The Fight Is Over

Just after noon on Tuesday, March 28th, my father passed on from this life to the next. Thank you all for the prayers and words. They matter.

It went like this: About 11:00 he began to have signficant respiratory problems on top of the problems he already had. There must have bee 10 doctors, nurses, and other medical people in the room working on him. The entire staff at The Ridges Medical Center in Burnsville, Minnesota are fabulous. They worked with skill and compassion.

They tried to get a new breathing tube into his chest, but it did nothing. He just couldn't get enough air into his lungs. His vitals were shrinking slowly. The pulmonologist and the "main" doctor said that there was little chance of anything good happening at this point. So, we decided to stop treatment and allow him to pass.

We had about 15 minutes with him, holding his hand, talking to him, and weeping. It meant a lot to stand with my family over my father and pray for his transition from this life to the next. I managed to ask God to keeop him entertained until I get there. Geez, is that what you say? Well, I guess it's what I say, anyway.

Of course I am deeply saddened and have cried so much. At the same time I am relieved for my father. His fighting is over. His is free from his turmoil, tumult, and pain. No more striving and fighting.

And frankly, I am relieved for myself. I won't see my father for a long time - when I go to see him - and that is the place where my hope lies. I don't think I could have lifted my hopes for his physical life much more. I'm tired and drained.

Now we make all the funeral decisions. I know that some readers of this blog are close personal friends who will want to show their sympathy through flowers or cards or gifts. I will make this kind of information available on this blog. I also know that some readers of this blog are people I have never met. So, making this information available is in no way some kind of solicitation for anything. This blog is merely a conveneitn way for me to communicate informaiton that will be relevant to whom it is relevant. I feel a little saying saybing such, but I'd feel much sillier being mistaken in my intentions.

I am at peace. I am sad. I am OK. Again, thanks for your prayers.