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Post by char on Apr 8, 2009 12:22:50 GMT -5
I know this is not Ds related but I'd exchanged some e-mail with a couple of people here.
My only sibling, my brother, was diagnosed with cancer in December. He passed away very early Monday morning. There were just the two of us in the family, and he was 12 years older than I am so I have no memories of my life without him in it.
Abby's daddy adored his Uncle Bill and was able to come out for a four day visit with him while Bill was still able to get around. My son took him to one of his lab tests, and Bill couldn't stop talking about how "He just took right over and I didn't have to say a thing."
Bill was everyone's friend, and went out of his way to help anyone that needed a little something to make their lives more pleasant.
There is a very small community in central AZ where my brother docked his boat. It's a depressed area with several families trying to eek out a living. Every Christmas Bill would get a list of kids, their ages, and their interests. He would fill his truck bed with toys. His son would fill his truck bed with food. They would take the things up to this community so that every family had a turkey, all the trimmings and the kids all had a couple of gifts to open.
I just can't imagine I'll ever smile again.
Char
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Post by momofrussell on Apr 8, 2009 12:29:43 GMT -5
Aw Char.... I am truly sorry
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Post by Jackie on Apr 8, 2009 12:47:53 GMT -5
Char...what a wonderful man he must have been...all your posts have made me wish I had known him. Once your grieving period is over I am sure you WILL smile again...because of all the WONDERFUL memories you will have of this man.
Maybe it will make you feel better to share some more stories about him like the one you just posted...I personally would like to hear some positive stories!
Don't worry about it not being DS...cuz DS is what brought you here in the first place...that's enough. Love ya lots
Jackie
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Post by Jessie on Apr 8, 2009 13:24:11 GMT -5
Oh Char I'm so sorry for your loss as well as for the community your brother lived in. Sounds like he will be greatly missed.
Feel free to share with us anytime - we're here for you.
Jessie
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Post by char on Apr 8, 2009 13:28:37 GMT -5
Thank you, ladies. I will share a little about Bill. He never met a stranger, and he knew the check out at the Fry's market by name.
My brother took his housekeeper and her children to the lake for a ski trip! His yard boy from 15 years ago was at the hospice center with the family when Bill died. These were not people who worked for him. These people were family.
Years ago my sister-in-law chaired a paralegal department and had a student assistant with three kids. The single mom didn't have a thing. At Christmas Bill went to the store and purchased an adult bike and three kids' bikes because that was an inexpensive thing that Dawn could do with her kid. That wasn't an employee of my sister-in-law's. That was family.
My former co-worker called this morning early. She was just crying her eyes out. I'd left her a message about Bill. She said that although she had only met him one time, she'd left his home feeling like a member of the family.
Bill has a refrigerator in the store room where he kept a full stock of soda. He bought it by the cases at Costco. Every day the neighborhood kids came by for a soda. He also had a pump and when a bike tire went flat, he'd fix it.
The hospice center told us we could visit him 24/7 and that kids and dogs were welcome. We didn't bring the dogs but I don't think the center really expected that 35 of us would be there most of the day.
My brother never forgot a name or a face, and he was always himself. He had loads of money, gave away a bunch of it, and never appeared to have a dime.
Bill served his country during the Korean conflict and lied about his age to join the army. He spent his 17th birthday on the island of Guam. He spoiled me rotton and would buy me anything I wanted up until I got old enough to work. As a kid sometimes he'd come in and throw a $20.00 bill at me, or maybe a $50.00.
The thing that I'm most grateful for is that I got to spend Saturday night at the hospital. Everyone left around 6:30 PM and I shamed the hospital staff into breaking rules and allowing me to stay.
As it turned out, Bill had a very restless night and I did not go to sleep. I was able to help him, and he knew I was there.
Thank you for allowing me to share about this wonderful man. Boy! Some days it was like having a big brother, and some days it was like having two fathers.....
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Apr 8, 2009 13:43:01 GMT -5
Char, i'm so so so sorry for the loss of your brother. He sounds like a super great caring guy. Sending {{{{BIG GIANT HUGS}}}}} to you and your family.
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Post by lorraine on Apr 8, 2009 14:02:32 GMT -5
I'm really sorry to hear about your brother Char, he sounds like a truly wonderful man who will be missed by a lot of people.
Thinking about you and your family
Take care Lorraine
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Post by Ericsmomma on Apr 8, 2009 16:51:03 GMT -5
Char, So very sorry about your loss....sounds like a truly great man. Thank you for sharing your memories. God Bless.
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Post by sd112170 on Apr 8, 2009 19:47:06 GMT -5
Char,
I am so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a good man. My heart goes out to you!!
Prayers from GA,
Stacy
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Post by CC on Apr 8, 2009 22:03:39 GMT -5
Awww Char I am so sorry to read this CC ~
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Post by Pat on Apr 9, 2009 7:24:29 GMT -5
((Hugs)) I'm so sorry Prayers going out to you & yours. Sounds like a great man. You've got some great memories I lost my older brother to cancer last year. Pat
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Post by Jackie on Apr 9, 2009 9:05:08 GMT -5
Oh Char...what a lovely tribute! I hope these are the thoughts that will sustain you in the coming weeks. How wonderful to be remembered like that. Now I really wish I had known him too.
Jackie
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Post by char on Apr 10, 2009 1:05:43 GMT -5
Again, thank you, everyone. Your kind words mean the world to me. I'm sure this will take a long time if not a lifetime for this to feel ok.
Char
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Post by ALLISA on Apr 10, 2009 5:28:58 GMT -5
I had tears reading your post....I am sorry for your loss and sorry that I never had a chance to meet him...how blessed all of the people were who did get to know him.
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Post by Emilysmom on Apr 10, 2009 6:35:58 GMT -5
Char, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. What a wonderful man! I know you'll treasure many memories of him forever. Please know that we care, and that you're in our thoughts and prayers. Susan
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