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<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">From:</FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">owner-meeting@kent.net on behalf of Don Andersen[SMTP:DANEDON@HOTMAIL.COM]
<BR></FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Sent:</FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Friday, December 03, 2004 6:43:19 PM
<BR></FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">To:</FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">meeting@kent.net
<BR></FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Subject:</FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Re: meeting: Former Forum Member, Dick Gorgas
<BR></FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Auto forwarded by a Rule</FONT></B></P>
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<div style='background-color:'><P>I was asked what brother Dick died of. I went back thru emails and compiled the following:</P><B><FONT size=2>
<P>Dick wrote this on June 24 of this year:</P></B>
<P>There was concern by the doctors that the cellulitis infection in my leg may have travelled to my heart valve so that Tuesday I had the dreaded TEE (Trans-esophagal Electrocardiogram) in which one swallows a hose like that in the kitchen sink with a camera attached, while the physician observes various parts of the heart, especially the artificial aortic valve.</P><B>
<P>Dick wrote this on Oct 22:</P></B>
<P>The doctors have finally seemed to zero in on my diuretic as the clue to problems of low blood pressure and abnormal kidney function.</P>
<P>After many tests, a new (for me) diuretic, Bumex, which has e been working well for a few days and kidney function blood pressure has stabilized, allowing me to go home to Wharton today. Jim has agreed to stay with me during the days and we are arranging for me to have a kind of pendant alarm system in case of emergency.</P><B>
<P>Dick wrote this on Nov. 9:</P></B>
<P>There have been so many of you who have lovingly inquired about my health, so I felt it only right to give you a little update.</P>
<P>Since my fall on January 1, I have not been in good health. After the January incident, I have been hospitalized for three episodes of CHF (congestive heart failure), the most recent on October 9 until the 23rd.</P>
<P>Conflicting medical opinions on the effectiveness of the various diuretics prescribed has not been helpful.</P>
<P>I have been living alone in Wharton while Ruth deals with 40 years of accumulated stuff, but it appears she will shortly be in a position to move to Wharton.[They were moving to a 1 story home]</P>
<P>Pray please that we might be together soon, that doctors might get a good handle on the water-retention problem, and that I might be diligent in following the salt-free diet.</P><B>
<P>Dick's son Keith wrote this on Nov. 18:</P></B>
<P>I would like to again ask for prayer for our father. He has been on constant oxygen, but just called and said he has had trouble breathing all night and my brother Fred is taking him to the hospital.</P><B>
<P>Dick's daughter Peggy wrote on Nov 22:</P></B>
<P>My father is still having a very hard time catching his breath. He has been moved to a new room </P><B>
<P>Dick's son Keith wrote on Nov 26:</P></B>
<P>Doreen spoke with my dad a little while ago. He is in the nursing home, and his breathing continues to get more difficult. They have ruled out it being his heart, thinking it may be some sort of asthmatic condition. He seems to be getting weaker. He wanted to be taken to Thanksgiving dinner at my brother Fred's home yesterday, but was too weak. Doreen said he seemed a little disoriented on the phone, but she may have just wakened him. We would covet continued prayers.</P><B>
<P>Dick's son Keith wrote this on Nov 27:</P></B>
<P>My father was taken to the hospital by ambulance from the nursing home this afternoon. He can't breathe. According to one of my siblings, he has said that he thinks the Lord is calling him home. Please pray that his spirit will be sustained by the Lord Jesus; that if it is the Lord's time, he will be spared suffering and gently ushered into the Lord's presence. His life has been marked by displaying the love of God towards the whole body of Christ and to lost souls, particularly the poor and prisoners. In a coming day many around the throne of God will be indebted to him as the porter who ushered them to the Door of salvation, I am one of them. I really grieve at the thought of him struggling for air. This morning when he told me how hard it is to breathe, I mentioned that he will have no trouble at all taking in the sweet air of heaven. He seemed to enjoy that thought.</P><B>
<P>Dick's son Fred wrote this on Nov 29:</P></B>
<P>I just visited Dad a couple of hours ago and he was noticeably weaker than when I left him last evening. The Lord is very able to raise him up. I'm sure there are many of us who realize how much he touches our lives and wonder if perhaps the Lord still has something left for him to do here. I would ask that we continue to pray that the Lord raises him up again, if it's His will. It amazes me to hear him even in his so weak state telling the very ill young man in the bed next to him that it doesn't matter where you're from, it's where you're going that counts. Although we know our Saviour's love and utmost care for him, it's hard to see Dad struggling to display that brightness that has characterized him for so long. "He hath done all things well!"</P><B>
<P>Dick's son Keith wrote this on Dec 1:</P></B>
<P>This is a prayer request concerning my father, Dick Gorgas, known in many circles as "the singing pilgrim".</P>
<P>He is very near death; it is not thought that he will make it more than a few hours. My youngest sister, Grace Turner, is flying in from California. She will not arrive until late this afternoon. I would ask the whole body of Christ, where ever you may be, to ask the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that he will remain alive until she arrives. (This will be contrary to the natural course of things.) We ask this, not for Dad's sake, but for hers. I know my father's heart that he would be willing to suffer a little bit longer for his daughter's sake. There is power in prayer, in hearts united before our Father's throne, He hears because He loves His Son, and we are His Son's body. It is not our desire to see our father suffer in this scene for a moment more than he has too. We do not ask that his life be prolonged in this "vale of sorrows" except long enough for my sister
to see him in the flesh. If this is not the Lord's will, we submit to it. "He doeth all things well."</P><B>
<P>Later that day Keith wrote:</P></B>
<P>I just spoke briefly with my dad by phone. His blood oxygen has gone up a bit; the nurse says she thinks he is hanging on to see Grace. Her plane has been delayed an hour and a half.</P>
<P>He hadn't spoken in hours, but my sister Peg put the phone to his ear and I repeated the verse he spoke briefly on last night. "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." He said audibly "Thank you". He now only responds to family members' voices. Please continue to pray that he might remain in the body until my sister arrives, and that he might be able to respond to her presence. He doesn't appear to be suffering, and knows Grace is coming.</P>
<P>Also, my brother Chris, who is away from the Lord, will be arriving shortly. Please pray that his heart will be melted. And for my mother and Fred and Peg as they keep Dad company.</P>
<P>Then brother Dick Gorgas passed away the following morning around 10:40am. </P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Geneva">Your loving brother,</SPAN></STRONG><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #cc00ff; FONT-FAMILY: Geneva"> </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Geneva">Don Andersen </SPAN></STRONG><B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
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