How I Overcame Grief

The next day, Virginia, Frank, and Sherri left at 10:00 A.M. When Mario and Frieda arrived, Mario went in alone to make peace with his son. He felt guilty. He had to explain to Scott why he broke his promise and brought him back to life. Mario held Scott's hand and told him how sorry he was, and that he couldn't let him go without giving his wife, mother, brother, and son, an opportunity to tell him goodbye. He couldn't let him go into respiratory standstill when he took an oath to save lives, and had a responsibility to his family. He asked for Scott's forgiveness. Even though Scott was angry, he forgave his dad. He bowed his head and squeezed his dad's hand indicating forgiveness. Mario was relieved. 'Thank you son. Now, I'm putting you back in the driver's seat. Do you want the life support removed?' Mario asked. Scott nodded his head, 'yes.' 'As soon as you stable out and can be transported to your hospital, all life support will come off, and in accordance with your wishes, there will be no code blues should you stop breathing.' Mario said. Scott agreed and a slight smile covered his face. That's what he wanted. Mario blew he nose and tried to hide his tears from Scott. Having made peace with his son, he left the room found a chair in a corner, sat down and let the tears flow. Frieda patted him on the shoulder, then went in to see her son. She talked to him about how much she'd miss him, how much she enjoyed having him as a son, and how much she loved him. When the nurse came in to check Scott and the equipment, he seemed tired. Frieda kissed him and promised to let him go. Scott smiled slightly. 'I'll visit you again in the evening. Get some rest your in-laws will be spending the afternoon sitting with you,' Frieda said. TWO DAYS LATER Scott was fully awake, conscious and breathing on his own. Life support was removed, and an ambulance was ordered to transport him to a skilled nursing facility. Tony was brought in to tell his dad good-bye, and that night a chaplain was brought in to administer last rights, and pray with the family. Frank was with his brother talking sports, eating a burger, and watching television when Scott slipped away in the early morning of July 15th. When Frank realized his brother was gone, he called his mother. She called Mario at the hospital. 'Scott is gone,' she said. Mario rushed to the bedside of his son and stayed until the rest of the family came. They stayed with Scott talking until the wee hours of the morning. Scott's body was cold when Mario said, 'we had better wrap it up and do like Scott suggested, let him go and get on with our lives. We will all miss him, his smile, jokes and sense of humor.' Mario hugged everyone, kissed his son then waited outside. Frank walked over and kissed Scott as Frieda stood gazing at her boy. He looked so small. Finally, she walked over and leaned down. She stroked his forehead and whispered. 'I love you Scott and will never forget you.' Sherri was the last to leave. She held her husband's hand and whispered her good-byes. She kissed him several times before walking away crying.