CROSSING OVER

Sixty-four year old “Timothy” came onto hospice two days ago. He suffered from renal cancer that had spread throughout his body. Timothy lived with “Kitty”, his wife of forty-four years. Kitty and Timothy had two adult children; forty-two year old “Valerie” and thirty-eight year old “James.”

The family was beset with health problems. Kitty had a lupus type of disease that attacked her muscles while James suffered from Schizophrenia and drug addiction. James lived nearby in a facility for the mentally ill. Valerie was married and lived nearby as well. She was the caretaker for all of her family members.

Timothy was gravely ill when admitted to hospice. The family gathered around to support each other and Timothy. James would not go near his father and kept pacing the floor. Kitty thought it best that Valerie drive James home.

Timothy died at 8:30 that night, hours after being admitted to hospice. The family kept trying to contact James and could not reach him on his cell phone. Valerie’s husband drove over to James’s apartment the next afternoon and, it was then, he called the paramedics. The paramedics believed it was an accidental overdose of drugs; telling the family that James had made an “amateur mistake”. The paramedics calculated that James died thirty minutes before his father’s death the night before.

Valerie and Kitty believe that James was with his father when Timothy crossed over. James had always needed help from his family and felt bad that he could not help them in return. The family truly believe that James was there to help his father cross over and that they crossed over together. It gives Kitty and Valerie peace knowing that they both are together in a better place and that James was finally able to help his father in return.


CROSSING OVER
　

He always depended upon his dad,
and his dad was always there.
Especially through the hard times
of his mental illness and drug abuse.

His dad got sick a few years ago.
Thinks were okay for a while.
But in the end, the cancer took over
causing so much heartache and pain.

He was there when his dad lay dying.
He couldn‘t sit still; he paced the floor.
It hurt to see his dad this way
so he had his sister drive him home.

He must have taken too many drugs.
He just wanted to ease the horrendous pain.
The next day they found him in his bed.
Drug paraphernalia lying around.

They calculated the time as best they could.
Figuring he died shortly before his father passed.
Family believes he helped his dad cross over.
Reaching out to him and holding his hand.

It gives mom comfort to know
that her husband and son are together in peace.
Her son finally able to help his dad,
like his dad had always done for him.

Two losses moments apart.
How does a family cope?
She believes in God and the power of love.
Crossing over together, father and son.