Posted by TerryS (129.42.208.145) on December 02, 2001 at 04:48:42:
On July 22nd I was enroute to Washington, DC for a
>> > >>> business trip.
>> > >>> > It was all so very ordinary, until we landed in
>> > >>> Denver for a plane
>> > >>> change.
>> > >>> > As I collected my belongings from the overhead
>> > >>> bin, an announcement was
>> > >>> > made
>> > >>> > for
>> > >>> > Mr. Lloyd Glenn to see the United Customer Service
>> > >>> Representative
>> > >>> > immediately.
>> > >>> > I thought nothing of it until I reached the door
>> > >>> to leave the plane,
>> > >>> and I
>> > >>> > heard
>> > >>> > a gentleman asking every male if they were Mr.
>> > >>> Glenn.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > At this point I knew something was wrong and my
>> > >>> heart sunk. When I
>> > >>> > got off the plane a solemn-faced young man came
>> > >>> toward me and said,
>> > >>> "Mr.
>> > >>> > Glenn, there is an emergency at your home. I do
>> > >>> not know what the
>> > >>> > emergency is, or
>> > >>> > who is involved, but I will take you to the phone
>> > >>> so you can call the
>> > >>> > hospital."
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > My heart was now pounding, but the will to be calm
>> > >>> took over. Woodenly,
>> > >>> > I followed this stranger to the distant telephone
>> > >>> where I called the
>> > >>> number
>> > >>> > he gave me for the Mission Hospital. My call was
>> > >>> put through to the
>> > >>> > trauma
>> > >>> > center where I learned that my three-year-old son
>> > >>> had been trapped
>> > >>> > underneath the automatic garage door for several
>> > >>> minutes, and that when
>> > >>> my
>> > >>> > wife had
>> > >>> > found him he was dead.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > CPR had been performed by a neighbor, who is a
>> > >>> doctor, and the
>> > >>> paramedics
>> > >>> > had continued the treatment as Brian was
>> > >>> transported to the hospital.
>> > >>> > By the time of my call, Brian was revived and they
>> > >>> believed he would
>> > >>> live,
>> > >>> > but
>> > >>> > they did not know how much damage had been done to
>> > >>> his brain, nor to
>> > >>> his
>> > >>> > heart.
>> > >>> > They explained that the door had completely closed
>> > >>> on his little
>> > >>> sternum
>> > >>> > right over his heart. He had been severely
>> > >>> crushed. After speaking
>> > >>> with
>> > >>> > the medical staff, my wife sounded worried but not
>> > >>> hysterical, and I
>> > >>> took
>> > >>> > comfort in her calmness.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > The return flight seemed to last forever, but
>> > >>> finally I arrived at the
>> > >>> > hospital six hours after the garage door had come
>> > >>> down. When I walked
>> > >>> > into the intensive care unit, nothing could have
>> > >>> prepared me to see my
>> > >>> > little son laying so still on a great big bed with
>> > >>> tubes and monitors
>> > >>> > everywhere. He was on a
>> > >>> > respirator. I glanced at my wife who stood and
>> > >>> tried to give me a
>> > >>> > reassuring
>> > >>> > smile.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > It all seemed like a terrible dream. I was
>> > >>> filled-in with the details
>> > >>> and
>> > >>> > given a guarded prognosis.
>> > >>> > Brian was not going to live, and the preliminary
>> > >>> tests indicated that
>> > >>> his
>> > >>> > heart
>> > >>> > was OK, two miracles in and of themselves. But
>> > >>> only time would tell if
>> > >>> his
>> > >>> > brain received any damage.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Throughout the seemingly endless hours, my wife
>> > >>> was calm. She felt
>> > >>> > that Brian would eventually be all right. I hung
>> > >>> on to her words and
>> > >>> faith
>> > >>> > like
>> > >>> > a lifeline.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > All that night and the next day Brian remained
>> > >>> unconscious. It
>> > >>> > seemed like forever since I had left for my
>> > >>> business trip the day
>> > >>> before.
>> > >>> > Finally at two o'clock that afternoon, our son
>> > >>> regained consciousness
>> > >>> and
>> > >>> > sat up
>> > >>> > uttering the most beautiful words I have ever
>> > >>> heard spoken. He said,
>> > >>> "Daddy
>> > >>> > hold me" and he reached for me with his little
>> > >>> arms.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > By the next day he was pronounced as having no
>> > >>> neuro-logical or
>> > >>> > physical deficits, and the story of his miraculous
>> > >>> survival spread
>> > >>> > throughout
>> > >>> > the hospital. You cannot imagine our gratitude and
>> > >>> joy. As we took
>> > >>> Brian
>> > >>> > home, we felt a unique reverence for the life and
>> > >>> love of our Heavenly
>> > >>> > Father
>> > >>> > that comes to those who brush death so closely.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > In the days that followed there was a special
>> > >>> spirit about our home.
>> > >>> > Our two older children were much closer to their
>> > >>> little brother. My
>> > >>> wife
>> > >>> > and I were much closer to each other, and all of
>> > >>> us were very close as
>> > >>> a
>> > >>> > whole
>> > >>> > family. Life took on a less stressful pace.
>> > >>> Perspective seemed to be
>> > >>> more
>> > >>> > focused, and balance much easier to gain and
>> > >>> maintain. We felt deeply
>> > >>> > blessed.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Our gratitude was truly profound.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > The story is not over (smile)!
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Almost a month later to the day of the accident,
>> > >>> Brian awoke from his
>> > >>> > afternoon nap and said, "Sit down mommy. I have
>> > >>> something to tell you."
>> > >>> At
>> > >>> > this time in his life, Brian usually spoke in
>> > >>> small phrases, so to say
>> > >>> a
>> > >>> > large
>> > >>> > sentence surprised my wife. She sat down with him
>> > >>> on his bed, and he
>> > >>> began
>> > >>> > his sacred and remarkable story. "Do you remember
>> > >>> when I got stuck
>> > >>> under
>> > >>> > the
>> > >>> > garage door?
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Well, it was so heavy and it hurt really bad. I
>> > >>> called to you, but
>> > >>> you
>> > >>> > couldn't hear me. I started to cry, but then it
>> > >>> hurt too bad. And
>> > >>> then
>> > >>> > the
>> > >>> > 'birdies' came."
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > "The birdies?" my wife asked puzzled. "Yes," he
>> > >>> replied. "The birdies
>> > >>> made
>> > >>> > a whooshing sound and flew into the garage. They
>> > >>> took care of me."
>> > >>> > "They did?"
>> > >>> > "Yes," he said. "One of the birdies came and got
>> > >>> you. She came to tell
>> > >>> > you I got stuck under the door."
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > A sweet reverent feeling filled the room. The
>> > >>> spirit was so strong
>> > >>> and
>> > >>> > yet
>> > >>> > lighter than air. My wife realized that a
>> > >>> three-year-old had no concept
>> > >>> of
>> > >>> > death and spirits, so he was referring to the
>> > >>> beings who came to him
>> > >>> from
>> > >>> > beyond
>> > >>> > as "birdies" because they were up in the air like
>> > >>> birds that fly.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > "What did the birdies look like?" she asked.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Brian answered, "They were so beautiful. They
>> > >>> were dressed in white,
>> > >>> > all white. Some of them had green and white. But
>> > >>> some of them had on
>> > >>> just
>> > >>> > white."
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > "Did they say anything?"
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > "Yes," he answered. "They told me the baby would
>> > >>> be all right."
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > "The baby?" my wife asked confused.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Brian answered. "The baby laying on the garage
>> > >>> floor." He went on,
>> > >>> > "You came out and opened the garage door and ran
>> > >>> to the baby. You told
>> > >>> the
>> > >>> > baby
>> > >>> > to stay and not leave."
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > My wife nearly collapsed upon hearing this, for
>> > >>> she had indeed gone and
>> > >>> > knelt eside Brian's body and seeing his crushed
>> > >>> chest whispered, "Don't
>> > >>> > leave us Brian, please stay if you can." As she
>> > >>> listened to Brian
>> > >>> telling
>> > >>> > her the words she
>> > >>> > had spoken,she realized that the spirit had left
>> > >>> his body and was
>> > >>> looking
>> > >>> > down
>> > >>> > from above on this little lifeless form.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > "Then what happened?" she asked.
>> > >>> > "We went on a trip." He said, "Far, far away."
>> > >>> > He grew agitated trying to say the things he
>> > >>> didn't seem to have the
>> > >>> > words for. My wife tried to calm and comfort him,
>> > >>> and let him know it
>> > >>> > would be okay. He struggled with wanting to tell
>> > >>> something that
>> > >>> obviously
>> > >>> > was
>> > >>> > very important to him, but finding the words was
>> > >>> difficult. "We flew
>> > >>> so
>> > >>> > fast
>> > >>> > up in the air. They're so pretty Mommy," he added.
>> > >>> "And there are lots
>> > >>> and
>> > >>> > lots of birdies."
>> > >>> > My wife was stunned. Into her mind the sweet
>> > >>> comforting spirit
>> > >>> > enveloped her more soundly, but with an urgency
>> > >>> she had never before
>> > >>> known.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Brian went on to tell her that the "birdies" had
>> > >>> told him that he
>> > >>> > had to come back and tell everyone about the
>> > >>> "birdies." He said they
>> > >>> > brought
>> > >>> > him
>> > >>> > back to the house and that a big fire truck, and
>> > >>> an ambulance were
>> > >>> there.
>> > >>> > A
>> > >>> > man
>> > >>> > was bringing the baby out on a white bed and he
>> > >>> tried to tell the man
>> > >>> that
>> > >>> > the baby would be okay, but the man couldn't hear
>> > >>> him. He said the
>> > >>> birdies
>> > >>> > told him he had to go with the ambulance, but they
>> > >>> would be near him.
>> > >>> He
>> > >>> > said
>> > >>> > they were so pretty and so peaceful, and he
>> > >>> didn't want to come back.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Then the bright light came. He said that the
>> > >>> light was so bright and
>> > >>> > so warm, and he loved the bright light so much.
>> > >>> Someone was in the
>> > >>> bright
>> > >>> > light
>> > >>> > and put their arms around him, and told him, "I
>> > >>> love you but you have
>> > >>> to go
>> > >>> > back.
>> > >>> > You have to play baseball, and tell everyone about
>> > >>> the birdies.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > "Then the person in the bright light kissed him
>> > >>> and waved bye-bye.
>> > >>> > Then whoosh, the big sound came and they went into
>> > >>> the clouds.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > The story went on for an hour. He taught us that
>> > >>> "birdies" were always
>> > >>> > with us, but we don't see them because we look
>> > >>> with our eyes and we
>> > >>> don't
>> > >>> > hear them because we listen with our ears. But
>> > >>> they are always there,
>> > >>> you
>> > >>> > can
>> > >>> > only see them in here (he put his hand over his
>> > >>> heart). They whisper
>> > >>> the
>> > >>> > things to help us to do what is right because they
>> > >>> love us so much.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Brian continued, stating, "I have a plan, Mommy.
>> > >>> You have a plan.
>> > >>> > Daddy has a plan. Everyone has a plan. We must
>> > >>> all live our plan and
>> > >>> keep
>> > >>> > our promises. The birdies help us to do that cause
>> > >>> they love us so
>> > >>> much."
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > In the weeks that followed, he often came to us
>> > >>> and told all, or part
>> > >>> > of it, again and again. Always the story remained
>> > >>> the same. The
>> > >>> details
>> > >>> > were never changed or out of order. A few times
>> > >>> he added further bits
>> > >>> of
>> > >>> > information and clarified the message he had
>> > >>> already delivered. It
>> > >>> never
>> > >>> > ceased
>> > >>> > to amaze us how he could tell such detail and
>> > >>> speak beyond his ability
>> > >>> when
>> > >>> > he talked about his birdies. Everywhere he went,
>> > >>> he told strangers
>> > >>> about
>> > >>> > the
>> > >>> > "birdies." Surprisingly, no one ever looked at him
>> > >>> strangely when he
>> > >>> did
>> > >>> > this. Rather, they always got a softened look on
>> > >>> their face and
>> > >>> smiled.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Needless to say, we have not been the same ever
>> > >>> since that day, and
>> > >>> > I pray we never will be.
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > An Angel To Watch over You
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Some people ( )
>> > >>> > come into our lives ) /
>> > >>> > and quickly go... (_/
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > ( )
>> > >>> Some people
>> > >>> > \ (
>> > >>> become
>> > >>> > \_)
>> > >>> friends
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> and stay a
>> > >>> > while....
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > leaving beautiful (
>> > >>> )
>> > >>> > footprints on our )
>> > >>> /
>> > >>> > hearts...
>> > >>> (_/
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > ( )
>> > >>> and we are
>> > >>> > \ (
>> > >>> ~ never ~
>> > >>> > \_)
>> > >>> quite the
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> same
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> because we
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> have
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> made a good
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> friend!!!
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Yesterday is history..
>> > >>> > Tomorrow a mystery..
>> > >>> > Today is a gift..
>> > >>> > That's why it's called the present!
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > Live and savor every moment.....this is
>> > >>> not a dress rehersal
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> > (\ /)
>> > >>> > ( \ _ / )
>> > >>> > ( \( )/ )
>> > >>> > ( /\ )
>> > >>> TAKE THIS LITTLE
>> > >>> > ( / \/ \ )
>> > >>> ANGEL
>> > >>> > / \
>> > >>> AND KEEP HER
>> > >>> > ( )
>> > >>> CLOSE
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> TO YOU..
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> SHE IS YOUR
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> GUARDIAN
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> ANGEL
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> SENT TO
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> WATCH
>> > >>> >
>> > >>> OVER
>> > >>> > YOU!!!!....:)