This is a report for Mission 387 by Grace on Wings.
Departure: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Arrival: Deleon, Florida
Date: March 19, 2016
Mission Report
It is a cool overcast day as we arrive at Randy’s bedside at the VA hospital in Pittsburgh. We are here to take him to his parents home in Florida. We had been contacted only 2 days ago by this amazing group of caring staff here at the VA in an effort to get him transported. They know that he does not have much time left and wanted him to have the opportunity to spend it with his family.
Randy has cancer that has spread throughout his body and is awake only intermittently at this point. Unfortunately I do not know much about him except that he is a veteran and he served our country. Together with the assistance of this selfless staff of doctors, nurses and others, everyone gave of themselves and worked diligently to get all the necessary paperwork needed for his flight.
Knowing that he had voiced being with his family as his final wish made it that much more important to honor this vet, whom had given of himself in service to our country. Making this happen was definitely a priority.
Many of the staff are here to help as we transfer him onto our cot and monitor system and then head to the airport. Upon our arrival Hal prayed for Randy and we placed him aboard Nellie. Randy did well during the flight despite some turbulence we encounter due to weather. We were thankful that God held back the rain while we transferred him into the ambulance for the trip to his parents home.
Once there we were greeted outside by his father. After placing him into the hospital bed that they had prepared we prayed for him and this time with his family. His frail elderly mom entered the bedroom having just recently been released from the hospital herself. She leaned over Randy stroking his hair and kissed his forehead comforting him. It was evident how much it meant to his parents to have him in their home. We were also met by the home health hospice nurse who would be overseeing his care now.
Our prayer is that he is able to realize that he is with his parents now and find peace and comfort in that. Also that they are able to spend quality time together in his final days.
2 COR. 9:12
THIS SERVICE THAT YOU PERFORM IS NOT ONLY SUPPLYING THE NEEDS OF THE LORD’S PEOPLE BUT IS ALSO OVERFLOWING IN MANY EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS TO GOD.
Thank you to Hal, Danny and Lisa for serving this mission with me
