Little brother needs prayers

[htom]

My little brother Ross has collapsed and isn't expected to live out the week. He's fought a real battle, having been told that fourteen months ago, but this time it looks like the battle is really going against him. We're (parents and brothers and sister and others) flying and driving tonight and tomorrow morning from all around to be with him. Prayers for him, his family, our parents, and us, would be appreciated. Thank you.

---

The message comes to late sometimes. Only his twin, living forty miles away, was able to hug him, the rest of us will be arriving early for the funeral. Ross wanted three things: all of us together again, to see his son graduate from high school, and to finish his master's. Christmas 08, last Friday, last Saturday. Love you, Ross.

Thank you, again.

Invictus
by William Ernest Henley; 1849-1903

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

[wdnbt]

prayers & thoughts are with you , your brother and your families'

Rick

[C. Ross]

Very sad news Tom. Prayers and best wishes to all of you.

[The Bigfella]

Best wishes from the other side of the globe mate, to you and yours.

[pcford]

Oh boy....all the best.....

[David G]

htom - you have all our best wishes... streaming right at ya.

[2MeterTroll]

best thoughts on the way

[ripley699]

My prayers are with you and your family and your brother....


Ripley699

[John B]

Best wishes Tom.

[htom]

Roughly 3:30 this morning, in his sleep. Godspeed and safely Home, the bitter for us version.

[The Bigfella]

Rest in Peace. Best wishes to the survivors

[Capt Nat]

...for Ross...and his family...

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

[Rational Root]

Our thoughts are with you.

Dave

[Hwyl]

Er cof anwyl

[C. Ross]

Peace be with you Tom, and peace to all of Ross's family and friends.

[Vince Brennan]

Let his passage be easy, let only his good deeds live after him and may the memory of him console you and your family.

[Canoez]

...

[skuthorp]

Our thoughts are with you and the families.
Anne and Jeff

[Hughman]

Peace to you and your family.

[mmd]

My condolences to you and your family, Tom. I hope all can gain some solace from the knowledge that he lived to see his three milestones.

[johngsandusky]

I wish you peace.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
My condolences, Tom.

As someone said to me when I 'lost' my youngest daughter, "Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened."

Trite perhaps, I don't know. Hard to put into practice I do know. But I also know it's a sound philosophy. When you've done your grieving, you'll remember him and his life with joy.

Mike

[Nanoose]

I am so sorry, Tom.
Prayers for you all....
Deb

[floatingkiwi]

And in Our deaths
We draw those We love
Closer together.

[Lew Barrett]

So sorry to hear your news. Peace to you.

[TomF]

Prayers for you all.

t

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

As the Irish say " I'm sorry fer yer troubles " my condolences to you and yours.

[Captain Intrepid]

Prayers and peace go with you all. My sincerest condolences.

[htom]

Our family has always coped with bad news with "black humor", so it's somehow appropriate that Spice's looking for air tickets, the first flight that came up was Minneapolis-Denver-Atlanta-Kansas City, and the next was Minneapolis-St.Louis-Chicago-Kansas City.

I'm almost packed, and won't be online much for the next week. Thank you for your kind words.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Best wishes.

[elf]

I'm so sorry. Even when expected, it's really hard to lose someone you've loved for so many years.

We will keep you in our thoughts this weekend.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Sorry to hear it Tom.... He has no pain or suffering now. My condolences to you and your family.

[Tom Montgomery]

My condolences, Tom.

[JC 72]

So sorry for your loss. I am praying for all your family.

[Flying Orca]

Sorry to hear this, htom - I'll be thinking of you and your family.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

My thoughts are with you and your family.

[paladin]

Condolences to all...

[Dave Gray]

May fair winds grace his sails.

[Bob Triggs]

Roughly 3:30 this morning, in his sleep. Godspeed and safely Home, the bitter for us version.

"Godspeed and safely Home"... indeed.
My heartfelt condolences to all.

[nedL]

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

[Concordia...41]

Heartfelt condolences and peace to all.

- M

[Ted Hoppe]

Thought about your post all day. Hope you and your brother find comfort with family and friends.

[Bob (oh, THAT Bob)]

The first two achievements speak of fortitude and love, but the third speaks of determination and character; He didn't need to do it, he did it anyway. Quite a fellow, I'm sure. Please accept my condolences.

[UCanoe_2]

Tom, I'm sorry for your loss.

[Duncan Gibbs]

I've not been on the forum much of late, but I spotted this.

I echo everyone else's sentiment with my own condolence for your loss. I'm glad he went in his sleep: There's something very peaceful about that.

Weep well now and raise a glass in his honour.

[htom]

Thank you, all, for the prayers and kind words.

I've spoken at funerals before, eulogizing people that I thought I was very close to. This time, though, I started weeping before I'd finished the first paragraph, and lost my voice several times before I finished. This is affecting me more than I thought it would.

[SMARTINSEN]

Peace.

[Bob Cleek]

Prayers you want, prayers you got. May God give you all strength in this tough time.

[davebrown]

condolences tom. best wishes to your family.

[Wild Dingo]

Its hard to say goodbye Tom but harder still to vocalize your heartfelt love for your loss in front of people he knew and loved, you did well my friend he'd have been proud

May he only feel the wind in his hair the sun on his face and his sails always be full for from now till eternity he feels no pain and awaits just beyond the far horizon

Peace to all his family and loved ones
Shane