In Memory of PawPaw

My husband sat at the side of the bed in the hospice center.  It was his “watch” now.  We’d received a phone call on Saturday morning, “Something happened last night at about 11:00, we’re still not sure what, but we think it was a stroke. Tom is here in the inpatient hospice center. He’s running a fever and he’s unconscious.” His dad, who was facing a life with ALS, had suffered a massive stroke. They told us Saturday afternoon that he would not recover.  Brad headed to his parents’ house.  Sunday night, his middle brother took “watch”.  Monday night, the youngest brother stayed with Tom.  Tuesday night it was Brad’s turn. 

The patient care tech came in at about 7:00 to take his vitals.  His temp was up to 103.  His blood pressure, which had been in the 130/50 range that morning was now 50/20.  She told Brad it wouldn’t be long now.  She told him what to expect and that he would hear periods of apnea – when that started, then the end was very near.  As soon as we got off the phone, I called our dear friend and pastor – “He’s there alone.  Will you please call him?”  They talked for a bit, Todd prayed with him. They hung up.  Brad went down the hall to get ice and returned to his position – at the head of his daddy’s bed.  He had told me, “I’m sitting in a chair by his head – just like I did in the OR when you had the c-sections” – just like he did when each of our babies were born.  And there, he realized that the apnea had started.  He started timing the spaces between breaths.  Five seconds.  Seven seconds.  Twelve, fourteen, twenty, twenty-five seconds. Thirty seconds. And then, there were no more. 
We will miss PawPaw.


April 2003, meeting the first grandbaby in the family in 17 years, Elizabeth Jane

August 2004, with the next grandbaby (Nin)

February 2006, we took Annie over to meet Grammie & PawPaw. He was beginning to weaken and didn’t want to risk holding a small baby. So, he got his picture taken with the two big girls.

April 2007, PawPaw and his three girls.

November 2008.  I think this is my favorite photo ever of my in-laws with the kids.  Harrison is so happy to be in his PawPaw’s lap.  And Tom is obviously thrilled to have Harrison sitting there. 
Ah, yes. We will miss our PawPaw. 

Tonight as I came out of church our worship pastor (the one who had called Brad on Tuesday night) and two of our dear friends were standing at the van with Brad.  As I looked at the men standing with him, I realized, “All of these men know what he is feeling. They know the road he is traveling because they have all been down it. They have each lost their dad, too.”  What sweet comfort the Lord provides.