A Letter from Joe

Here's a letter that went out to far away friends and family from Joe.

Hello,

I am writing to let you know that my wife's  oldest son, Tim, passed away this afternoon. He has been very ill over the past four months or so from a systemic infection. He was hospitalized back in February treated and sent home.  Tim returned to work after a few days at home but about three weeks ago he passed out at home and was taken to the hospital. He was placed in an ICU where he stayed for about 12 days. The infection had come back with a vengeance. The infection severely damaged his liver and kidneys shutting them both down. Tim went to a regular medical floor and stayed for a few days. while there he was receiving dialysis every other day which he seemed to tolerate, but after two treatments of dialysis, his blood pressure crashed and he almost died so they put him back in ICU. In a meeting this past Sunday the lead doctor a GI specialist, told us that Tim was not going to live more than 6 more months. he said a liver transplant was NOT a option because with his weakened condition and the ongoing bacterial infection any attempt to do a liver transplant would be fatal. Mainly  because of the anti-rejection drugs that would have to be given so as to not reject a new liver, it would leave Tim wide open for for a massive systemic blood infection which of course would then be fatal.

We went to visit today early this morning. When we arrived Tim was receiving a treatment of dialysis, again he was not tolerating the treatment well. Another ICU doctor took the two of us and
Tim's wife into a conference room and  explained that time was not doing well at all. He also said that they have done everything that they can to turn Tim's condition around to no avail. He questioned whether Tim should be put through any more of the treatments, when in fact the treatments were not going to change Tim's outcome. He thought that Hospice, now under the circumstances, would be appropriate. We all agreed. the Doctor wrote the order for Tim to be placed in hospice care and be transferred to a medical floor ASAP. After meeting with the hospice people, we said our goodbye to Tim, and told him we would be back to visit him. 

When we got home there was a message on the answering machine to call Tim's wife Renee or the hospital. We called Renee and was told that right after we left Tim passed away.

Prayers would be appreciated

This has been so short, but seems like forever. He's at peace now and not suffering. There will forever be an empty spot in our family. He was so much fun to raise and watch as he grew.He was a good  boy who just couldn't understand why his little friends wanted to be mean and hit sometimes.We had to teach him to defend himself... He was a happy go lucky  kid...always something interesting in his little pockets....As he grew up, he was the one who could get us to laugh and be happy. 

Thanks to all of you for prayers, comments, and blessings each and every day. I so depended on all of you to help me through this. I still need you.

Balisha