Uncle Jack

 In just ten days, so much has changed...

Nine days ago, at 7 pm or so, my uncle, Jack Inmon, had a severe heart attack at the age of 64.  It took the medics 40 minutes to revive and stabilize him.  Eight days ago, he had survived the heart attack and we were praying for him to be strong enough for heart bypass surgery.  Seven days ago, he was supposed to wake up.  He did not.  Six days ago, the doctor told us he had suffered massive, severe brain injuries due to his loss of heart function. The predictions of his recovery were zero percent.  His only son, David, arrived from Las Vegas to be at his side.  Five days ago, his daughter, Jessica, arrived home from Paris where she had been studying since last September. Four days ago, we met again with the neurologist who repeated his message for all of us to hear, that our beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son-in-law, brother-in-law would never come back to us.  The difficult decision to discontinue life support was made, knowing this was clearly his stated wish should he ever be in a situation like this.  Late Sunday evening, life support was removed.  He came to rest in the early morning hours today.

He leaves behind his wife, Ling Inmon, daughter Jessica, daughter Whitney, son David, favorite cousin Heather, sisters Nancy and Paula and their families.  In addition, he leaves behind the Chow family of San Francisco:  Henry, Carmen, Wayne, Sharon, Calvin, Helen, Kwan and their families.  He was cherished by a large extended family who will deeply miss the joyful love of life that burned so brightly in him.

The magnitude of his loss will slowly sink in, in the coming weeks and years....and so will the healing. I'm not going to rush it. It seems to wash over me in waves, some small, some bigger. Some of the waves bring a smile to my face, while others bring tears. I know he lived his life to the fullest and as my heart aches, it is also filled with joyful memories.

"We are so lightly here. It is in love that we are made. In love we disappear."
                                                                    — Leonard Cohen