As I was going down the interstate there were tears streaming over my cheeks, a pain in my heart, and a prayer on my lips. My wife tried to comfort me, but only the Lord would be able to take this burden from me.
It seemed like days but it had only been day hours since the call came in from my sister informing me about the events that had taken place that morning. When the first call arrived, I was dressing for work and my thoughts were directed towards my Physical Education classes for the day. Pam was crying and her voice shaking as she informed me that Dad had a heart attack....and was lying on the floor in his restaurant. The EMTs were there doing all they could but it seemed things were hopeless...Dad had died. As the news covered me with a hot/cold rush through out my body, I could only grasp the phone tighter and listen. As we hung up I told Sue of the news and the events that took place, we were both crushed! Calls were made and plans were underway for the six hour drive to Martinsburg. I guess one always thinks about the last time they saw their loved one, the last things that were said, and I was no different. My Dad had left when I was in the sixth grade, and since the divorce, visits were few and far between with little substance to them. There was a period of four to five years where we never heard from him and any discussion of him was tainted with bitterness. It was after I was in college that we had established contact with one another and our renewed visits found substance. By now my own son was nine and living with his Mother in Virginia. Slowly a true relationship had developed as a seed waiting in the ground to bud and bloom after years of lacking a Father's warmth, sunshine, and love. I loved my Dad and his wife Bea, and they had open arms each time my family would visit. But yet there were so many things left unsaid and undone. Sue and I were still dealing with our thoughts as Pam called again. Dad's heart was beating once again after hours of work by the EMTs. Still little hope if any was given due to the amount of time the heart had stopped. Dad was being transported to the hospital....Suddenly there was a greater sense of urgency! The prayers were being answered, I was being allowed one last chance to see Dad, and perhaps speak to him! As we arrived at the hospital and found ICU, a flood of emotion over took us. Pam and her husband, Dad's wife Bea, and members of her family were there and the stories of how and when were told over again, but of course the why isn't explained nor is it ours to know. When the nurses were informed that I had arrived they were anxious to rush me into the room where Dad was, but first wanted to inform me of what to expect. Dad would be lying on a bed wearing only a cloth over his midsection, there would be a vast number of machines hooked up to and surrounding Dad. He will be shaking, sometimes violently, and the ventilator would be helping him breath by way of tubes in his throat. I knew that no matter what shape Dad was in, I was being given this opportunity through and by the grace of God, to say good-bye to my Dad. As my wife and I entered the room, it was all as described, and more. I was crying and praying as I approached the bed where he lay. As I placed one hand in his, my free hand lay upon his forehead. As soon as my hand touched his head the shaking stopped and he was calm and still. All I could bring myself to say was, "Dad, it's me.....I love you Dad". I remained there for several minutes. After I had spoken to Dad tears were in the corner of his eyes that were not there before. I assumed that the nurses had given him eye drops, but that wasn't the case. The nurse shared with me that she knew Dad had been scared and that the shaking was part of that. She was quite sure that he knew what was going on around him. Later that night the code "Code Blue" call came, we were informed that Dad had died, but was brought back to physical state of being. The family knew that the body was still regarded as living, but that the soul had gone on to a brighter and more beautiful place! I truly believe God granted my prayer request. God had allowed me to say good-bye to my Dad. What a wonderful miracle! I count this as a true blessing. Praise be to God! To finish the story, Dad's body remained in a vegetative state for two weeks. But in our hearts and minds we knew God had already taken care of things....His way.