...said her final goodbyes to her oldest son Thursday afternoon.
Josh was transported with a brain aneurysm from Clarksville to Skyline Hospital in Nashville by medi-flight Wednesday morning, brain dead, on a respirator and not responding to any stimuli at all.
We were going to have them turn the machines off Thursday afternoon but because Lisa agreed to donate his organs, it wasn't possible. Due to the coordination required between time of death and taking the organs, as well as notifying recipients, the young hospice lady we talked to advised Lisa that it would be best to say her final goodbyes Thursday, and after they have time to make the necessary preparations, they'll turn the machines off Friday and immediately take him into the operating room upon him being pronounced. This very compassionate woman also gave Lisa her word that Josh would not die alone, that she would be there with him holding his hand as he passed and would play some of his favorite songs if Lisa would provide her with them, which was done.
At least this way there would be some good coming from his death. Lives will be saved and maybe other mothers won't have to mourn the deaths of their children.
The entire staff there was absolutely wonderful. I was expecting them to be very business-like and cold - after all, they see this every day - but everybody that came into the room from the counselor to the doctors sat with Lisa and held her. Even the cleaning lady that was emptying the trash cans held Lisa and cried with her.
All of our questions were answered by the young lady that talked to us about the organ donations, with her even providing us with a list of funeral homes that would handle the cremation. She even so far as to give us her personal cell number and told us to call any time, day or night, if we had any questions. She also said she would call when they turned the machines off, then again when Josh passed.
Needless to say, it's been a very emotional and difficult past couple of days. Lisa is just devastated and I'm helpless, unable to take any of her pain from the woman I love and vowed to protect. The only thing I can do is to hold her and be there for her. I'm not an emotional person at all, but I've shed more tears for my wife these past two days than I have the past 40 years combined.
Please keep us in your prayers.
