Losing Craig
The Lenten Season, something I normally look forward to (strange I know), got off to a weird start. First of all I was traveling on Ash Wednesday and could not attend the service, but then secondly Kara called Christina to tell her that Craig was in the hospital and it was cancer. At first they couldn’t figure out what kind of cancer it was and they kept needing to give him blood transfusions. Eventually in the midst of all the testing he was strong enough to go home for the weekend.
That all changed on Sunday when he had a mental issue and was unresponsive. Once back at the hospital he again began to perk up again. It had been two weeks at this point. On Wednesday he had a grand mall seizure and never regained consciousness again, until…… Craig opened his eyes wide, looked at Kara and smiled…….. Craig was gone.
I’ve known Craig for over 20 years and Kara and Christina are best friends, our kids have been life long friends. To lose a friend so suddenly at the age of 55 hurts especially because in only the last few years had Craig finally been getting the help he needed.
Craig experienced a lot of trauma when we deployed in 2006-07 to Iraq with 3d BDE 82d Airborne Division. Craig’s unit, 5-73 Cav took a lot of losses to include 9 in a single moment. Craig added in the healing of that unit and 100’s of others that he counseled for year after, but he never got help for himself unit a few years ago. It was great to see the joy in he and Kara’s lives again.
I know that Craig is with our Savior now. Without a doubt he glimpsed into heaven and his smile to Kara was to let her know that he was going to be whole again.
That’s the joy and pain of it all. The conversation ended with my friend, but I know that he is with Jesus and no longer in any pain and that brings me joy.
Enjoy the kingdom Craig, save me a seat.