Tom is home

Today it hit me. Tom is gone. Even when he was so sick I still had him with me to care for--I could still touch him and do things for him that I knew he liked. I know he's in heaven and has him new body and voice and energy and health and all that makes me smile BUT it just hurts so much not to be able to be with him. I feel like I need to write and write and write to understand, to feel what I'm feeling but then again I don't know if I really want to feel it just cause it just hurts so much. I hate to cry--it hurts, too, and the throbbing head seems to last forever. It's true--grief DOES mug you and I've been brought to my knees after being slammed against a wall.

I need to go back to get down on paper what turned out to be Tom's last two weeks. The last year has been such a waiting game--knowing that at some point there would be a turn for the worse but when it happened it felt like such a surprise. April 28th pneumonia was back but this time it was different. Tom was not tolerating food and couldn't take the antibiotics without it. April 29-30 his breathing was very difficult and we used narcotics to help ease it but that also meant that Tom was heavily sedated. I knew that was what he wanted but it was still hard not to be able to talk to him again, to stop fighting against the infection and start letting go. Everything in me wanted to bring him back but then I saw how he was struggling and how could I want to bring him back only to go through this all over again?

Friends and family began coming to visit and to say goodbye. It was a like a beautifully choreographed dance with very little overlap between people. It was important to share this time with anyone who wanted to be a part of Tom's passing. Precious tears, prayers and memories filled the visits. People from our church brought though I confess it's a blur what we ate. What tender care we were wrapped in.

On Sunday, May 2nd, we were told Tom had very little time left. We assured Tom that we were all going to be ok and when he was ready to go and be with with Jesus. Tom was on a different time table.

On Wednesday, May 5th, daughter Kylisa called to say that grandbaby #9 was going to be delivered by c-section at 3:00. Kemp stayed with his dad and I drove to Evergreen Hospital to share in the birth. Angie was going to drive me but wouldn't have time to make it from work and then all the way to the eastside. I was fine driving but truly deserved a couple of tickets for going faster than the law allows and using the carpool lane as a single driver--I decided that tickets were going to be worth it if caught! Samson Christopher Howard arrived at 3:15. I held him in the delivery room while daddy Chris attended to Kylisa. What a privilege and a joy to share in his birth--at the same time as sharing in Tom's going home.

Then it was good to be back with Tom. Each time I left the house it was like a strong bungee cord pulling me back. Kemp was with me from Thursday the 28th, sharing in caring for Tom--taking shifts over night when we were giving meds every 2 hours. He had such strong words of encouragement for his dad--assuring him that he was there and taking care of the situation. One morning I woke up and realized that when Tom died Kemp would be the oldest Lundstedt male and actually wondered if he had thought about that (dah!) We talked and Kemp said that his dad had been preparing him for years, that they had talked about it at length.

On Thursday, May 6th, again the nurse said she could not believe how strong Tom was and how he could hold like he was. Was there unfinished business that could be holding him? We had talked everything through many times. Tom had been ready for heaven for a long time and had assuured me he was at peace.

On Friday, May 7th, Dori came over to sit with me. We talked about going for a walk to get outside for a little while but I didn't think my legs would carry me very far. I said what I would really like is a pedicure so we decided to go to a nail salon close to the house. It seemed like a relaxing thing to do but relaxing was not what I experienced. As we sat there all I could think about was what if Tom dies while I'm having a pedicure--later that was funny but not at the moment. I'm thankful he waited.

Friday evening a new nurse came to visit. She looked at the situation with new eyes and saw something that helped make it all make sense. When Tom started to shut down his body was getting full nutrition because of his feeding tube. Someone without a feeding tube will begin to wean themself off food and water. That process can take a couple of weeks. I was able to feel at peace with the process and know that when God and Tom were ready they would let us know. Meanwhile we would just do the very best we could for Tom. On Saturday his beard was shaggy AGAIN and i knew that it would bother him so I gave him another shave. I think he was smiling.

A dear friend, Karen, flew in for the weekend--what a gift.

Sunday, May 9th was Mother's Day. Kylisa and Chris brought Samson over to introduce him to his Far.

Monday morning I washed Tom's face and arms. I told him I was going to shower and would be back soon. When I returned I rubbed his chest as I was in the habit of doing but this time there was no heartbeat. Tom was at peace.

We had planned to have a nurse come and help us wash his body and dress him but when it happened I asked Kemp if he thought he could help me and he said yes. I remember so many stories in the Bible about how the women cared for the body of the one who had died and thought it was such a beautiful gift to give. Kemp did help me and we washed Tom and dressed him in his favorite blue shirt, slacks and slippers--he always like slippers more than shoes. Just don't ask him to go barefoot! I told him that I knew he really wasn't there anymore but this was the body I had loved and cared for for 41 years--it was my final gift to him and I'm glad we had that experience.

When the men came to take Tom's body they gave a business card to Kemp. I didn't want to watch them take him so Kemp, Yura and Mark sat with me until they were gone. I did hear them say as they left that they would be very gentle with him. Tears were flowing until Kemp said to look at the business card--the guy's name was Aaron GODWIN! We burst into laughter--God DOES win!

I had made arrangements for a church for Tom's memorial service the week of the 3rd. Jokes were going around that Tom never wanted to miss a good party and that is why he was holding on! I just knew that I didn't want to have to think about it knowing that our church was too small. It turned out that Northshore had ONE date available within a 3 week time span--May 17th. Interesting dates--Tom died on the 10th (my birthday is Jan 10) and the service was on the 17th (Tom's birthday is Jan 17). God knows I'm not great with numbers--I think He's just making it easier on me!

Planning and preparing for Tom's service was amazing--he really dictated what it was. Five components had to be included--hugs, laughter, dance, coffee AND his love for Jesus. Tom has long been known as the Man Who Loves to Hug! When Pastor Mike asked at the beginning of the service for all who had received a hug from Tom to please stand it was almost the entire room of people. You can't be around Tom long before laughing--I've always said that he made me laugh every day. Hearing the Tom stories and watching Tom's life in pictures brought many laughs. Two young ladies from our church family performed a beautiful dance in honor of Tom's love of dance. Coffee was served from silver coffee service along with Scandinavian sweets including Swedish wedding cake like the one we had at our wedding. Tom's love for Jesus shone throughout the service as different ones shared stories from life with him.

The whole celebration of Tom's life was just that--a beautiful celebration of a great man who loved people and loved live--he lived it to the fullest.

Today is the first day I have really been by myself. i woke up not knowing how to face it--what do I do when I have nothing I have to do? Writing has helped. My tears are abated for the moment and I can let go of these thoughts I've wanted to record. God's faithfulness continues to be my rock and heaven is more real and closer than ever before knowing that the one I love best is there. I will see him again one day.

Oh, that's what I forgot to share--on Sunday morning (May 16th) about 3:00 am I was laying in bed awake and thinking about the service on Monday. I saw myself start to walk to the back of the church at the end of the service to greet guests. My brothers were with me and then there was Tom at my side taking my elbow the way he always did. I tried to tell him that he wasn't really there but he just kept walking with me. He had the biggest smile on his face and was doing his Tom-jig as we went. The picture still makes me smile and feel warm inside. I believe God let me see him to let me know that he really is in his new body but with his same charming personality shining through, at peace and full of joy. Man, I love that man and always will. For a while I will miss him.