Last Saturday evening, June 1, 2019, about 9:30 PM began one of the most difficult journeys my wife Leigh and I have ever experienced, and pray we never have to experience again. Our son, Charles, called me to tell me our son, Mark, was deceased. There is no easy way to hear that. There is no easy way to process that information, or to share that with the woman you love. Her baby boy, her precious youngest son, Mark, is dead.
The ensuing panic, crying, moaning, wailing, flailing, consumed us both, for hours. The hours have turned into days, and now into a second week, probably with many more to come. We prayed it wasn't so, that perhaps there was a mistake. Not Mark? Not Mark! All too true, all too gruesome.
We were in Albany visiting our oldest, Anna, and her husband, Doug, and our grandchildren Jessica and Aidan. Neither of us could drive our car home - it is about a five hour drive - we could not focus. I don't even remember packing to come home. Eventually we were back in Clarendon - don't ask me how.
Family came together. There were many tears, hugs, more tears, more hugs, prayers, and then more prayers. Too many questions, not enough answers. Leigh and I sought solace in praying with each other, and alone, and grieving with each other, and alone. Still too many questions, never enough answers. What were we to do? No idea, no concept.
Our children stepped up and took over for their Mother and Father. We who had been so strong and resolute for them over so many years, had no strength of our own. Anna, Charles, Thomas, and Michael stood in our place and took over caring not only for us, but also for Mark. Words cannot express our love for them, and their love for their brother, and for us. What a wonderful woman is our daughter, Anna, and such wonderful men are our sons, Charles, Thomas, Michael, and Mark.
The coming days would continue to test us even more.
I still hurt for you and your family. There is no easy answer. That is why I work to remove stigma and hopefully get help to someone before it is too late. Know my friend I am praying for your family.
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