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The
last 3 months of '98 and January '99, things were becoming tough, difficulty
sleeping, swallowing becoming worse, painful contractures. About
every two weeks, mystery infections would occur, affecting his eating after
each bout, after each infection, a little piece of David was taken away.
January 31, '99, David was admitted to hospital and there he stayed
'til his death on December 16 '99. Approximately a week after his
admission a G-tube was surgically put in. Walking up to surgery with
David, outside the surgery doors, I told David a private joke, he entered
the room, he laughed and laughed and laughed; that was the last time I
seem him laugh. Like the infections mentioned above, each taking
their toll, the surgery seemed to be the final straw.
Life
in the hospital consisted of seizures, pain control, being turned every
hour, tube feeding. Gone was David's beautiful smile and his contagious
laughter. Life was now sleeping, letting us know when he was uncomfortable
(crying out), I do believe he was aware of our presence, especially
at his birthday party, you could tell he was in some form taking it all
in. David had many set backs while there, I was called about 4 times
to get in there, things were not good, but, David with his strength and
courage pulled through.
On
December 16, 1999, at 7 am in the morning, I received a call from the hospital,
stating, David's condition had worsened, and recommended I should get up
there. Upon arrival, David's feeding tube was shut down, due to him
constantly throwing up, his breathing was labored, I stayed for a couple
of hours. I headed out to get some lunch, came back in the afternoon,
no change. I spent the evening with the boys and I got a call around
11 pm, David's condition, had deteriorated, I better get up there.
I called Mom to take care of the boy's, gathered my things up. I
was 5 seconds to being at David's bedside, however, the nurse met me at
the door and said David just passed away. I will never forget the
SILENCE AND THE STILLNESS of his room. No feeding pump clattering,
no breathing, SILENCE. I approached David and gently touched his
face; I recall the wind whistling through the window, it seemed to be the
appropriate sound for what had just happened. I did not leave his
room until 4:30 in the morning, during that time; I brought David's brothers
up, Brendan and Brady. Auntie Ellen came up, Grandma and Grandpa
Reid, Tammy Thynne, David's Dad and Grandma Stamper, several nurses and
also David's Doctor all dropped in.
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