One bloody tear

Thirteen years ago Vic’s dad was involved in a bad car accident.  He was airlifted to a hospital with an excellent trauma unit.

When Vic and I arrived at the hospital we were greeted by a trauma councillor.  He explained that Tienie was being stabilized but that the situation was grave….  It was terrible seeing Tienie lie in the ICU ventilated, swollen, battered and bruised.

The news was not good.  Tienie would be a quadriplegic if he survived….

Tienie was one of the most vibrant, energetic party animals I ever knew.  We were childhood sweethearts.  We started dating when I was 13.5 years old.  I have photos of us dancing at his 16^th birthday party.  We got married very young.  We got divorced very young.  We remained friends and business partners until his death.  Tienie was an accountant by profession and hated every second of it.  He turned to property development and went from one cash flow crisis to the next.  He was one of the most intelligent people I ever met but also one of the stupidest!

Tienie was a giver… He would give away the clothes off his back.  He hated sleeping.  He said it was a waste of time.  Tienie never cried… he mourned Vic OI diagnosis in a different way.  Some men love cars…Tienie loved women.  He was a loyal friend.  He was the world’s friend.  Everybody loved Tienie.

The day after the accident I had some time alone with him.  I spoke to him and told him that I had forgiven him for cheating on me and finally leaving me.  Standing next to his bed I realized for the first time that I had also caused him a lot of pain!!  I asked him to forgive me.

I also told him that I knew he was worried about his situation at that moment in time.  All he had to do was pray to God and ask him for forgiveness.  I held his hand and prayed for him.

A single bloody tear ran down his cheek.  I knew he had heard me and that all was okay….

The machines went crazy and I was asked to leave.  I knew Tienie was gone as I walked out of the ICU….

Six days later Vic signed the consent forms for the machines to be switched off.  She also signed the consent for Tienie’s organs to be donated.  That is what he would have wanted.

Tienie was buried on his birthday, the 10^th of November 1999

Thirteen years later my child still mourns her father.

I know that when the time comes Tienie will be there to take Vic’s hand to lead her towards the light….