This is how I will always remember my love - Larry of 22 years. His smile was so contagious and his heart was so full of love. Larry had been very sick for many years, with heart issues, pulmonary issues, kidney and liver disease. The last 6 years were the hardest times I have ever gone through. For Larry it was heartbreaking. When Covid hit, which is when he started to go down hill very quickly, he was devastated at the idea of not going anywhere. It was getting harder for him to walk so he walked with a walker. He was also having a paracentesis performed every 2 weeks at the hospital, which is fluid removal from the stomach. This was due to the heart not working properly and fluid backing up in his body. Life became very tough for the both of us. Then early signs of dementia were starting to appear as well. He had the type where early evening he would begin to get restless and anxious after dinner, sometimes he didn't even want to eat. I didn't know what to do except to pray a lot.
The day of Oct. 12th, 2020 came it was a Monday and he had a scheduled procedure of the fluid removal at the hospital. That morning he didn't want to get out of bed. He told me it was useless to go and get the fluid removed because he was going to be with the Lord very soon. I of course said "oh honey, you still have a long time here on this earth". I have always been the encourager, always trying to give him HOPE! Well I finally talked him into going. He got up had a very small breakfast, half of an avocado. I got him showered and ready to go. My neighbor Rich had to come over to help me with him down the three stairs we have into the garage and got him in the car. He's done that many times and I sure appreciated his help.
We left and Larry didn't look very good when he got in the car. He looked super tired so I drove off and a little while later I noticed his head dropped. I thought he had fallen asleep. I started talking to him and nothing. I shook him and nothing. My God, what is happening. I was driving near Deception Pass by this time and I started crying. I knew what had happened, he had fallen asleep for good. I was in such a state of shock I didn't know what to do. First thing I thought of was to call 911, but that would mean stopping on the side of a very dangerous road and possibly getting into an accident. So I decided to keep driving to the nearest hospital which was Island Hospital. I sobbed the whole way there. When I got there I rushed into the emergency and asked for someone to please help me with my husband. They quickly brought a stretcher out and a few of the staff lifted him out of the car onto the stretcher and they started CPR. I asked them if he had a pulse, they said no, if he had a heart beat, they said no. I said then stop. Don't do anything else. These were the hardest words I have ever had to say.
The rest was a blur. I did remember giving him one last kiss and held his hand and said good bye my love. I will see you in heaven. We had so many wonderful years together and the last few were so hard on him. I know he is in a better place now because God has given me peace about his leaving. I did all I could to make his life as comfortable as I could. He was loved, he was valued and most of all he loved me.
