Final Message for Michael Valladares April 12, 2011

In the early morning hours of April 12, at 2:55 am Dad passed away peacefully at Scottsdale Heritage Court, according to my aunt, Shanti who was with him during his last moments. Although it is hard to accept this sudden loss, after two months of progress and hope that Dad would recover, we know that he would want us to move on.

His death reminds us of this quote from Kahlil Gibran,

“For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?”

A memorial service will be held on April 16, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Saint Maria Goretti’s Catholic Church. The address is 6261 North Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250. A reception will be held in the church hall, following the service.

Thank you all very much for joining us in this blog which my father loved to read again and again. It gave him pleasure and hope. He was open and loving these past two months and wrote in the last few days before the final stroke …“Why not, You pass this way only once.”

Update

Dear All,

This is Dad's last attempt on Friday, April 8, trying to mobilize his left hand using a Mirror Box that my brother, Mark constructed. He had been doing really well -- he was able to bend his left knee, wiggle his toes, and even take a few steps on the parallel bars. The wonderful rehab therapists were very enthusiastic about his progress.

Unfortunately, on April 9, Shanti (in the background of the photograph) our aunt and resident angel, found him at 7:20 in the morning, unconscious. He was rushed back to Emergency at the hospital. Following a CAT scan, it was discovered that he suffered a massive stroke to his left hemisphere. He lost all cognitive functions, memory etc.

The doctor informed us that nothing more could be done for Dad and that we contact hospice. We are honoring Dad's wishes not to keep him on life support. So right now he is under the aegis of hospice.

What is hardest to accept is the silence, after Dads witty and emotional conversations with us for the past two months. He was funny, loving and sweeter than usual. Everyone at the nursing care facility enjoyed their conversations with him. And on Friday he soundly beat my mother in a card game of three pairs, and declared that he deserved the good luck!

Presently, Mark and I are here with Mum and Shanti. We want you to know that Dad is comfortable and peaceful. We have all spent quality time with him. We want to thank you for your good wishes, prayers and comments on this blog. He loved reading them and its been a source of comfort for us.

Love

Michelle