I got a call Monday night that there was something wrong with the computers at church, and they really needed me to look at it. So I told them I would swing by there before work on Tuesday to check on the servers, and went a different way than I usually do. Completely out of my way. And I had a couple of things slow me down leaving the house, so I was running really late.
We live next door to a lovely elderly couple, Joe and Elizabeth. They are both first generation German immigrants to the US, and have been some of the best neighbors you can ever imagine. Joe is 80, Elizabeth is in her 70's. One does not inquire of a woman her age, you know. Every morning, when I leave, I can usually see them walking the five or so blocks to church, rain or shine, together. Every morning.
My route took me past their church, on a very busy street, and when I drove past, I saw a couple of people standing around, looking at something on the ground, bending down, kneeling. I saw a body, and I knew instantly it was Joe. I slammed my brakes on and slid over to park and ran down the street to the people.
He was lying there, bleeding profusely from his face. There was a pool of blood under him. He was almost unrecognizable. I asked what happened, said I was his neighbor, and one of the people said he just collapsed while walking to the church. Someone had dialed 911 already. You could see he was breathing still, he had bubbles in the blood around his mouth. I then saw that the blood was coming from his nose and mouth. I asked if anyone had seen his wife, they said he was alone. I called Janeen, told her what happened, asked her to find Elizabeth. I went back to him, they had him lying on his side, because he was choking on blood. He was turning blue. I felt for a pulse. There was none.
I was about to start CPR, but I paused, because I knew he had had open heart surgery, and there was so much blood coming from his mouth. I was afraid of hurting him more. I could hear the sirens of the paramedics, and I took the way of caution, didn't do anything. Don't know if it was the right decision or not. I'm still questioning.
Right when the fire truck and paramedics arrived, Elizabeth stepped out of the church, and saw Joe lying there in his blood, and about passed out. I caught her and steadied her. I stayed with her, answered questions for her, talking to the police and fire department and paramedics, and did what I could to help her. I offered to go to the hospital with her, but she told me no, because I had to get to work. I told her that didn't matter, but she still said no. I stayed with her, holding her, until they told her she could ride in the ambulance to the hospital with them. Gave her my cell phone number, told her to call me if she needed anything at all. I helped her get into the ambulance, and waited there until they drove away.
We talked to Elizabeth last night...Joe was pronounced DOA at the hospital. Massive heart attack, was dead before he hit the ground. Nothing anyone could have done.
It just seems so strange to look over into the neighbor's back yard, and not see Joe there, reading his paper, or watering his garden, or cursing at the squirrels.
We live next door to a lovely elderly couple, Joe and Elizabeth. They are both first generation German immigrants to the US, and have been some of the best neighbors you can ever imagine. Joe is 80, Elizabeth is in her 70's. One does not inquire of a woman her age, you know. Every morning, when I leave, I can usually see them walking the five or so blocks to church, rain or shine, together. Every morning.
My route took me past their church, on a very busy street, and when I drove past, I saw a couple of people standing around, looking at something on the ground, bending down, kneeling. I saw a body, and I knew instantly it was Joe. I slammed my brakes on and slid over to park and ran down the street to the people.
He was lying there, bleeding profusely from his face. There was a pool of blood under him. He was almost unrecognizable. I asked what happened, said I was his neighbor, and one of the people said he just collapsed while walking to the church. Someone had dialed 911 already. You could see he was breathing still, he had bubbles in the blood around his mouth. I then saw that the blood was coming from his nose and mouth. I asked if anyone had seen his wife, they said he was alone. I called Janeen, told her what happened, asked her to find Elizabeth. I went back to him, they had him lying on his side, because he was choking on blood. He was turning blue. I felt for a pulse. There was none.
I was about to start CPR, but I paused, because I knew he had had open heart surgery, and there was so much blood coming from his mouth. I was afraid of hurting him more. I could hear the sirens of the paramedics, and I took the way of caution, didn't do anything. Don't know if it was the right decision or not. I'm still questioning.
Right when the fire truck and paramedics arrived, Elizabeth stepped out of the church, and saw Joe lying there in his blood, and about passed out. I caught her and steadied her. I stayed with her, answered questions for her, talking to the police and fire department and paramedics, and did what I could to help her. I offered to go to the hospital with her, but she told me no, because I had to get to work. I told her that didn't matter, but she still said no. I stayed with her, holding her, until they told her she could ride in the ambulance to the hospital with them. Gave her my cell phone number, told her to call me if she needed anything at all. I helped her get into the ambulance, and waited there until they drove away.
We talked to Elizabeth last night...Joe was pronounced DOA at the hospital. Massive heart attack, was dead before he hit the ground. Nothing anyone could have done.
It just seems so strange to look over into the neighbor's back yard, and not see Joe there, reading his paper, or watering his garden, or cursing at the squirrels.
pheme:
I am so sorry!
silversurfer:
I'm sorry to hear about Joe. But at least you were there to help Elizabeth during the immediate crisis.