Who is my mother,or my brothers and my sisters? Very good question. Sit back and listen to my story about Christianity put into action rather than just words alone.
I recently lost a very dear and close friend,on December 3,2002. His name was John Richard Werdell. We had been not only friends for 22 years but we came to being married twice. However,
due to medical reasons and both of us being on one form of Social Security or another, and rather than having our benefits reduced in size. We decided not to marry, but this did not stop us from loving each other,nor did it stop us from caring about one another.
Over the years,we remained close. We are both orphans. I was there when John's dad died in September of 1987 and when his brother,Tommy, died in August of 1991.
He was there for me, when I going through a hard time. He never let me give up hope on my daughter, who I lost to the state due to mental illness. He accepted me as I am,unlike my own family who simply abandon me.
I have been the Power of Attorney of health Care to two other people before John. They left me in charge to make critical decisions regarding their health care. I never once usurpered my authority and would accept the opinion from only one doctor. I demanded a second and third opinion.
The day John called me in to the hospital to tell me he was dying. He was crying over the phone. That was around October 29, and we cried and he said to me he was not going to give up.
It was back in July he appointed me his durable Power of Attorney of Healthcare to make any decisions for his health. I agreed. Like I agreed for a dear lady friend which Frank and I nicnamed Grandma Ihlae Hogan and for my dear late Rocky Martino.
The first part of 2002 was good for John. He did not go into the hospital once until late June. Then it was about every two week he was in and out of the hospital. Sometimes he was taken to ICU and in a comatose state and after treatment he would wake up.
It was this last time, while he was at Sherwin Manor Nursing Center that the nurses could wake him. So, his doctor ordered him to be rushed to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston,Illinois.
That was on October 14,2002,and he never returned to Sherwin Manor. Because his doctors told him he was terminally ill with kidney failure. It was just a matter of time. They felt John would be better off at a chronic care facility for the terminally ill.
So on November 14,they moved in from St. Francis Hospital to Kinder-Chicago NorthShore. He called me to tell me the food was a lot better and he had a private room.
I went to see him and we talked about him getting a pass to go out and take care of some business. Well he never left Kinder-Chicago.
Last Friday, he called me while my boyfriend, Robert, was here. They met
back in June. John could relate to what Robert had gone through with his ex wife,because he experienced the same thing with his late wife.
He gave me messages to give to his friends should I see them. One was to his brother, Chuck, and to let him know how much he loved him. I never could find Chuck. I let his sister in law, Kay, know that John had passed away. She told me she had been keeping track of his health.
He told Robert and I he had good news that his medicine was working and kidneys were functioning better. However, that was not the case, because on Saturday a week ago Robert and I went to visit John.
John was in pain and he was telling me he was cold in a room of about 80 degrees.
On Sunday around 9:30 PM the nurses transferred him into ICU and by Monday of this past week,he was comatose but still breathing on his own. I called Father Jackson to administer the last Sacraments and we prayed for him.
Early Tuesday Morning around 4:30 AM John passed away in his sleep. He simply stopped breathing. The nurses called me around 4:40 AM CST and told me.
The only difference between the Power of Attorney for Health Care for Grandma,Rocky, and John,and that I did not have to make funeral arrangements for either Grandma or Rocky. They had members in their families to make their funeral arrangements.
I had to make John's funeral arrangements. We discussed this at St.Francis and I told him I would have him cremated and keep his urn and at the proper time and upon my death and cremation he and I would be carried up to our final destination in Prospect,Connecticut where we would be laid to rest side by side by Rocky.
I was the only one who never abandoned John,not once. He did not die alone and his own family like mine was never there for us. We were there for each other however, and even at the end I was the only one at his Memorial Service today. Some others made it to the funeral home,but arrived too late.
Terry, Charmaine,and Keith showed up our apartment after I bought John's urn home with me. I took them each in my room and on my chester drawers his urn is placed on top a crocheted doillie which Rocky's mom made for me last Christmas surrounded lovingly by two stuffed brass button bears.
Father Jackson will give a private Memorial Service for John soon.
Father Jackson told me I was a good Christian. I was the one person who stood by John and would not let him die by himself and my rewards would be great in heaven. The only reward I want now, is to be with Rocky and him now. I want no payment for what I did for him. He was my dearest friend and my love.
Jesus tells us who is our true mother, brothers and sisters in St.Mark 3:35-
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
As Ecclesiastes 12:12 States:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God,and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of human beings. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good,or whether it be evil.
I remember the greatest commandment that Christ gaves us "Love One Another As I have Loved You.".
I miss you John, I did not let you leave this world alone and you will never be forgotten.
Karissa Anne Lowell
on this day 7th day of December,in the Year of Our Lord, 2002 A.D.
