Something to share

[Moneyguy1]

For all of you who have sent prayers and poems....

Years ago, it was my privelege to meet a four year old who would soon die. She had a rare disease, and was a sweet little thing. I met her and her family in the Orlando Airport where her family had taken her for a last trip to Disney World. For the 8 months before she died, she and I communicated by phone and mail; I would send her stories and she would send me little crayon drawings. When she died, I wrote this and sent it to her family:

And when I stand before God's throne, nervous has can be

wondering what I must face for all eternity

Just as God is ready to judge my every sin

He'll feel a tug at the hem of His gown, and a tiny voice so thin

Will say: "Lord may I speak with You for just about a second or two?"

And God will smile His beautiful smile, His love for children true.

"Of course, you can speak My little one, What do you wish to say?"

He will cock his head and listen as He does when He hears us pray.

And when the child is finished, God will smile and nod His head,

a wink of His eye to the little one, agreeing with what she said.

Then God will turn His attention to me, and with a mischevious grin,

will say: "She says that you're her friend, so Welcome!! Come on in!"


Who would have known that something I had written eighteen years ago would apply to another Angel.......

[sammyg2]

Wow.

I gotta think about that one, it got to me.

[Joeaksa]

Bob,

For many years I flew medivac. Some of the patients I later flew home after an operation, while some did not make the journey. I usually flew them to my wife (now ex-) who did a heart, lung or liver transplant on them.

Having done this for many years you get hardened to seeing people in this condition. What we never could get used to were the children who were sick. We are adults, have seen and experienced life, while they have not. They have done nothing to deserve this, yet in many ways are more brave than the adults we would carry.

The kids really got to us, from the flight crew to the doctors who did the operations, up and down the line. Just as in many ways your wife and partner did in her struggle.

Am sure she is in the hands of God now and will be waiting for you when its your time to move on. Sorry it had to happen this way but God works in interesting ways and its not up to any of us to question it.

Hope you are doing well and if there is anything we can do to help, please say so...

Joe

[azasadny]

Bob, how are you holding up? are you eating, sleeping, getting enough rest? Take care and stay strong, there are many folks praying for you!

[scottmandue]

Oh great Bob, now I have to pretend like I'm not crying at my desk...

Stories like yours make people like me appreciate how much we have... God bless you and keep you.

Darn these allergies... cough, cough...

[Moneyguy1]

Art...

I will be OK. Life is funny.....A month ago I had plans. Now for the immediate future, I have none. I have folks who will help me through; one with a similar story about loss of a wife in a hospital through a routine procedure gone bad. Others will help me keep busy. This morning I was actually able to take a nap in "our" room, since I stayed up most of the night with my daughter before taking her to the airport for her trip back to Alabama. It was actually comforting and I finally did fall asleep.

[kaisen]

God bless you. Let us know if you need ANYTHING. As you've seen, the community does care and we feel your loss, if only a small portion.

E

[Dantilla]

Bob, I must apologize to you.

Several times, as you have unfolded your life before us, I have begun typing a response, and then ended up deleting it, knowing there is nothing I can say that will help.

I wish I could somehow make a difference. Please understand that it hasn't been because I haven't cared. I do. I just haven't figured out how to express it.

I'm sorry.

[Moneyguy1]

Dan

I understand.

[nostatic]

there is a saying, "if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans..."

On first blush that seems kind of harsh, but it fits right in with the whole Buddhist take on expectations and impermanence. If anything, times like these are lessons for us all about how precious every moment is, and how we should live in the present...not the past or the future.

Bob, you're doing great even though it likely doesn't feel like it. No feeling is final. I've alternated between loving and hating that line. It comes from a Rilke poem:

God Speaks

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You, sent out beyond your recall,
go to the limits of your longing.

Embody me.

Flare up like flame
and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
Just keep going. No feeling is final.
Don't let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

[Moneyguy1]

"Man proposes; God disposes".

[pwd72s]

So true, Bob. Your faith is giving you strength...that's good.

[Tobra]

That is some heavy shat man, I think kids are harder, never could have been a pediatric anykinda doc.

Take your time

[livi]

Bob, I believe you have installed a good portion of light and confidence in us all despite having gone threw such a devastating time.

Yes, with kids itīs hard. But the thing is that even though it is really rough when it goes bad, it is rather rare. Most of the time everything goes well and then it is such a joy that it is possible to endure the hard blows.

At least so far. I will admit to feeling a certain tiredness and numbness coming over me during the last years. Perhaps I should convert my new garage to a vintage Porsche shop. When stuck I can always use the search button..