On Saturday night, November, 26th, I received a call that I will never forget and really never want to experience again. We were just finishing up worship practice at our house and the phone rang. It was my brother. I thought, “I’ll just call him back in a bit.” The phone rang again within a minute. Again my brother. I decided to answer. After saying hello, I heard my brother say my name, “Amy?” and then say, “This is Paul.”
I knew by the tone of his voice and the way he said my name, and then his, that something was wrong. He went on to tell me that my dad’s friend, Bill Adkins, had called him and said that he and dad were in the car driving home from the Marshall game, and my dad had a heart attack and wrecked the car. He then said, they took him to the hospital, but he’s gone….he died.
On top of this, for a little while we thought that my mom was also in the car, that she was injured in the accident and was in the hospital. But she was just at the hospital receiving the news and had asked Bill to call my brother. It was so traumatic.
It seems that at the end of a very intense, stressful, and exciting Marshall football game, which went into overtime and Marshall came out victorious, my dad and his friend, Bill, got in the car and started to drive home. Just minutes into the drive my dad all of a sudden accelerated, which wasn’t like him at all, and they were heading for a pole. Bill quickly responded by putting the car in neutral and turning the keys off. This helped stop the car.
He had a massive heart attack and his heart stopped. While the paramedics and doctors tried many times to get his heart started again, he was gone….instantly.
My dad’s friend, Bill, called my mother and told her that she needed to come down to the hospital because he and my dad had been in a car accident. My mother didn’t think it was too serious at that point. When she arrived to the ER and was taken into a conference room, she began to realize what must’ve happened.
As the doctor entered the room, and my mother’s heart was beating at lightening speed, she was relieved to at least know she knew the doctor, Dr. Alan Holmes, a friend of our family’s. He came and sat in front of her almost knee to knee. With Bill sitting right beside her, he told her that when my dad arrived to the hospital his heart had stopped, at which point she thought “well, maybe they got it started again.” Dr. Holmes said that although they tried many, many times to get his heart started again, they just couldn’t. He said I’m very, very sorry.
He then asked my mom if she wanted to see my dad. She said she did. Dr. Holmes then explained, to prepare her, that his clothes had been cut off so they could get to his heart. She did go into see him and as she was leaving, Dr. Holmes said, “I’m so sorry. Is there anything else we can do for you?” My mom said, “Can you please go try some more…..”
Losing a loved one so suddenly is a huge shock to your system. The outpouring of love and support from so many has made a very difficult time, a little more bearable. To hear how many people loved my dad and how many lives he impacted, is SO awesome. But, as I’ve described it many times, there are waves of sadness that wash over me in the midst of also having tremendous peace.
I know my dad is in heaven and is experiencing more love and peace than we could ever experience on earth, but it is still so hard. Even as I write this and most of the people in our house have gone to bed, if Daddy was here, he’d still be up too….we were both night owls.
I love you Daddy and I miss you already. I can’t wait to see you again!
Amy you have a brave heart. A heart that only God could give to someone as sweet and loving as you. This happen at a time that God and your Dad knew that you would be alright. He knew that he left you in good hands (God and Aaron) Keep the sweet thoughts of Dad and share them with your children and he will never die out of your life, Lov Pat
love you my friend. I am so sorry. Praying for peace and comfort, even joy in knowing He is with our Father
Love you and your family sweetie. I’m here if you ever need an ear…or anything else, really.
Amy, I am so sorry for your loss of your dad. I am also so sorry for the tragic way it happened. I remember vividly getting “the call” about my mom. It brings you to your knees and starts a chain of events that you’ll never forget.
I have been praying for you and your family and will continue to do so. It’s going to be a tough road – but one that I know you’ll get through with the help of our Lord and Savior.
Love to you!!
May your family know peace when peace seems nothing more than a foreign concept. May you experience comfort when comfort doesn’t seem to fit. May you lean on hope in the midst of sadness. And as he has blessed and kept your father, may the Lord bless and keep all of you.
Amy, I am so sorry for your loss. Losing a father is never easy and can hurt for a long time. Your assurance that he is with our Heavenly Father makes it more bearable. We love you and Aaron.
Ron and Elizabeth Taylor
My friend we are so are so sorry for your loss. We will pray for peace, comfort, and even joy in this season as you grieve. Sending love from Nebraska. Your Daddy is proud of you sweet one.
Amy, words cannot express how sorry we were to hear about your loss. I know you have many people around to support, but if you need anything, please call on me. We will be praying for peace and comfort for your family. Sharee
Amy, this is more than I can imagine and I’ve been praying for you and your family. I know how much you love your parents and how they love you. I keep having visions of you going to Columbus with me to a John Jacobson music workshop and on the way you were talking about how you looked forward to going to heaven and you could hardly wait! I’ve always remembered that thinking that you were such an example for me when it should have been the other way around!! It is comforting to know your Dad is there now and you will see him again.
Dear Amy, all our love right now. I am so sorry for your loss.
Elizabeth Denlinger
SO very sorry for the loss of your dad, Amy:( You and Aaron and your children–your mom and brother, too–will be in our prayers! We love you and know the Hope you have, but this is still so very sad. Thank you for letting us know.
Dear Amy, Losing your Dad like that is very hard for there is no preparation but there is the continuing hand of the Lord holding you during the mission times that come any time..like at the midnight hour when you’re up.
You are in our prayers, Ralph and me. Big hug. Judy
Hi Amy. I’m so sorry that your Dad has passed. We’re praying for you, your Mom and your brother during this time.
[...] had just about finished up worship practice when I got “The Call” about my dad. What a sudden shock and difficult thing to experience, especially during what is [...]