Someday Lady You'll Accompany Me

The last time I FaceTimed my husband was August 16th at 12:02 am for one minute because I knew he was being put on a vent and wanted to tell him I loved him, one more time. On August 17th at 1:07 I received a phone call from UK Hospital to come see my husband. I was sitting at Reno's restaurant with Moira (our daughter), Justin (her boyfriend), and Kollin (our son). I left my food and headed to Lexington with Moira. On the way to the hospital I asked Moira if she was ok if I stopped her dad's medication. I was unsure of what exactly we were walking into but with the restrictions on visitors I assumed it couldn't have been good.

When we arrived at UK Hospital and entered Tower 1 9th floor ICU everyone looked to be waiting on us to get there. We suited up with two pairs of gloves, two masks, goggles, and a plastic apron. I asked if I would be able to touch my husband and Katie (the APRN) said, "just get in the room first." I got to touch and kiss my husband, all of our children got to tell him bye, and I got to hold him while his heart stopped beating at 4:32 pm. I had this calming come over me while he and I were in their alone and I was comforted (as weird as that may sound) just by touching his skin and seeing him and kissing him. Then when his heart stopped, panic set in. I yelled his name, screamed his name, "come back for one more minute, give me one more minute. JERRY, don't go, just let me say one more thing. I love you so much. Oh my God, don't take him yet." I was desperate for just one more minute, not realizing that in the days to come I would be desperate for so much more.

As Moira and I left the hospital she insisted that taking the interstate home would be so much faster. As we headed home traffic was briefly stopped and a car came up next to us with their windows down jamming to Bob Seger's song 'Some day lady you'll accompany me.' Yes, baby, someday I will accompany you