Sunday night the 26th August 2018 I got a call from one of my brothers and he said, " pack an overnight bag I'm going to pick you up, we are going to visit our eldest brother."
My eldest brother lives just over 3 hours away and was suffering with diabetes for the last 10years. When my mother and sister visited him the day before they were worried and called an ambulance to take him to hospital.
When he arrived in hospital he was put straight into ICU. He had pneumonia, his kidneys were failing, he had high sugar levels and high potassium levels. Not long after being admitted into ICU he had a major stroke and was in a coma. The doctors did a MRA scan to see what was going on and various other tests. He apparently had a huge blood cloth at the back of his head and had to have it removed immediately.
All his children and little grandchildren, his brothers, my mum, my sister and I were at the hospital. We took turns two by two into the ICU ward to sit with him. We held his hand, told him we loved him and to come back to us.
We took over the full waiting area on the floor. We stayed near by in hotels and his wife stayed in the courtesy hospital room.
We all returned early on the 27th August. There was no change. The doctors did another MRA scan and the specialist saw him. The doctors said he was brain dead and the tubes in his lungs were helping him breathe along with the life support machine. The doctors asked us to make a decision to keep him on life support indefinitely or switch them off.
On the 28th August, all his children, wife, and my brother and sister decided to switch the machines off. My mum and I said NO! We were out voted.
The priest came and read him his last rites. Everyone gathered around and said their goodbyes. The machines were switched off and the tubes were removed that helped him breathe. The nurse gave him a needle, a sedative to ease his pain whiles he passed. Slowly he stopped breathing.
I'm still in shock. I can't believe he's gone. 😢
He was a kind, loving brother, father, husband, grandfather and son.
I got home late last night. I was very upset. I went to my room and got into bed. I stayed awake. In the corner of my room near the door I saw two shadows. They were faint but they were shaped liked people. I think it was my father and eldest brother saying goodbye. I wasn't scared, I was comforted by their presence. They didn't stay long. Less than a minute but long enough for me to see them.
I hope you both rest in peace dad and my dearest brother. You are both very loved 😢
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Thank you for your kind words.
Yes, we do miss him, his children miss him very much and feel his loss greatly.
Best wishes,
SWS
😘