Saying Goodbye

The phone call came while Terry and I were eating out Sunday supper. His sister called to say that her husband was in a lot of pain and they were headed to the nearest hospital. Since John, our brother-in-law, has been in the family fifty one years, we cannot imagine our family without him. We got in the car and rushed the eighty miles to the hospital. We didn't know how sick he would be.
When we got there he looked sick, but better than our imaginations of his condition was. He sat up and spoke with us about life and death. We were able to tell him how much we love and appreciate him. We found ourselves being encouraged by him possibly more than we were able to uplift him.
At this writing he has been through a lot of tests. His pace maker has one of those elements in it that shocks his heart when it stops. It went off twice yesterday evening. His heart works in the range of 28% and the oxygen content of his blood is low. He told us that his kidneys are shutting down and all of his bodily functions are failing. With all of these challenges, he is still upbeat. His only regret about dying is leaving his wife of fifty-one years.
I am praying that his health is restored and that we will be able to have many more years with him. I am happy to have known John. Even if he passes away soon he has been well worth knowing and I am so glad we had the chance to voice our love for him and say goodbye.
I will keep you posted. My hope is for a full recovery.