Of Heavenly Choirs and Trees That Bow Down

One of our favorite patients died yesterday. My heart is saddened, but my spirit is joyful to know that he is at peace and no longer in pain. Such a delightful man; how blessed I am to have known him. Our lives met and intertwined for a short time, and I am forever changed because of him.

He and his wife came to our clinic for his routine appointment several weeks ago; he had no way of knowing that he was very sick. His testing revealed that the cancer had relapsed and he needed to stay in Arkansas for treatment; they were not prepared for this. They called their credit card company to try to get an increase in their credit limit; not only was the increase denied, but the credit card company revoked what credit they DID have.  Thank you, Bank of America. They were hundreds of miles from home, with no place to stay and no money.

Our motto is "We’re Where Medicine Lives," but I will tell you that we are also where love and compassion live.  Cheri sent out a blanket email making everyone aware of this patient’s situation and the staff  began to do what they do best: they began to pour out love and care on this couple.

Within a short time, the social worker had found them a place to stay and the staff had collected more than $600 for them, along with food and gift cards. This couple was so grateful, and so touched; they lived a life of giving and were not accustomed to being on the receiving end. It can be a humbling experience.

Sadly, his cancer was so advanced that he was soon hospitalized and drifting in and out of consciousness. During one particularly serious episode, he actually had to be resuscitated, but he didn’t die. Not that time.

Yesterday morning, his physician sent out an email stating that his treatment had been put on hold and he had been placed on "comfort care." That is medical jargon meaning no more heroic measures, only things that will keep him comfortable.  By afternoon, as the work load in the clinic slowed, some of the employees made the long walk over to the hospital to see him. Just as they placed their hand on the door to his hospital room, it was opened by a nurse stepping out to tell them that he had just died. They stayed to hug his wife and offer her comfort, but instead she ended up comforting them; she told them this amazing story……..

After he had regained consciousness from his previous resuscitation a few days before, he told his wife that he had seen heaven. He had literally been there. He told her, "I saw them. I saw the streets of gold. They’re real. I saw them." According to his wife, he described them as a combination of gold and glittering diamonds. And along the streets he saw trees; the wondrous thing he told her about these trees was that "they were bowing down. The actual trees were bowing down. And there was a crown…."

 He went on to tell her "And there was a choir. A huge choir singing beautiful music. But they weren’t singing in English……"  Some other language that he couldn’t understand. The Bible speaks of the heavenly language, made manifest on earth by the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. Perhaps this is what he heard.  I don’t know. I can only imagine……..

The stories drifted back to us by one staff member after another. They gave me chills; they only reinforced what I already know. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you;" I believe that this precious man was given the awesome gift of visiting that place, and coming back to tell of its beauty. He wasn’t afraid to die; he met death with dignity and grace, for he knew what was awaiting him.

I will see him again, in that place of beautiful music and trees that bow down to their Maker.