I'm flying there tomorrow and I'm scared as can be
But my Milt is happily awaiting this visit you see.
Please God help me to keep back the tears
I'm trying so hard to hide all my fears.
I smile and I'm cheerful
I'm so good at this play
I never know if he'll make it
Through another day.
Milt is always so brave and so kind
He's been my rock, and here I am, losing my mind
So dear God, grant me the courage to again greet
My love, my best friend
Who is so very sweet.
Our years together that had been filled
With so much joy and laughter
Sadly will not end in
"They lived happily ever after."
Milt suffers from Parkinson's Disease, atrial fibrillation, kidney problems
(he's now on dialysis) and unstable blood pressure that can suddenly descend
to such dangerous levels that he loses consciousness. He needs to be cared for
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. During World War II, Milt was
awarded a Bronze Star for his courage on the battlefield. He saved an
injured man's life, while risking his own. He is displaying the same bravery
now by joking with, and comforting, all who are around him. He sleeps a lot, but
I know that he will, as always, stay awake so that he can hold my hand, smile
at me, and say "I love you, pretty girl."
P.S. Today, a cardiologist told my son Ronnie that his arteries are blocked, and
that he's too much of a risk for bypass surgery, but there's a new procedure that
will be less risky. May God help him, Ronnie continues to smoke. Maybe Milt can teach
me again how to be brave. I'm not doing too well, but I know that Milt will console
both Ronnie, me, and the rest of my family, as he's always done. (I'll never forget
the day, eight years ago, when Ronnie was in a coma a few weeks before his liver
transplant. When I stepped outside of Ronnie's room, I found Milt sitting in the
hallway with his head in his hands. He was crying, and a social worker was comforting
him).
