I have a friend who has had some health issues lately - he just wasn't himself and finally, after dropping the MD who didn't seem to be helping he was put into the hospital on Tuesday, and was operated on Friday.
I went in to see him Thursday, and he mentioned that they found pneumonia, plus some questionable areas in the lung. They were going to try and remove the areas through a small incision and if that didn't work, it would be major surgery.
It turned out to be major - and it turns out to be terminal. Like, anywhere from 2 days to 2 months is the prognosis. I went back to visit him today for awhile (I don't know if he has been told yet) and we talked about all of the usual things of life...how he was missed at dinner after church, what has been going on in the world and the weather. His blue eyes twinkled in spite of the pain he must have felt and I promised him I would not make him laugh TOO hard because of his incision.
And inside, my mind played back vignettes of the years I have had the privilege to know him. How GOOD he is...how kind. How devoted to the memory of his deceased wife and now he will soon be reunited with her.
And how much I will miss him.
All of these things, hidden behind my smile and banter. Maybe he DID know, maybe not. But it's the sharing that has been there, and must continue until...
My only hope is a peaceful passing. He deserves that much.
