On Loss

Source: google.com via Hanna on Pinterest

Over the weekend one of the doctors my dad works with passed away while on vacation. If I haven't mentioned it on here before, my dad is a nurse and works in the NICU (the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) with premature and very, very sick babies. This doctor was a really good man and an amazing doctor and will be sadly missed by his work family, real family, and friends.

I've been having a really rough start to the week coming to terms with this. Which may seem strange, because I wasn't close to him by any means, but I'm having a rough time nonetheless. First, I think this is because it's been really hard for my dad to lose a friend and colleague whom he cared for and respected so much. He was one of the Doc's that dad always has a story to tell about - both from his life in Russia before he moved to the US and from fun or interesting things that he had to say at work. It's hard to hear my dad hurt at the loss of a friend. I'm so over protective of my family, and I hate to see them hurting. And knowing there's nothing I can do to help ease that pain is totally a part of this. Secondly, it's hard because it was a very random and not predicted death. Sickness or prolonged illness have a way of helping us cope with the loss of family or friends because we are able to prepare ourselves for the inevitable. When people die suddenly it leaves us wondering why and at the same time realizing it could happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. And that, right there, is the most unsettling thing to think about. Thirdly? I've had a lot of loss in my life over the last nine months. I think my quota is filled, okay?

I like to think that he's in a better place now. If there's anything I think I know about heaven, it's this: men like this doctor and my dad? There's a special, amazing place in heaven reserved for people like them; for people who help bring the innocent, sick, and helpless little babies into the world and care for them so that they're able to stay with us. This doctor saved the lives of countless babies over the course of his career, and if there's any profession that God will let into heaven? It's these guys. So, if you have the time, please say an extra prayer and send some extra good vibes out into heaven for his family, friends, coworkers, and other loved ones who lost an amazing man that day.

We'll miss you Dr. George.