Tami's last post was all about our upcoming exciting vacation to see Wicked and play at Disneyland. You already know that our vacation didn't end quite the way we expected.
On Sunday morning we got a call from my dad with the terrible news that Joy had died in her sleep. We found out this evening that she died from acute respiratory illness. Her lungs had an infection that constricted her airways and lowered the oxygen levels more and more. Since she was sleeping she just reached a point where she stopped breathing. There was no struggle or pain and the coroner told us that unless you were watching her bare chest all night, or had monitors hooked up, you would never even notice when she slipped away.
This was very comforting news for all of us to hear, especially to Grandma, who, despite all our assurances, still felt some blame and in the back of her mind kept asking those torturous questions: "what if I had just done this?" or "what if I hadn't done that"? The final answer is none of that made any difference. Heavenly Father was ready for her to come home and nothing could change that.
We had so many people rush to our aid and we were quickly flown up to I.F. where the family was gathered. Someday ask me about some of the little miracles that occurred to allow us to make it to I.F. so quickly. The Lord was definitely watching over us, and I think we set a record at getting through LAX.
This is all very sad and hard to deal with, and I've had my teary moments but the thing that really gets the eyes running is all the outpouring of love. Family and friends have been calling and sending cards and bringing food and coming to visit. This is even coming in from people we don't even know.
Thanks for letting me tell you all this. We know you are praying for us and sending us your love and we feel it and it's such a comfort.
We love you all.
