I have really debated writing about this on my blog. An old friend of mine passed away recently. He was my age (35) with a wife and three small children. We were not as close in recent years (we were high school friends) but kept up with each other on birthdays and to trade a funny story every once in a while.
He died of complications from Hantavirus. The CDC had to come in and the health department investigated. He was cleaning out his basement when he contracted the virus and within a few weeks, he was gone. His wife and children are staying with friends until they can return home.
Besides the terrible loss of a truly wonderful person, I have been shaken by the seeming randomness and speed of it all. On June 9th he celebrated his birthday with his wife and responded to birthday wishes from friends and on June 17th, he passed away. Scary.
It has made me really think about some serious and sad things and hug my small guys a little bit tighter.
Some knitting and some sewing going on. I'll post pictures in another post.
Comments (4)
Im so sorry for the loss of your friend. Hantavirus is insidious because people don't know about it. A neighbor's daughter died from it in her early twenties after sleeping in a little used attic bedroom at her fiance's parent's house. Whenever cleaning dusty places, even long unused places always wear a mask and ventilate the area, especially when you know mice may have lived there.
Posted by Colleen Yarnell | July 1, 2011 11:19 AM
Posted on July 1, 2011 11:19
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.
I think it brings home how sad we would be to find our children and spouse in that position.
I hope that his wife and children will find comfort in the knowledge that there will be many prayers said for them today.
Posted by Dee | July 1, 2011 11:39 AM
Posted on July 1, 2011 11:39
I'm so sorry for your loss. Nothing else makes us reevaluate our situations and priorities like the sudden, random mortality of someone we care about. Give them an extra hug for me.
Posted by Anne | July 1, 2011 3:40 PM
Posted on July 1, 2011 15:40
I was so sorry to read about the loss of your friend. Back in April a neighbor/friend passed away suddenly in his sleep and we were just heartbroken - he left behind a wife and two young kids also, plus we'd just seen him the evening before because our kids often play together. Hugs to you!
Posted by Paige | July 14, 2011 2:07 PM
Posted on July 14, 2011 14:07