Around midnight, the sirens began their shrill wail of warning. After finding safe refuge in our home for the three of us, my challenge was to keep my husband off the bed and in our "safe spot".
Except for one shingle dangling from the roof, our house and property were unharmed. Less than two miles from our home, others were not as fortunate.
Although the tornado passed our home, we were not unchanged. Peculiar things which arrived with the tornado remained. Bucky, our border collie was disturbed and kept approaching me, circling, and returning to Terry. He was staying near my husband rather than at my feet. Bucky was unusually anxious when Terry would get up and would follow my husband as he went from room to room.
My husband's balance had declined and was getting worse with each passing day. Eventually, I had to sit beside him, while he tied his shoes to keep him from toppling from the chair to the floor. Previous to the tornado, Terry could dress himself once I laid his clothes out. After the tornado, I had to supervise and give aid. He no longer remembered to put on his shoes after he put on his pants, neglected to button his shirt, and could not manage to get his shirt tucked into his pants.
Doctors visits were scheduled, met, and other testing scheduled.
The night of May 10th, Terry collapsed in the hallway of our home. He was unresponsive and taken by ambulance to our nearest hospital. From there, he was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center. He remained unresponsive until his death from cerebral hemorrages at 5:15 am, May 12th.
Although I feel the ache of absence from Terry's passing, I am comforted knowing that he is fully healed and in the presence of Christ, his Dad, and other loved ones who preceded him in death.
Picture by Helen English Ellis taken October 2003
