Death & Dying

CAUTION: Sensitive material...read at your own discretion. Have a friend who was the best mechanic in the area, but he was a rough and tough guy. A lot of people avoided him because of his language and his reputation. Most of the rumors were true. He was an alcoholic , but the rumor was that he drank a case a day. Not true. He did BUY a case and a bag of ice everyday, but he didn' drink a case....as soon as his beer got between cool and room temp he pored it out and got a cold one. He just liked to get high enough to laugh a lot and get to sleep easily. 8 mos ago he was diagnosed with lung cancer...given 3months. He took chemo and that may have helped, but those of us who knew him, knew it was his sheer will that kept him going. He worked until he just couldn't. Didn't close the shop until almost two weeks ago. Stayed alone except for one friend who came and fixed his coffee at 7am and I visited around 4pm and stayed until he got ready for bed....which got earlier and earlier. On Sat. he couldn't drink his coffee...and couldn't eat. No one else stepped up to the plate, so I started staying. His brother and a friend relieved me on Thurs. morn for a 2hr nap. After that I stayed for the duration. The hospice nurse taught me how to use the atavan and morphine. At 10pm he started "the rattle" and at 11pm he sat straight up struggling to breath. I pumped him full of morphine until he relaxed. Nurse said I couln't kill him unless I pumped the whole bottle in....he lasted until 8:30. Another friend was scheduled to relieve me at 7am so I could get a nap but I told him I wanted to stay cause he wasn't going to last long. He called the family and the room was full by 8:15. I was so afraid he would start to struggle but his breathing just kept getting slower and slower until it stopped. I was so relieved and so happy that I had done it "right". No more scrap from him, but that's one "customer" I don't mind losing. It's only the friend I'll miss. We're having a memorial service tomorrow. We honored all of his requests except that one. It's for us. His name was Eudon but half the town called him "undone". If he didn't like your looks or what you were wearing he might not do the same job as he would if he liked you. Sad, but true. His ex said he would fix elderly ladies cars so they had to keep coming back, but I don't know about that. All I know is that he had redeeming qualities...too many to list. So...that's all I have to say about that. RIP Eudon Holley !

Dee, my sympathies for the loss of your friend. Sounds like a decent man who is now in a better place.

Jim

Sometimes its the best we can do is have a friend who sees the best in us. For Eudon I thank you for your generousity, Mike.

Thanks for sharing Dee and I'm truly sorry you lost your friend but glad you were able to be there for his last few hours.

No words I can say will help but he went knowing he was lucky to have you as a friend !

Sorry for your loss Dee.

He was certainly lucky to have you as a friend, and if he was your friend then I am sure that his good traits far outweighted any bad ones he may have had.

R.I.P. Eudon

he was very fortunate to have you as a friend, and someone who cared.

Wow Dee, I'm very sorry about your friend

Dee, your heart is heavy now - maybe in the future you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that you were there for him when he needed you most.

You have a beautiful heart and soul and you two were blessed to know one another.

Dee, I am truly sorry to hear of your loss. I have lost quite a few people over my 27 years. They always remain in your heart and mind no matter what. He was lucky to have you as a friend and someone who stood by him in his last few hours on Earth.

He is reaping what he sowed.

That could go either way, Dive, but I'll take it that you meant it in a positive way.

Dee, what can I say that others haven't already? Other than I truly hope that I get to meet you in person one day. Not only would I shake your hand for being a good friend on this forum, but I would also give you the biggest, warmest hug for being such a great friend to all those around you. Thumbs up, Dee. Great job!

Sorry for your loss Dee. When someone asks not to be given a memorial service and his friends and family still do it anyway, you know that he was special.

Sorry for your loss Dee. It's a difficult thing to stand on a death watch. It was a very kind thing you did for your friend.

Sounds like an old outlaw. Known a few in my life, hell my families full of em. Dont think he could of had someone better sittin by his side in them final moments. Sorry for your loss, Dee.

As Justin Moore says, "Loosin' them wouldn't be so hard to take, if heaven wasn't so far away"

Im so sorry for your loss Dee. I will say one thing. At least you got to be there in his final moments and kept him calm and comfortable. With my father, I couldn't be there when he passed. And I wasnt there when they took him. I did get to see him before they took him for cremation. So at least you was there till the "end". Wish I was....rip ya friend and my father......

God grant me to accept the things I cant change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.....

So sorry for your loss. It is a sad thing to hear when people die alone. you did your friend a great service in his final hours.

Sorry to hear about your loss Dee. I'm going through a similar situation with my mother right now. Watching someone you care about waste away is very tough. I admire you for being there for your friend when he needed someone the most. I'm sure he's in a better place now.