It is with sorrow and joy I share that dad is home with Jesus. He passed at 11:25 this morning. Dad had stayed in a comfortable state since receiving his last morphine dose at 5pm yesterday. When I brushed my fingers through his hair, caressed his cheek and swabbed his mouth this morning, though his eyes remained closed, he responded to every touch. 

Dad's music therapist sent us a few digital downloads she created for these moments, so we played them for dad - "I'll Fly Away", "Amazing Grace", and "In the Garden." They were beautiful, and I am sure he heard and enjoyed them.

The doctor came to see dad at about 10am and at that time told us that he didn't have a pulse. He explained that he was breathing because his brain was still active. The chaplain came and said a prayer with us.  I read some scripture for dad - Psalm 23, the Lord's Prayer and a couple of other passages. Then I told dad that we loved him and it was okay to go - that we would join him later.  Shortly after this, I noticed a tear coming from dad's eye - and I asked him if he was okay and wiped it away. After a short while, I again told dad that we loved him, and it was okay for him to go home - that we would meet him there later. Once again there was a tear from dad's eye that I wiped away. I turned to adjust the cd player, and Bruce said, "Michelle, I think he has passed." I looked at dad, and he had just breathed his last. It was so peaceful.  I played "Aloha Oe," sung by dad's music therapist, then we said a prayer.  Everything went exactly as we would have wanted it to.