On Monday, August 20, they made the decision to stop all of his medications except for some Morphine Sulfate and a nerve medication, as he had been on anti-seizure meds for 9 months. I was informed of this and had a lengthy conversation with the social worker and the nursing supervisor at the facility where he was. They made sure I was in agreement with the local oncologist who made the decision. Dave had been declining daily and all who visited him could see this. He had the previous week stopped eating and drinking as he was losing his ability to swallow much and the meds they gave him were put into his mouth with an eye dropper type thing. On Friday morning, the 24th, I was called at midnight and told that they were placing him on oxygen as his breathing was very labored. I arrived at the facility about 0030 and stayed until 0545 deciding to go home so that Kyla would not be more worried about Papa than she already was. This was after a chat with the nursing supervisor who talked with me about strong willed folks and their determination to hang on when they knew loved ones were there. They told me to tell him good bye and that I was leaving and heading home. Arriving home Kyla asked if she could go visit Papa that morning and also in the evening, she had been going out for the 3 weeks previously right after school just to see him and tell him hello and give him a hug. They got ready and arrived at the facility at 0710 and left by 0720, when Melanie texted me that they were leaving and heading to school. I was out for my morning walk and something prompted me to send our pastor a text that Dave had been placed on oxygen in the night and was declining quickly. He replied that he would get ready and go then, he did not tell me that he was not dressed as of yet. He arrived at around 0800 and started reading to himself Psalms 103, they had informed me to not have folks who might come to tell him they were in the room and with the determined person we were dealing with, this was a great suggestion. By the time Steve got to the part about He heals all my diseases, Dave actually drew his last breath and was in the arms of His Savior.
The determination part was so true of Dave, most do now this but when he was learning to fly T34 basic trainer for the USN he was physically ill in the airplane 13 of the first 15 flights. He had a determined instructor also, CMD Snelling, who insisted that this guy could fly and to give him a chance to solo. Of course, the solo went well and in the next years he was only sick 1 time, even with doing all of the acrobatics. God protected him through all of this even though Dave had not accepted Jesus as his Savior at the time, that happened later in life aboard an air craft carrier.
When the facility phones me at 0815 I was standing in the office of Wood County Christian School, having been texted to come down and meet with a gentleman earlier than planned. I phoned our son who lives in the UK and then our daughter and then proceed to make the other necessary phone calls to Dave's 3 brothers and my 5. Arrangements were made and carried out.
God was at work in all of this in the following ways
1. I had been able to get Dave into a great facility near home and they had been able to place him on skilled care due to the incision from the colostomy he had June 18.
2. Kyla had obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit and asked to visit that morning and Melanie had said okay even though it might mean they would be a bit late for school
3. I was in the christian school office with other folks not out finishing my walk or home alone.
4. A great friend had previously accepted Dave's request to help him build a coffin for his burial
5. The funeral home selected was in agreement to Dave's strange requests
a buried in a home made coffin
b have viewing and service at our church
c. be transported to cemetery in the back of our truck
6. Also, our daughter-in-law and 2 other grand kiddos were still in the US and able to change their plane tickets at no charge to stay for the services. Airlines no longer do bereavement fares.
7. I was able to locate the original copy of Dave's will after some prayer from faithful friends.
Dave's desire was to have no flowers or plants given as these things just die and are a throw away of money which could be used for more rewarding work elsewhere. His request was for any moneys that would have been thus to be donated to the American Brain Tumor Association, your local church mission fund and if you have no local church group to donate to the International Mission Board in Richmond, VA or the Navigators in Colorado Springs,CO who work with military folks.
I wish to thank all of the folks for the nice notes, cards, calls and FB messages. My local church Evergreen Bible Church. Our 3 pastors, Steve Thibault, Kevin Kratzer, and Jacob Timlin. The workers at Heartland of Marietta, OH who cared for Dave during his stay there. Those folks who traveled to be with us during this time, some coming quite a distance. Our neighbors who have assisted in many ways. But mostly our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who loved us so much HE went to the cross to die for us but rose on the 3rd day thus giving us the hope and assurance of our home in heaven.
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