WOW!

Roller Coaster are two words that come to mind this morning. We had a very rough day yesterday and spent it surrounding Bill telling him it was OK to go to heaven. He was unconscious and his breathing was not only labored, but he would stop breathing for 10-12 seconds in between. We also had the priest come in to give him the sacrament of the sick. After about an hour and a half of staring at his chest, he opened his eyes and said, "I have to pee really bad." With some major help from Joe (against my will) he went to the bathroom and had a few minutes of clear thoughts and speech. If I didn't see it for myself, I never would have believed it. As we all sat next to him and prayed for the Lord to take him, he decided he had to pee. Typical of Bill and his sense of humor...

Unfortunately the clarity didn't last long, and he slipped back into unconsciousness (with the labored sporadic breathing), and we set a schedule to give him medication during the night, since he needs it every hour. All night he gasped for air and struggled to take breaths. This morning we awoke to a lucid Bill again. It lasted about 20 minutes or so, then he slipped back into a slumber.

He is not eating and only takes a sip or two a couple times a day. We know the end (or beginning, depending on how you look at it) is imminent. It is now only a matter of time. We learned yesterday that this is all God's plan and Bill will go when he is ready and on his own terms. Sometimes people wait for family members to arrive before passing, and other times they wait for privacy to protect loved ones of seeing the last breath. Whatever his plan is, we know he will be at peace flying with the angels.