Aaron's dad has a little brother who has Downs Syndrome. His name is Randy and he was one of our favorite people on this earth.
Randy passed away last week at the age of 42. It was quite sudden and unexpected so we are all still in shock. But the more we learn about his last few weeks, the more obvious it is that it was his time to go.
He had been complaining of shortness of breath and dizziness for a few days. Aaron's dad took him to the doctor where they were going to inject dye into his heart to see what was going on. Randy was so worked up and anxious before the procedure that they decided to give him a sedative to calm him down. As they were doing the procedure his breathing was so shallow that they had to stop. He then slipped into a coma and never woke up. Eventually they determined that he had a hole in his heart that was irreparable. He didn't have long either way.
Randy's sister had been in town the weeks before and visited Randy at the home he lives in with other special needs people. She was making a fuss over his room and asked him if he just loved it there. He replied, "It doesn't matter, dad is coming to get me soon." His dad passed away three years ago and he has longed for his dad every day since.
As Randy's 87 year old mother rocked him in her arms and pulled the oxygen mask off of his face, he passed within 10 minutes. She has been so worried about leaving him without her on this earth. She feels a huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders and now she feels ready to join her husband and Randy.
Randy was an avid Elvis fan. He would dress up in Elivs jumpsuits, wigs, and capes and sing Elvis songs all day while swinging on his swingset in the back yard. His mother buried Randy in a white Elvis jumpsuit with a big rhinestone belt buckle that said Elvis.
I have done a lot of reflecting about Randy and the lives of all families blessed with children who have special needs. Obviously they are perfect and guaranteed exaltation. So why must they live in their bodies for years and years on this earth. It has to be for us. They teach us things that no one else can. Patience, unconditional love, simplicity, happiness and long suffering.
I am going to miss Randy's big smile when we go to family parties, sitting by me on the couch with his arm around me and petting my hair. I take such comfort knowing that he lives and is whole. That he is with his father and is happy.
Randy passed away last week at the age of 42. It was quite sudden and unexpected so we are all still in shock. But the more we learn about his last few weeks, the more obvious it is that it was his time to go.
He had been complaining of shortness of breath and dizziness for a few days. Aaron's dad took him to the doctor where they were going to inject dye into his heart to see what was going on. Randy was so worked up and anxious before the procedure that they decided to give him a sedative to calm him down. As they were doing the procedure his breathing was so shallow that they had to stop. He then slipped into a coma and never woke up. Eventually they determined that he had a hole in his heart that was irreparable. He didn't have long either way.
Randy's sister had been in town the weeks before and visited Randy at the home he lives in with other special needs people. She was making a fuss over his room and asked him if he just loved it there. He replied, "It doesn't matter, dad is coming to get me soon." His dad passed away three years ago and he has longed for his dad every day since.
As Randy's 87 year old mother rocked him in her arms and pulled the oxygen mask off of his face, he passed within 10 minutes. She has been so worried about leaving him without her on this earth. She feels a huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders and now she feels ready to join her husband and Randy.
Randy was an avid Elvis fan. He would dress up in Elivs jumpsuits, wigs, and capes and sing Elvis songs all day while swinging on his swingset in the back yard. His mother buried Randy in a white Elvis jumpsuit with a big rhinestone belt buckle that said Elvis.
I have done a lot of reflecting about Randy and the lives of all families blessed with children who have special needs. Obviously they are perfect and guaranteed exaltation. So why must they live in their bodies for years and years on this earth. It has to be for us. They teach us things that no one else can. Patience, unconditional love, simplicity, happiness and long suffering.
I am going to miss Randy's big smile when we go to family parties, sitting by me on the couch with his arm around me and petting my hair. I take such comfort knowing that he lives and is whole. That he is with his father and is happy.
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