betheny
11-09-2007, 06:26 PM
This is from a man I know whose son is the most critically injured surviving soldier. (Joseph Briseno, son is Jay.) I just got an update. Jay must be 20 or so now, he was shot in Iraq. They are Filipino-Americans, I believe. This is a poem Joseph wrote. Prsonally, it made me boohoo like a baby. They are such a nice family. To keep Jay at home they've quit their jobs and turned their basement into an ICU. Jay has a brainstem injury. Joseph has spoken at Working 2 Walk in the past, some of you know him. He is a powerful advocate for stem cell research. If you'd like to know more about the Briseno's, see the link below.
http://www.caringbridge.org/va/jaysjourney/
With Jay by Our Side
With Jay by our side, in the basement together we endured pain, joy, grief, and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding with us.
We rest next to a bed with tubes and wires invading our Jay
as monitors watch his motionless sleep.
We will desperately pray for him, re-position his arms and legs, re-arrange pillows, layer blankets on top of him to keep him warm,
and share the morning's peace at the foot of his bed.
And when we kiss him good night, we will hold him a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that we will thank God for, our Jay and ask Him for nothing, except one more day..............
With Jay by our side, early each morning,
long before the roosters wake,
our Jay instinctively makes sounds, saying hi, to tell us that he is awake.
His daily voyage always leads to suctioning fluid from his lungs,
and is followed by thanking God that our Jay had a pleasant evening.
With Jay by our side, we think we know what he’s been asking for;
we think we know what he’s been trying to say. We think we know when our Jay is in pain, discomfort, or wants to be turned. Mom, Dad, and sisters go through similar pains as we wrestle back to sleep.
It's now 3:00 a.m. and we find ourselves fighting for rest.
This arrangement leaves us tired, arms sore, at times with pounding headaches, legs trembling, and sleep beyond our reach. We lie silently in the morning calm as tears fill our eyes
and we consider how truly blessed our lives are
with our Jay by our side.
With Jay by our side, we promised him we would never leave him. Beside his bed is Mom, joyful to be asleep, and Dad not very far.
And our Jay should always know, wherever he may go,
No matter where he is, we will never be far away.
If we find ourselves next to a stone that speaks of our Jay,
We will heartfully beg to reset the clock
to when our side of the bed was not our own.
To realize the value of one millisecond,
ask the Brisenos who live with Jay by our side.
We treasure every moment that we have!
And we treasure it all the more because we shared it with someone very special —
special enough to spend your time with.
And to remember in so doing that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why we call it the Present and thank God that in it we have Jay by our side!
In heartfelt Love – Dad
http://www.caringbridge.org/va/jaysjourney/
With Jay by Our Side
With Jay by our side, in the basement together we endured pain, joy, grief, and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding with us.
We rest next to a bed with tubes and wires invading our Jay
as monitors watch his motionless sleep.
We will desperately pray for him, re-position his arms and legs, re-arrange pillows, layer blankets on top of him to keep him warm,
and share the morning's peace at the foot of his bed.
And when we kiss him good night, we will hold him a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that we will thank God for, our Jay and ask Him for nothing, except one more day..............
With Jay by our side, early each morning,
long before the roosters wake,
our Jay instinctively makes sounds, saying hi, to tell us that he is awake.
His daily voyage always leads to suctioning fluid from his lungs,
and is followed by thanking God that our Jay had a pleasant evening.
With Jay by our side, we think we know what he’s been asking for;
we think we know what he’s been trying to say. We think we know when our Jay is in pain, discomfort, or wants to be turned. Mom, Dad, and sisters go through similar pains as we wrestle back to sleep.
It's now 3:00 a.m. and we find ourselves fighting for rest.
This arrangement leaves us tired, arms sore, at times with pounding headaches, legs trembling, and sleep beyond our reach. We lie silently in the morning calm as tears fill our eyes
and we consider how truly blessed our lives are
with our Jay by our side.
With Jay by our side, we promised him we would never leave him. Beside his bed is Mom, joyful to be asleep, and Dad not very far.
And our Jay should always know, wherever he may go,
No matter where he is, we will never be far away.
If we find ourselves next to a stone that speaks of our Jay,
We will heartfully beg to reset the clock
to when our side of the bed was not our own.
To realize the value of one millisecond,
ask the Brisenos who live with Jay by our side.
We treasure every moment that we have!
And we treasure it all the more because we shared it with someone very special —
special enough to spend your time with.
And to remember in so doing that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why we call it the Present and thank God that in it we have Jay by our side!
In heartfelt Love – Dad