Those of you that know me know that I have a very close friend who I went to college with named Ray. He is my oldest and dearest friend. I'm a guy who doesn't really have any friends from high school ( I left that life behind in New York City) and when I came to college here in Buffalo, Ray was one of the first people that I really clicked with . We had a great mutual love of sports amongst other things. Ray and I even lived together for four years before he got married.
Last May a couple of weeks after our annual draft party I got a phone call from Ray. He called me really early ( like 7am) and he sounded a little under the weather. He told me that he had a bad stomach flu and asked if I could drive him to the doctor later that day. I agreed and told him that I would speak to him later in the day. A few hours later at about 11 in the morning I got a call from Bates (Ray's wife) and she told me that Ray was in the hospital. Apparently his pancreas was infected and he was in intensive care. I immediately went to the hospital to see what I could do and to see if I could see Ray and to see what was going on. I remember getting there and seeing BAtes and I gave her a hug. I think that was the first time that I ever hugged her. It's funny people come in and out of your life and you hug them and kiss them but I had never given Bates a hug and I've known her for about 10 years and I spend every X-MAs with her and Ray. She told me what was going and apparently Ray's life was in danger. His pancreas was infected and his kidneys shut down. This all sounded very grave to me and I was prepared for the worst. It just didn't sound very hopeful to me. I went in and saw Ray. All i can remember are all the tubes that he had in him and the fact that it seemed like he was having trouble breathing. I talked to him for a few minutes then I left. I talked to Bates and she told me of the prognosis which sounded iffy at best. Ray had a surgery and then had to wait and see. It took him six weeks to get out of the hospital but he is out and ok.
Ray spent, if I remember right, four and a half weeks in ICU and about ten days in a regular room. I remember going over to Ray's house and seeing his kids during that time, it didn't seem fair because he didn't see his kids that whole six weeks. I don't have kids but I couldn't imagine what that would be like. So Ray got home was home for two months then he returned to work.
It's crazy thinking about people who are your age almost dying which could have happened to Ray. You think about his kids and what they would do without him. I couldn't imagine that. I lost a parent at 17 and that left a massive void. I couldn't imagine what those young kids would do. Rays oldest is 8 and the other two are younger than that. I couldn't imagine those years without a parent.
I know some people who read this know Ray through me and I would ask them to keep Ray in their thoughts because he has a new mountain to climb now. It's something which he has a very good chance of conquering but warm thoughts will help him in the process i'm sure.
Last May a couple of weeks after our annual draft party I got a phone call from Ray. He called me really early ( like 7am) and he sounded a little under the weather. He told me that he had a bad stomach flu and asked if I could drive him to the doctor later that day. I agreed and told him that I would speak to him later in the day. A few hours later at about 11 in the morning I got a call from Bates (Ray's wife) and she told me that Ray was in the hospital. Apparently his pancreas was infected and he was in intensive care. I immediately went to the hospital to see what I could do and to see if I could see Ray and to see what was going on. I remember getting there and seeing BAtes and I gave her a hug. I think that was the first time that I ever hugged her. It's funny people come in and out of your life and you hug them and kiss them but I had never given Bates a hug and I've known her for about 10 years and I spend every X-MAs with her and Ray. She told me what was going and apparently Ray's life was in danger. His pancreas was infected and his kidneys shut down. This all sounded very grave to me and I was prepared for the worst. It just didn't sound very hopeful to me. I went in and saw Ray. All i can remember are all the tubes that he had in him and the fact that it seemed like he was having trouble breathing. I talked to him for a few minutes then I left. I talked to Bates and she told me of the prognosis which sounded iffy at best. Ray had a surgery and then had to wait and see. It took him six weeks to get out of the hospital but he is out and ok.
Ray spent, if I remember right, four and a half weeks in ICU and about ten days in a regular room. I remember going over to Ray's house and seeing his kids during that time, it didn't seem fair because he didn't see his kids that whole six weeks. I don't have kids but I couldn't imagine what that would be like. So Ray got home was home for two months then he returned to work.
It's crazy thinking about people who are your age almost dying which could have happened to Ray. You think about his kids and what they would do without him. I couldn't imagine that. I lost a parent at 17 and that left a massive void. I couldn't imagine what those young kids would do. Rays oldest is 8 and the other two are younger than that. I couldn't imagine those years without a parent.
I know some people who read this know Ray through me and I would ask them to keep Ray in their thoughts because he has a new mountain to climb now. It's something which he has a very good chance of conquering but warm thoughts will help him in the process i'm sure.
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1 comment:
Oh my Goodness.. What's happened with Ray? Passing Warm Wishes through you.. He's a fighter that one.. and you're a good friend..
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