When I think of him falling, all alone, my heart aches. He was put into a coma, for a month, so his body had time to heal. I came back to visit on time to see him, once he woke up. He cant speak much, though he sure tries.
I make my way to his room. One of his best friends are there by his bed side talking to him. "sorry to interrupt Ronnie, want me to wait out here?" I ask him. No, no Ilene, I'm just leaving he says with a kind smile. He pats my dad shoulder, telling him to take care, and saying that he'll be back another day.
I always liked Ronnie, out of all my dads friends, he was the real deal. I smile and tell him to have a good day, as he walks out.
"Hi dad, I brought Jadon to see you". He tries to sit up more, and clearly gets frustrated that it's still hard to move much. He starts grumbling loudly, waving to the nurse who comes over to help him. She clearly has no clue what he's saying, and mentions to me that she's pretty sure he's not "all there yet", and incoherent due to his accident, and coma. Really!? "It's pretty clear to me, he's trying to ask for you to help sit him a cretin way".. He continues to grumble at her, and I'm pretty sure curse at her as well, she gives up and takes off.
I walk over, and place Jadon on his bed, then place my arm under his shoulder and pull him up a little. He seems pleased enough. He starts trying to talk, his deep voice making sounds that are close to words, but not quiet. He's looking at Jadon tearing up, so I'm sure he's saying something about him. I notice through his grumbling, that Jadon's deep voice must come from my father. At this point they both sound so similar.
"Dad, you gave me Grandma Fennell's Bible when we first reconnected. It had a picture of me in it. So I decided right now is the perfect time to repay that offering back to you." I pull out a Bible from my diaper bag and place it at his side table. Before doing so I open it up and show him a picture of Jadon. His eyes widen, and he smiles, thanking me.
I tell him about Alberta, and about school, he seems proud of me. I tell him about Darren and the new job he's doing with a home theater instillation company, he seems interested. He always liked my husband.
Jadon starts getting restless, and I know our time together is ending.
I pull out some nail clippers. A little hesitant, knowing he's not going to be okay with this. "Dad, I'm going to cut your nails" He gives me a nasty look, pulls his hand away grumbling.
"Dad, look at your nails, they're gross" I tell him as I lift his hand to his face. Clearly he agrees, and allows me to cut them.
I tell him that it's my last visit for a while, since I'm heading back home that night. I hug him, I start crying. "Just get better dad, fight hard, you can do it" He starts crying and shakes his head no. I ignore it, and tell him I love him, and that I'll be praying for a quick recovery. He tells me he loves me, though I can't understand fully, I know that's what he's saying. I tell him I'll call him when I get home.
I think of him often the following week, but never get a chance to call. Life gets soo busy.
One night I'm laying in bed fast asleep, the phone rings. I wake up and pick it up, it's my sister. "Ilene, dad went into cardiac arrest, and fell into a deep coma, the Dr's say he won't make it, he's on a breathing tube" "We're pulling the plug, there's nothing we can do". "Are you with him?" I ask her. "Yes" she says.
"Can you place the phone to his ear please?" She says ok, doing it now. "I don't know what to say dad, I love you, and I'm going to pray for you, please hear me"
"God, you know my dad, you know who he is, and you know his heart. You love him, I pray Father that you can forgive him for the things he has done that has not been your will. Forgive his sins, and meet him where he is now, and bring him to you in heaven. In Jesus name I pray, Amen" There's a pause, Then my sisters voice comes back. "Ilene, I'm not sure what you said, but his hearbeat increased when you were talking to him, he heard you." I start crying, and reply "I hope so"
I hang the phone up, curl into the fetal position and cry. Darren reaches over and holds me until I fall asleep.
I truly do believe God met him that night. God met him, and forgave him, and brought him to my mom on the other side. In paradise<3
