A star dimmed but another one lit

I haven't even had time to breathe lately, much less blog.  But felt the need to do so today because of sad news I got this morning.

My cousin, Tom, passed away after a long, long battle with health.  The irony of this is that I never saw him more than one or two times in my life.  BUT thanks to FB, we got reacquainted about two years ago.  He read all of my blogs and made some great comments on various posts. We had some incredible conversations via Email.

There is so much about my cousin that I did not know, nor will I ever know.  What I know is from corresponding with him via FB or E-mail. - By getting to know him, also got acquainted with other cousins that I hadn't known very well and that has given me a whole other place of joy.  During the past two or three years, getting to know Tom, I knew he was one of the good guys.  I got to hear him play in his band via video on the internet - and I was touched by the joy on his face as he played his guitar. 

Years ago, Tom was diagnosed with cancer.  During the past 12 years, he has had a tracheotomy to breathe, and a stomach port to get his nourishment.  I understand he also couldn't speak much above a raspy voice.  You'd think that with all the health problems he had, in and out of the hospital, that he would become a bitter, disillusioned man.  Not so.  From the FB posts, and Emails I got, he was rising above the mess daily.  He took and posted some incredible photos around the area.  His posts on FB were thoughtful and rarely fluff.  You could tell that he felt deeply about his life and the life around him, his wife and his kids.  It was absolutely apparent that he loved all of them with his heart and soul.

His wife is a nurse, and I believe that having a nurse right there helped him stay on this earth after his cancer for as long as he did.  Jeanne, thanks for your part in giving Tom more time on this earth.  

So to Tom, my cousin, rest in peace.  I wish I could have met you in person as an adult because I believe we would have had some wonderful conversations.  To Jeanne, his wife, my heart hurts for you as you begin a totally different journey.  Tom is now at peace, he has no pain, and I am willing to bet, that he is talking up a storm in heaven with all of our relatives that have already gone before.

One star might have dimmed, but another star is shining very bright in heaven.