By Steven V. Dubin

As we know. Life can change. And do so in an instant.

Last month, an old friend of mine was traveling with a group Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. After the introductory group dinner, Mike went to clean up, shower, and get ready for the evening.

As we know, God laughs while we carefully plan.

The next thing Mike knew, he was on the floor of his hotel bathroom. He had slipped in the bathtub. Upon being rushed to the local emergency room, Mike learned that he had five broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Aside from the pain, anguish and disappointment, now he had to deal with a strategic recovery plan. And figure out a way to get home to the East Coast.

Not so fast.

Mike was informed that with a punctured lung, air travel, given a pressurized cabin, was out of the question. He would need a clean X-ray and that would take two to four weeks.

Yikes.

Mike has no family on the West Coast. His entire family and extended support system was on East Coast.

How do you support a friend who is stuck purgatory, in pain and in very uncertain circumstances?

My response was to first call, several times, and provide a sympathetic ear and heart. Of course, I was happy to provide off-colored advice and act as a sounding board.

How would you support a friend in similar need?

My oddball plan was to text Mike a joke, an anecdote/story, or a prayer each day.

I did my best to offer steady, low-pressure support. I wanted Mike to know that I was there rather than leave him with a vague“let me know if you need anything.”

What else could I do?

I offered something concrete – arranging a meal delivery, coordinating updates with family, or sending a book, puzzle, or other comfort item.

To make the month feel less endless we planned post-mortems on current movies, ball games, or short calls, and keep sharing ordinary life, too.

I’d love to hear your aging adventures and insights as well. Please email me at SDubin@PRWorkZone.com.

About the Author: Steven V. Dubin is the founder of PR Works, a lightly used public relations firm based in Plymouth, which helps small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies navigate the overwhelming options of advertising. Steve lives in Plymouth with his wife, Wendy. He is a contributing author to “Get Slightly Famous” and “Tricks of the Trade,” the complete guide to succeeding in the advice business. He recently authored “PR 101,” an E-book.