I've talked here before about my dear, longtime friend, Michelle. Michelle and Rick have been married for 20 years and last August, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, stage 4. Rick developed an infection in his "good" lung (the lung without any tumors) and was admitted into the Critical Care Unit on Monday night.
I got an email from Michelle Friday morning. She said Rick had taken a turn for the worse and the doctors wanted to know what sorts of measures she wanted them to take to keep him alive. She wanted to know how she was supposed to respond to that. She asked for the millionth time, "why is this happening to us?" I didn't know what to say except "I'm on my way."
I left work and went to the hospital. I made myself useful by making some phone calls for the family and notifying Michelle's other friends and coworkers. Rick and Michelle's daughter was taken out of school but she didn't want to go in to Rick's room and see him this way. I spent most of the afternoon and evening talking to this sweet, 14 year old girl. I had the thought come into my mind that I was grateful for my YW experience; that I learned how to talk to teenaged girls (meaning, you sit there and listen to them talk.) She's a sweet and beautiful girl and we had fun talking about the LDS kids I know who go to her school.
Before I left for home tonight, I went into Rick's room and sat with Michelle. It is beyond painful to watch him breathe. Michelle takes such good care of him and he woke up several times just to look for her, to make sure she was still there. The love they share is palpable and fills the hospital room.
I still don't know why this is happening, why a healthy and vital 50 year old husband and father who has never smoked had to get lung cancer. I don't know why my dear friend has to sit and watch her husband be taken away from her. I don't know why this kind, wonderful, simply hilarious man has to be in such pain.
I'm grateful for my testimony. I'm grateful to know there's a life after this one; that our broken bodies will be one day be made whole.
But tonight? It just hurts.
4 comments:
oh, I'm so sorry. That is just heartbreaking.
oh, that does hurt. I'm so glad you were there.
Oh, that is so awful. Glad you could be there with them though. I"m sure it helped.
So sad, but how wonderful that you are there and helping, that is really what makes these things bearable, good people and our testimonies of eternal families! Keep helping as I know you will!! Someone else to add to my prayers!
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