It's time to start sharing

by Wendy Staudt
(Colorado)

He was born on December 27, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He had big plans. God had other plans.

He moved to Colorado where he met his wife. They were married in September of 1982. Life was great. On April 12, 2000 their lives were changed. He was diagnosed with Glioblatoma Multiform (brain cancer). When she saw the x-rays of the tumor her heart raced. The tumor was the size of an orange. The doctor without hesitation said, "Admit him for surgery." With tears and some pushing, he was admitted to the hospital that afternoon. The next 16 months were a journey of faith, strength, endurance and hope. She became a full time caregiver for her husband.

He fought the hard battle for 16 months. He tried radiation, oral chemotherapy and homeopathic care. The doctors worked aggressively on the tumor without success. As they waited in the waiting room for his never ending MRI's, she prayed. When she turned to look at her husband, she saw a single tear running down his left cheek. It tore her heart to shreds. A man so strong and alive now was fighting a battle for his life.

The surgery went well. The surgeon got 90% of the tumor. She knew GOD would take the 10% as the tithe. She believed in my heart from the beginning he was going to be healed.

The months passed. She slowly watched as her husband turned from a strong man into a child who needed a caregiver every day. She stood by his side each day. In a matter of months he went from walking, to using a walker, to using a wheelchair and then bedridden. It was time for hospice to begin care. He was moved to the hospice facility. She moved into the hospice with her husband and became a caregiver and advocate for him. Nothing was good enough. She made them move him to the bed by the window, so he could look out and enjoy the sun and outdoors which he loved so much. She requested daily time outdoors for him. Each day the CNA's would move his bed from the cold gray-walled room to the beautiful garden, the very garden he looked at each day from the window in his room.

Day by day she prayed for healing in his body. His friends would come and say "Hang on you'll make it." One evening GOD spoke to her heart. The answer for his healing was to go home to be with the LORD. At that point she told everyone to say their goodbyes.

On the evening of June 15, 2001 she could see the journey was coming to the end. Her husband’s body no longer functioned as it used to. She pulled the curtain and spoke to her husband from the depths of her heart. She asked for forgiveness and she forgave him for all the things that weren't important anymore.

June 17, 2001 arrived. She got up early that morning and went out to walk the gardens at the hospice facility as she did every morning. The smell of the flowers was sweet. She spent some precious time with GOD to seek strength for the next leg of her journey.

She walked into the room and her husband was breathing faintly. She held his hand and kissed his cheek. As the clock neared 7:00 am his breathing slowed. She placed my head on his chest and held his hand. At 7:00 am he took his last breath on earth and took the hand of God. A great peace covered the room. She will always keep in her heart that very special moment that GOD blessed her with. She held her husband's hand the very moment GOD took his hand. What an honor. She fulfilled the marriage covenant that so many couples take so lightly. The words "In sickness and in health - Until death do you part" - a precious covenant.

This is a true story about my husband and I. John Robert Staudt is now in the arms of God. God used this journey to teach me that each moment is precious. Life is a gift from God. It is too short to worry about things you can’t change or material things you just have to buy. Life is about the small things like smiles, laughter and hugs. Your life is a gift that God has given you. We have one chance to use our gift to make a difference in someone else’s life. Unwrap your gift and start sharing.