Difficult decisions

This morning, as I was walking out of my morning workout class, I got a phone call I have been dreading, but also mentally preparing for.
Uncle Karl, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer nearly 3 years ago, has decided to go home on hospice. He fought the Good fight. And he is ready to be done.
Thankfully, I was off work, and TJ was home from an appointment, so we headed to KC for a visit.  He is in the hospital currently at North Kansas City. He was admitted a couple of weeks ago, and while making some improvements, he was getting TPN, and needing blood transfusions frequently, in addition to difficult pain control, and  it was decided that there was nothing more that could be done for him.

This has to be one of the most difficult decisions he and Aunt Jan have ever made.
And all I could think about was that he’d never meet his grandchildren, or see his boys get married, and my heart would break for them all over again.

Our visit was perfect. Uncle Karl was lucid, laughing and talking, smiling and enjoying having company. We talked and laughed with him and Aunt Jan for  45 minutes.
This visit was somehow exactly what I needed to be at peace with this decision. This was, in all honesty, Likely the last time I would see him before he passes.

We talked to both of the boys this evening about what this means and Uncle Karl’s impending death.
Jax reacted exactly as expected. Stoic. He understands but doesn’t want to talk about it further.
Cole, too, reacted much as I expected. He didn’t get upset when we brought it up, and he asked a couple of questions. At bedtime, when we said prayer, he cried. He was very sad. But, we talked about Uncle Karl getting to meet Jesus, and that he won’t be in any pain anymore, and he gets what is happening and why.

I have been teary all day, but the visit really helped me.
In conclusion,

Time is fleeting.
Life is short.
Hold your loved ones close.
You never know when the unthinkable may happen.