An honor I never expected

[mapsedge]

I got an email from a friend of mine, that left me completely speechless for the first time in a long time. I thought I'd share...

The email begins:

Hi there… It never ceases to amaze me when the circles of my life overlap in unexpected ways. I’m now working at KU MED, in the cardiac telemetry unit. I have had a patient there since May. He has been very sick and is now coming to the end of his life. We called his friend to come to his bedside on Wed night to be with him while he makes this transition. Her name is Anna, his name is John.

I sat with Anna at the end of my shift Thursday morning. I learned a lot about John and his life. He and I have talked throughout his stay and he is a fascinating man. Anyway, Anna and I started talking about the Renaissance Festival. She asked “I know there are probably a bunch of people out there, but I wonder if you know William Morris?” I told her about how we have worked together and known each other for lots of years and the high esteem I hold for you and Michelle.

Several years ago Anna’s mother was going into a nursing home and needed some house coats. Anna asked you to make them and was so impressed with the results that she asked you to make some Star Trek uniforms for her and John. She raved about the dedication, research and caring you put into the project. She made it a point to say that they were uniforms, not costumes. She and John were both worked in the surgical lab at KU Med. They used to get into their uniforms around Halloween and visit the Peds units with toys and candy. They both really enjoyed their uniforms but apparently, John was REALLY into the whole Star Trek thing.

Anna is John’s representative now that he is no longer to communicate. She has made arrangements for a memorial service when the time comes. She asked me to let you know how much that uniform means to him and that he will be dressed in it for his memorial and funeral. She wanted you to know how much joy you brought to John and to thank you again for that.

Comments

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

I'm speechless, too.

And I feel like an ass.

I find the story deeply moving.
But I also am stunned at the thought of meeting eternity dressed in a Star Fleet uniform...

That's all I'm sayin'...

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well, don't feel bad. Once I got over being ballpeened, I had the same thought. Meet the guy, though, and it makes a certain sense.

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't get me wrong.
One of my best friends went out in a spectacular fashion.
His remains were cremated, then divided into 5 parts.
One went to each direction of the compass, and the 5th was shot out of a canon over the Mississippi at Ft. DeChartes, his favorite blackpowder event.
That was Style, baby.

But a trekie outfit?
Just not my thang, I guess.

[aerie13.livejournal.com]

I am so on that page.

[hdsqrl.livejournal.com]

Whoa, wow...that's just...

Whoa.

Very cool.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

You know, there's not a lot of societal betterment happening in the act of codpiecing the world. It's moments like this that prove to me the worth of what I do.

[cammie018.livejournal.com]

It is amazing how little things we do every day and don't think much about, or we just think "It's just my job" have such an impact on the lives of people around us. I will use this story to remind myself of that.

[aerie13.livejournal.com]

Wow. A powerful reminder of how we touch the lives of others in ways we cannot even fathom.

Makes me want to be less whiney about the results I *don't* get from the people around me, you know? And more vocal about my appreciation of them.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

This has been a year for me...some real profound moments where more worth for my work than I would have expected - or thought I had any right to expect - is found by someone.

Didn't we just talk about that?

[aerie13.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I don't know what you mean.

Except that you rock.

[mljm.livejournal.com]

Something I remembered about Anna. She made the most wonderful treat trays at Christmas. Remember when she brought one to our house the year you made the uniforms for her and John? She inspired me to make them.

[mljm.livejournal.com]

Sorry, that didn't end well.

She inspired me to make treat trays each holiday season.

[aerie13.livejournal.com]

LOL. You know, I totally got what you meant. But I went back in with my comp eye and found your dangler. ;-) That was a funny sentence.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

:blinbblink:

Surely not Anna as in "Queen Mum" Anna?

But that is a wonderful email...

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* No, not THAT Anna.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Ah, ok.... *whew*

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

How wonderful for you to know the impact your passion has on people when you least expect it. Always do what you love.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

I remember making those costumes. It was a frustrating project - duplicating movie costumes almost is. But I could never say no to Anna. She and John were a couple - in the social rather than romantic sense. If John could have been her maiden of honor at her wedding, I think he would have been. I think Anna is the only person in John's life he called family. To have contributed to that, and to his life, is in context profoundly moving.

[sablessam.livejournal.com]

And just a quick update, he did pass on Thursday. I have not heard about any services yet. And just for the record, I do agree that the uniform choice is certainly different, but why not go out the way that you were the most happy during life?