Well if these last two weeks were not enough for us, on Wednesday evening of this week Lexine and I decided once again we needed some peace, so we went to the temple to do some sealings. I always leave my phone in the car so that its not a disruption and we enjoyed an nice visit there for about an hour. When I got out of the temple I found I had received several text messages from Mike & Lauri letting me know Grandpa had a massive heart attack and was in the Intensive Care Unit, so that he couldn't have any visitors just yet. I volunteered Garrett and I to go give him a blessing since Jeff had Covid and grandma said she would let us know the next day. On Thursday, Grandma Porter asked I would assist her ministering brother in giving Grandpa a blessing -- that was a very special experience and privilege for me. I assumed their ministering brother would give the blessing since I has only been asked to assist, but when we got to the room he thought I was going to give it. He then said, well lets have a quick prayer and he immediately offered it, to which he looked up immediately after and said "I feel you should give the blessing." :-) I was honored to and it was one of those blessings where the spirit and love were so strong that the worst flowed smoothly and I recall saying in the blessing that it would be his choice to stay or leave this world...then we rejoined Grandma and Lexine down in the lobby since the hospital only allowed 2 people at a time to visit him. He was supposed to be taken off the ventilator the next day, but due to a staff infection and fever, the decided to keep him on it another day. On Saturday, everything was looking good and everyone thought he would be just fine. We were visiting Grandma Glasgow who had been moved to a care facility down the street from the Banner hospital she had been in until Tuesday night and that Grandpa Porter has been in since Wednesday...when all of a sudden we all received a text from Grandma Porter that Grandpa had taken a turn for the worst and if we wanted to see him we need to come quick. We were just moments away, so Lexine and I were the first ones there and the hospital sent us immediately up to his room where we found grandma by his side and the hospital staff surrounding him. I walked up and put my arm around grandma and within 30 seconds he was gone -- we had just made it as he left -- I guess he made his choice to go. I'm sure it was a wonderful reunion with Cindy -- he better have given her a big hug from me! The picture below is Grandma Porter holding his hand as he passed. Shortly after Mike showed up with Bailey, then Lexine and I left since the hospital was back to the 2 person rule and we found Lauri and Jeff trying to get in, then Kevin, then Garrett & Bailey came and Porter & Amy. It was a nice final visit to say goodbye to this husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who is so loved....
No comments:
Post a Comment