Saturday, December 7, 2013

I'm not ready

I'm really not ready.  Although I don't have a choice in the matter.  Someone I thought would live forever passed away yesterday afternoon.  My Uncle Jim.  My favorite Uncle.  I couldn't tell you what it was about him.  He was just kind, strong, silly.  Most of the time he was quiet during conversations, but he would speak his piece.  He had the best sense of humor.  Just like Pappy.
His health wasn't very good.  He had type 1 diabetes.  Diabetes will eat your body.  He lost most of his sight.  Eventually his kidneys started to fail.  He was put on the transplant list.  Lo & behold!  His 50th birthday and he got THE phone call!  Not only did he get a donor kidney, but he also got a donor pancreas.  Amazing.  Goodbye diabetes.  Goodbye insulin shots.  He looked so healthy.  Even though he never complained.  Time  marched on.  There were some problems with the kidney, but it wasn't rejecting.  The last few years were very hard on him health wise.  He had open heart surgery.  Aunt Billie told me a few weeks ago that they were going to the hospital in St Louis.
Welcome to the 21st century.  I found out on Facebook that he had a bad infection & that his breathing was labored.  They were going to put him on a ventilator.  He was a fighter.  He always fought so hard & I assumed that he would fight this also.  He was tired.  God saw that he was tired and he took him home.  Resting in the arms of our Savior.  He's with Granny & Pappy.  He's all healthy now and won't ever have to put up the fight again.

So until we meet again, Rest in peace, Uncle Jim.  Rest in peace.