Dawn was barely breaking on August 16 when Dr.Moffe came in and ordered Delton back to the intensive care unit. Delton steadily worsened. But why? What was happening after six weeks of miraculous recovery? The questions hung unanswered.

It soon became apparent that Delton needed exploratory surgery. “Put him on dialysis until noon,” the doctor decided.

Elton and Carolyn felt a measure of relief as Delton’s color slowly returned to normal. The dialysis seemed to be helping. He looked alert and was no longer rambling incoherently.

“You’re going in for surgery soon,” Elton said, stroking Delton’s hair. “You’re seriously ill. You know, you may not survive the surgery.” The words were hard to say!

The three of them had a special time of confession and sharing while Delton was still able to talk. They kissed each other and said “Good-bye” before he was put back on the respirator.

Noon came. Elton was at the nurses’ station signing papers when he saw a note on one of the clipboards.

“Tell Dad to come,” it read in Delton’s scrawled handwriting.

Choked with emotion, Elton hurried back to the room. Lord, this is so hard! Are we saying final good-byes today? Is all the hope we’ve experienced in the last several weeks going to be shattered?

“Dad,” Delton mouthed, over the soft “whoosh” of the respirator. “I’m ready.”

Elton took his hand. “What is it, Son? You say you are ready if you should die?”

Delton relaxed and nodded “yes” without a trace of dread. He had communicated to Dad what was most important on his mind . . . he was ready.

Carolyn felt a tremor of fear at the look on Dr. Moffe’s face when he returned to the ICU consultation room at 1:30 p.m.

“I . . . I’m terribly sorry,” he began, and swallowed hard. “He can’t live. His intestines have died. Infection and gangrene have set in and there is nothing more we can do. He may last several hours, a day at the most. We will take him back to his room. You can spend as much time with him as you want, although he may not regain consciousness.”

God knew the need of their hearts, and soon Delton regained consciousness.

The moments of the afternoon were bitter – sweet with pain and preciousness. Over 60 family members and friends besides medical personnel bent over his bed to say “Good-bye.” With tears in their eyes, many added, “I want to meet you in heaven.” Delton always nodded “Yes.”

What a blessing it was to see no sign of dread on Delton’s face. Only peace. As the group softly sang, “I Need No Mansion Here Below,” Delton tried helping in spite of the respirator tubes. About 20 minutes before his passing, Delton raised his hand and waved good-bye to everyone in the room.

As the evening shadows lengthened and God’s hand began painting a beautiful sunset in the western sky, the end was very near. When Delton indicated he had some discomfort in his head, his Mother bent over him to encourage him again. Her heart was breaking as she thought of the many times she had healed his hurts when he was young. She had been able to rock him then. She could offer him a Band-Aid or a glass of cold water. But this time was different.

She recited one of their favorite Scriptures again. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.’ Son, soon you’re going to be free from temptation and sin. Jesus is going to take you where there’s no more pain, no sorrow, no tears or suffering.” Delton nodded “yes” as she continued, “And Jesus will give you a crown and a robe of white to wear.”

He nodded “yes” again and suddenly opened his eyes wide, looking beyond their faces. Did he glimpse his Saviour and the gates of heaven opening for him? He pointed up towards his new Home. Soon, very gently and peacefully, he was there.

It seemed to those left behind that heaven was just within their reach.