Rick had been very, very ill and relying on me to be his carer, for 15 months. During this time, he was a very difficult, unthankful, miserable patient, but, I had to always remember that he was in terrible pain. While being his carer was a really difficult and constant job, now that it is all over, I find that I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
He suffered from a whole host of very serious medical conditions, any of which could and should have taken his life at any time over the past 3 or 4 years, but, strangely enough, he died from a completely unexpected cause.
The health problems he suffered included severe heart failure, as his heart was pumping at less than 20%, stage 4 kidney disease, poly myalgea rheumatica, diabetes and having 36 blood clots in his lungs, requiring that he be on an oxygen machine. As his condition deteriorated over the past few months, I kept expecting one or other of these conditions to take his life. He also certainly wished to go home to Heaven as well, so as to be out of the constant pain he suffered and because he had absolutely no quality of life here on Earth.
He got to the stage where he could do not one thing for himself and that fact distressed and annoyed him very much, of course.
His life was forever changed when,on 27th December, 2023, he awakened in the morning to find that his right foot was terribly painful. My inspection of it showed that it was cold to the touch and had turned black in colour.He was transported to the local hospital and then air-lifted to PA Hospital in Brisbane, where amputation of his foot was expected to be performed. When he arrived at PA, the blackness had travelled right up to his knee. I was informed that amputation would need to occur at the thigh. Further medical examination revealed to the surgeons that he would not survive such a procedure because of all his other medical problems.
It was considered preferable for all concerned, including him, to transfer his care to the palliative care team, who would make him as comfortable as possible and allow him to die with some dignity and without pain.
When I made the almost 5 hour road trip to PA the next morning, I found that he had died just after midnight that morning. I was able to see him in the morgue, where, to my great relief, he looked very peaceful in death. I felt very reassured that he had indeed gone home to Heaven and was now enjoying the company of Jesus, Father God, his own dear Mother, Rose, and our young son, Cameron.
How very gracious and merciful is our God? Being responsible for all of Rick’s care, 24/7 was becomming too much for me and his life was nothing but a torture to him and something he no longer felt able to endure.Thankfully, God stepped in and took him home, after having granted him time and opportunity to make his peace with the Lord and prepare himself for eternity.
Thank you, God, that he is now out of pain and in Glory, without having had to endure an amputation or continuing severe pain.
Although we had a whole host of difficult times during our marriage, I thank God for the many good times we enjoyed also, especially Rick’s years of being the lead trumpet player at church. Listening to his trumpet as he led the people of God into worship was always ever so special and enjoyable for me.
Rest in peace, Poppy. I look forward to the time when I will join both you and Cameron in Glory.
With much love, Estelle.
