July 28, 2015, 7:30 p.m., Trading Ford Baptist Church–“Come quick!  Come quick!  Gerry has fallen, and he’s hurt bad!”   Fear almost paralyzed me as I responded to frantic cries from the back of the church, but adrenaline pumped through my system and propelled me out the back door and into the churchyard where my husband of 54 years lay gasping for breath.  As I fell to the ground screaming and praying, I noticed his eye was swollen shut and turning black.  He sounded as if he were gasping for his last breath.  “Oh, God, spare him!  Spare him!  Oh, Honey!  Don’t die!  Don’t leave me!”

My Celebrate Recovery family who were attending our CR meeting that night gathered round praying–eyes moist with tears.

The ambulance arrived, and we headed to the local hospital 10 minutes away.  A quick exam by the emergency room doctor determined he needed to be in a trauma hospital—38 miles away.  As the sirens blared on the racing ambulance, my son and I followed.  The verdict:  He had a brain bleed.  The next few hours were critical.

As I sat in the waiting room while they hooked him up to monitors and IVs, I tried to piece together what had led up to this tragedy.  For weeks Gerry had been having increasing difficulty walking.  A neurologist had diagnosed him with possible hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain.)  He was scheduled for further tests in two weeks.  Too late.  Instead, he had staggered across the churchyard and plowed head first into the hardened earth.

For the next week, his situation was touch and go.  Erratic heart rate, critically high blood pressure, no response or sign of consciousness.

People from numerous churches were praying for him.  Suddenly, to our surprise, he opened his eyes one morning and asked for his breakfast.  He had turned a corner.  We were headed to rehab and three weeks later, home—to a new way of life filled with home health nurses, speech therapists, and physical therapists.

Even though I was delighted to be home, the situation was heartbreaking as well.  My very bright, very competent husband could not walk unassisted and could barely feed himself.  He could no longer add the simplest numbers or answer questions our young granddaughter could handle with ease.

The hydrocephalus could not be addressed until he more fully recovered from the brain bleed.  Weeks went by.  Some days he seemed better—most days not.

October 23, 2015, CHS Northeast—Today brought yet another tragedy.  Gerry was obviously worse, and a visit to the ER confirmed he was critically ill—possible perforated bowel.  Emergency surgery revealed peritonitis—a serious infection in his abdomen.  Thus, began weeks in the hospital.

Further complications.  Gerry had been on home dialysis for kidney failure for over two years.  The abdominal surgery made it impossible to continue his home dialysis.  He would need to be transported to a dialysis clinic three times a week, and he was not strong enough for the rigors of transport.  Most nursing homes would not take him.  He would have to remain hospitalized indefinitely.

My days were spent in the hospital trying to care for him.  At night, I crashed at the nearby SECU House, a home for patient’s families, only to get up and head back to the hospital at 6 a.m.  Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays came and went.  The new year—2016–was approaching.  The final bad news—a death sentence.  Gerry could no longer continue his dialysis—too dangerous—seriously high pulse and blood pressure issues.  The decision:  go home with Hospice care and wait for him to pass away.

January 1, 2016, Home–And so, we did.  It was not what I wanted.  It was not what I had prayed for at all. Hundreds of prayers on his behalf seemed unanswered.

And then my prayers changed.  A sense of God’s love and care took over my very being.  Knowing that it was only days until the love of my life would leave me for his heavenly home, I began to pray for a peaceful passing.

Friends and family came and went.  Gerry slipped into a coma; he seemed to be sleeping peacefully.   As I waited, I took comfort in reading God’s Word and books on heaven.  Anne Graham Lotz’ book, “Heaven, My Father’s Home,” was particularly comforting.   Even though I doubted that he could hear me, I read aloud to Gerry as well.

January 10, 2016, Home–As I sat reading to him, his sister, Gail, slipped into his room to listen.  I was struck by the appropriateness of a particular passage, “There will be no more hospitals, death, or funerals; walkers, canes of wheelchairs; ventilators, respirators of IVs.  There will be no more Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, or arthritis, cataracts or paralysis, MRIs or dialysis.”

Gail sat down beside me as I continued to talk to him.  “You know, Honey, one of these days, you are going to be greeted by a welcoming committee from heaven.  I think your mother will be leading the group.”

At this point, Gail chimed in, “And just like she did when we were children, she will be calling ‘Ger-ald,” as she mimicked her mother’s high-pitched call.

To our amazement, even though he had not responded or spoken in days, a great big smile lit up his face and he literally chuckled out loud!  It seemed as if angels surrounded him!  Then with another big smile and another chuckle, he was heaven bound!

I had prayed for a peaceful passing, and I was blessed by even more.  I had prayed to be with him as a part of those who would see him off from this world into eternity.  My prayers were answered.  I really believe we watched him enter heaven’s portals and experience the joy that will one day be ours.

January 10, 2018, Home – Today marked two years since my beloved Gerry laughed his way in to heaven.  The past months alone have not been easy, but God has been faithful.  He has carried me through the dark days and nights, and I have rested in His peace that transcends all human understanding.  I am confident of where my beloved lives today, and I look forward to joining him when Jesus calls me home.  In the meantime, I cling to his promises:

“Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.   Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (John 11:25 NLT)

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.  If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?   ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”  (John 14:1-3 NLT)

What about you?  Want to share a testimony about how the Lord has carried you or a loved one through the “valley of the shadow of death”?  I’d love to post your responses!