Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted- Matthew 5:4

-Contributed by Angela Moreno

I will never forget the phone call.  My brother was on the other end of the phone telling me to get back up to the hospital because my dad had quit breathing and his heart had stopped.  At that moment, I think my heart stopped too.

The day before my father came home from work and was very sick.  He just sat in his work truck until I went out and checked on him.  Dad said he was not feeling well but would be in the house in just a moment.  Eventually, he came inside and sat heavily in his chair. Dad said to call an ambulance.  This is a man who wouldn’t ask for help or even admit he was sick and he wanted us to call an ambulance for him.

Dad was admitted to the hospital. At first the doctors weren’t sure what was wrong with him.  Additional tests would need to be ran the next day.  My sister, brother, and I stayed with him until 3am.  He seemed alright and was sleeping so we all went home.  I never would have left if I had known this was the last time I would speak to him.

After receiving my brother’s call, I rushed back up to the hospital.  Most of my family members were in a family room the hospital had set up for us.  A hospital chaplain was also in the family room.  I knew right then that my dad wasn’t going to be alright but I kept my thoughts to myself.

My father was put on life support that night and never regained consciousness.  I spent 10 days going back and forth between work and the hospital.  I didn’t want to leave his side because I knew I didn’t have much time with him.  Finally, on the tenth day, my sister called upset because the doctor wanted to take him off of life support and she didn’t want to make that decision by herself.  This was the most excruciating decision I ever had to take part in.

After we removed life support, we waited for many hours.  I was exhausted but looking for strength so I went to the hospital chapel.  I sat in the pew and cried out to God.  I wanted my dad to go home to be with Jesus but I didn’t want him to not be with me.  All of a sudden I had a vision of a hill.  The hill had the greenest grass I’ve ever seen and it was a beautiful sunny day.  There was no one and nothing in the vision but the green, grassy hill.  However, I felt so much peace.  I thanked God and went back to be with my father.

A few hours later, my father went to be with the Lord.  I felt drained emotionally as I walked out of the hospital and drove home.  Once home, I crawled into bed and cried; it was the hardest I’ve ever cried in my entire life.  A few days later we had the funeral and I said my goodbyes.

One night not too long after the funeral, I went to sleep and had a dream.  The dream had the same luscious green grassy hill and beautiful sky.  The only difference was my father was standing on this hill and he was surrounded by children.  (My dad loved children.)  He was so happy.  I woke up and thanked God for the dream.

God cared enough for me and knew that this death was going to hit me hard.  He showed me where my father was going and he also showed me where my father was now-happy and with God.  I’m so grateful that God cared enough to show me these visions.  They were a huge comfort to my heart and showed me God’s love and compassion.  In difficult times or times of struggle lean on your Heavenly Father.  He will show you more than you will ever expect and will comfort you during your most difficult trials.

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