That Man was my Daddy

As the newspapers and TV reporters began reporting on my father's passing last week, everything was surreal. It seemed as if they were talking about someone else. And, while it was just another scoop to share for them, to us it wasn't just a story. He was my daddy...

I know my dad would have preferred not to have all the hype surrounding what happened to him, but that's how it is sometimes when you live in a small town. As frustrating as it was to see Facebook posts of people gossiping back and forth to get the details and to watch news reports pop up before we'd even heard back from the medical examiner, at some point we just had to close our eyes and block all that out. We had to focus on getting through the grief, warmed by the encouragement of family and friends who were devastated with us and committed to carrying us in prayer.

Many of our friends and family have asked out of genuine concern for our narrative of the events that took place on that day last week that turned our world upside down. As a result, we've told the story over and over to hospital personnel, police investigators, family members, and our dearest friends so much so that it's become deeply engraved in our minds. But, there are still some who we haven't had the opportunity to share with, and rather than letting the news reports and rumors suffice, Mom and I thought it would be best if people heard directly from us what happened - what we know and what we'll never know. Though it's a difficult account to write, here is the overview of what took place last Wednesday:

January 22, my dad's birthday, he and my mom went to put out some water for the cows they recently purchased. They drove down to the low water bridge, backed their pick-up right up to the water, and began filling up a trough sitting on the bed of the truck. Mom wanted to help but they only had one bucket and Dad told her to get back in the truck because it was cold. She obliged and settled into the passenger seat to read her Bible while she waited.

After a bit, Mom realized that she didn't hear Dad pouring water into the trough anymore, so she got out of the truck to check on him. At first glance she couldn't find him anywhere and began calling his name. However, upon scanning the scene again, she noticed his silhouette a ways out in the river, submerged under the water. 

I am not sure how she did it, but she got in the river and ran out up to her chest until she could reach him. Mom was able to pull to him back to shore, but he was too heavy for her to get on the bank by herself. Thankfully, there was a construction worker nearby, whose attention Mom was able to get, that came to join her efforts. A man in a truck was also crossing the bridge at that time and she quickly got his attention too. The three of them finally got Daddy back on the shore, and Mom began CPR while she called 911. She tried to relay to the emergency operator that she thought my dad had had a heart attack and fallen in the river. 

The ambulance arrived about 20 minutes later and rescue workers continued to work on him. At this point, my mom, whose wet coat was solid ice from the freezing temperatures, was wrapped in a blanket and walked back to their truck. Then, finally, one of the construction workers drove her in my dad's truck as they followed the ambulance back to the hospital. 

The doctors there did their best, but after an hour of trying, they told us there was nothing more they could do. 

We don't know what caused Dad to fall into the water, but certain evidence leads us to believe he must have been unconscious and not able to catch himself when he fell. And, since no one saw what happened, it became an investigation case.

The report we received from the medical examiner failed to explain exactly happened to make my dad unable to help himself, but it did give us a clue. The medical examiner listed a heart condition as a contributing to death, which supports my mom's earlier hypothesis that something like a heart attack must have taken place. The water was shallow and the current so weak that under normal circumstances he would have no problem swimming or even just getting up.

We'll never know for sure on this side of eternity why this happened, but we do know that God works all things together for good for those who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). One close friend suggested that possibly, God had kept my mom in the truck that day to spare her from seeing what did take place.

Though things seem out of control, the Lord is still on His throne, watching us, guiding us, and comforting us. I may not know everything that took place that day, but I know that God is STILL good. He is "close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:28).

We sincerely thank those of you who have been praying for us and ask that you continue to lift us up in the days to come. It is obvious that God has already begun to answer so many intercessory requests made on our behalf. He has given us peace that passes all understanding.

Even to your old age and gray hairs

I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

-Isaiah 46:4