Death and Dear Friends

I received word yesterday that a dear friend, Wylie Porterfield, had finally succombed to terminal brain cancer. Last year, after going into seizures unexpectedly, an MRI revealed that he had a fist sized brain tumor. Then came the doubly bad news. It was an incredibly malignant tumor. They did surgery and got most of it and what they couldn't get they wrapped in protective foil so that it would inhibit the growth or something like that. The doctors didn't expect him to live much past a couple of months. Well, he lasted almost a year. He was diagnosed in September of last year. In February of this year, aftar a particularly bad episodde, he was given 24-72 hours to live. Miraculously, he recovered. His prayer had been that he wanted to see his son graduate in May. God answered that prayer and gave his family through May and a few weeks past that even.

Throughout all the pain and human heartache, he was still the same compassionate, encouraging, witty Wylie that many in our group had come to know over the past 3 years. Some in our group knew him even longer - about as long as I've been alive. Wylie was the one who gave me this joke that I posted back in May that amused many of you out there. Wylie was a true inspiration to those who knew him and even those he didn't know. Yesterday they decided to induce a coma b/c the pain he was in had become unbearable. After saying private goodbye's to his beloved family, he slipped into a coma for a few hours and then regained consciousness for one brief moment before he passed away. His lovely wife Renea said that Wylie opened his eyes and one tear ran down his cheek and then he passed on to the Glory of Heaven. Renea said that she believed that that one tear was b/c he saw how beautiful Heaven was and he had to cry b/c the beauty was beyond imagining.



This is just one instance of how Wylie could smile through the tough times and make the rest of us smile too. He wrote this to us in April of this year:

I have realized that the angels have really have great sense of humor.Since my last episode with my tumor,at which time the doctors told me I had 24 to 72 hours left,shows what they know,I have developed palsey in my right hand. It sometimes has a mind of it's own and just takes off shaking ,over which I have no control. This does have it's advantages,Renea no longer needs to take her food processor from cabinet,just give me ginsu knife,head of lettuce,tomato,onion and step aside. Salad will be chopped and diced in few seconds. Works better than Ronco veg-a-matic.Must remember however to keep other hand out of the way. It also serves as alarm clock.Just the other morning I was woke up by what I thought was Renea slapping me upside of my head,however it was my own hand that was slapping me.However my angel can cause some embarassing moments also.Couple of days ago Renea took me to local Wal-Marts,as fate or my angel would have it,I wound up standing in line at the men's room.As the doctor has put me on water pills,when they hit ,it's a foot race to make it in time.Just my luck ,every urinal taken.The man in front of me was making vulgar jokes ,which could be heard by small boy standing behind me.Finally 3 stalls opened side by side.The man in front of me went to the right ,the boy to the left,me in the middle.As I proceeded with my business,the angel took over.My right hand went crazy.and the man on my right got his shoes wet along with his pants leg.As I apologized profusely I could almost hear my angel laughing.The small boy as we were leaving told me not to worry,he said he used to have same problem before he grew up.
So in conclusion,if I type something really weird or strange sounding,remember , it maybe my angel taking over the keyboard and only God knows what he may do.
May God Bless and keep you all
Wylie

Renea and the boys and Wylie's daughter Michelle (from his first marriage) and her husband and children are taking it rather hard. My prayers and thoughts go with them now for comfort and peace and the solid knowledge that they will be reunited with Wylie once again in Glory.

Wylie, you are loved and missed my dear friend. Though you have gone on to Glory and though our hearts break, our souls rejoice that you have found your way Home and that we will see you again on the other side of Heaven. You made this world a better place with your presence. I know you will have them laughing up there in Heaven as you had us laughing down here on earth.

Death is not the end, just the beginning of eternity! As my friend from the same group says, "Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church!"