hitting her head on the bathroom door on the way down. We rushed to help her and she quickly came-to, apologizing and asking for an orange because she felt that her blood sugar was getting low. We got her an orange and helped her to sit up on the floor after a few moments on her back, with her back resting against the wall. We also phoned her daughter at work (we had to go outside to get a cell-phone signal - there was no landline in the house). Her daughter said she was on her way home.



Just after that phone call, "Mary" became unconscious and began convulsing. We immediately called 911 (had to run outside again to get a signal). Within 5 minutes, Seattle Fire had arrived, but those were a long five minutes. Mary came-to and went back under again between the phone call and the Medics arriving. She then became unconscious again while the medics were with her. It was difficult to watch her struggle, not knowing what more we could do to help her, except to keep talking to her and asking her questions so that she'd stay awake until help arrived. She seemed gravely ill. It was terrifying.



Once the medics evaluated her and took her out of the house, we secured it and called her daughter again to let her know which hospital her Mom was being taken to. We left a note in the house and our business card, too, in case the family had any questions or needed our help in any way.



We sincerely hope that "Mary" is doing well. We've called her daughter and left a message asking about her, but as of yet, have had no response.



We were amazed that an elderly person, recovering from surgery, no less, was left home alone in a house with no telephone. What might have happened if we handn't made that appointment yesterday? How could "Mary" have called for help if she had become ill while she was alone? We shudder to think what the outcome might have been.



Its funny how fate brings people together. We went there yesterday thinking that we might be able to put our expertise to work to help this family sell their home and move-on to the next phase of their lives. As it turns out, our help may have gone way beyond real estate yesterday - it may have preserved this family so they can make it to that next phase together. We hope that's the news we'll get, and that "Mary" was at least comforted by us until she could be helped.



Mary, you are in our thoughts.



Keith & Tim