I wrote this late last night... I'm too tired (and time-challenged here at work) to write it all over again. Please pray for this family, and that our Hero slips into the arms of the Lord with no pain, and filled with peace...
Just got back from Athens Regional Hosp... one of my veteran friends - Norman, who served in Vietnam, fought on Hamburger HIll and was a POW for two weeks before he managed to escapse, highly-decorated, etc. - is dying. Agent Orange ruined his health years ago and he has had dialysis 3x a week for the past 5 years or so, was wheelchair bound far longer than that, has had strokes, pnumonia, and numverous complications multiple times over the past six months or so that I've known him... Tuesday he had a massive heart attack. His body is so worn out, there is literally nothing they can do now but keep him comfortable. He's in a medically-induced coma since this morning because he was in excruciating pain, but funny how when you'd talk about his favorite subjects -- ice cream, motorcycles, the military - he'd squeeze my hand (or whoever was holding his hand at the time) at just the appropriate time, as if to say, "Yeah, me too!" lol There were random movents and squeezes, of course -- but these were different. His heart, his spirit, KNEW who was there and what was being said, even if his body is unconscious.
He and his wife have been married 36 years and have a lovely family, many of whom I had the honor of meeting for the first time last night.
His wife was telling me that the last day he was alert, before the pain got unbearable and he was put into the coma, he was having a long, long conversation with Jesus. Saying how much he loves Him, how thankful he was that Jesus was there with him, how Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to him and how muhc he loves Him. The last time he was in the hospital, and actually on life-support for a few days, he reported seeing Jesus standing with him, then, too.
No doubt this sweet Hero has some fantastic, and well-deserved, rewards waiting for him in Heaven. Our loss, Heaven's (and Norman's!) gain.
Pray for all of them during this time.
Just got back from Athens Regional Hosp... one of my veteran friends - Norman, who served in Vietnam, fought on Hamburger HIll and was a POW for two weeks before he managed to escapse, highly-decorated, etc. - is dying. Agent Orange ruined his health years ago and he has had dialysis 3x a week for the past 5 years or so, was wheelchair bound far longer than that, has had strokes, pnumonia, and numverous complications multiple times over the past six months or so that I've known him... Tuesday he had a massive heart attack. His body is so worn out, there is literally nothing they can do now but keep him comfortable. He's in a medically-induced coma since this morning because he was in excruciating pain, but funny how when you'd talk about his favorite subjects -- ice cream, motorcycles, the military - he'd squeeze my hand (or whoever was holding his hand at the time) at just the appropriate time, as if to say, "Yeah, me too!" lol There were random movents and squeezes, of course -- but these were different. His heart, his spirit, KNEW who was there and what was being said, even if his body is unconscious.
He and his wife have been married 36 years and have a lovely family, many of whom I had the honor of meeting for the first time last night.
His wife was telling me that the last day he was alert, before the pain got unbearable and he was put into the coma, he was having a long, long conversation with Jesus. Saying how much he loves Him, how thankful he was that Jesus was there with him, how Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to him and how muhc he loves Him. The last time he was in the hospital, and actually on life-support for a few days, he reported seeing Jesus standing with him, then, too.
No doubt this sweet Hero has some fantastic, and well-deserved, rewards waiting for him in Heaven. Our loss, Heaven's (and Norman's!) gain.
Pray for all of them during this time.
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