Friday, December 23, 2016
Garrett had a peaceful nights' rest, Thursday night. No major changes to his condition. The doctors continued to monitor his INR, which was decreasing, in hopes of proceeding with the plasma exchange sometime Friday. Garrett was responsive to commands, his kidney function was improving, but still critical.
The nurse’s assessment early Friday found Garrett unresponsive. Though in critical condition, Garrett was taken for another CAT scan. The scan showed that there was swelling in Garrett’s brain, in addition to his ischemic stroke. Swelling severe enough to cause additional brain damage and be potentially fatal. Garrett’s heart rate was elevated, as if he was running a race. His body was working very hard. Friday afternoon, with many loving friends and family surrounding him, Garrett declared himself. We liberated Garrett from life support. Peacefully, without let or hindrance, covered in a thousand sweet kisses, Garrett began running home, where he was embraced as a child and where he now snuggles comfortably in the warmth and comfort of the Greatest Love.
Paid in full Brother, paid in full.
We want to thank the team of doctors and nurses who cared for Garrett. Vigilant, professional, compassionate; we know you all did your best to try every option to help Garrett. Thank you. Thank you to the Prayer Team, Tony Sanchez, David Block, Kat Shea – thank you for your powerful work, thank you for your healing words and support for Garrett, as well as his family. I’m very proud of Garrett’s girls, Rylee and Regan, you girls are so strong! You did really well, we are all so proud of you both. Thank you to all our friends and family for your circle of support during this time. We have a lot of strong individuals in this group, I think we are going to get through this really well!
As we gather tomorrow to celebrate Christmas, we also gather to remember Garrett. We would like to open our home to anyone who wishes to stop by to share a drink, a toast, a story, perhaps all three! We would love to see you.
A couple of Garrett’s favorite songs:
There’s no better definition of cool for a 5 year old than their older brother. So when this song came on the radio and Garrett turned to me and said, “This is the greatest song ever!”, well, shoot! It must be! Here it is guys, the Greatest Song Ever.
This song, I was so proud to be Garrett’s brother when he played this one at a piano recital. Quite possibly the greatest 80’s video, too. Staring Veruca Salt's dad.
And keepin it 80's with one of my personal favorites. Those lyrics, powerful stuff.
Comments (12)
I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers and love to you and your family.
I am sooooo sorry!! I think you family member are remarkable and I pray for your love, support and calmness to stay with you thru all this hard time. I know Jonnelle the best and as a mother, I have no idea how devastating it must be to lose your son. My prayers are for you, for Jesus’s love to flood your heart with Grace and Mercy and Comfort. I also pray for the entire family, Garrett’s two young daughters and the special bond that was felt between these two brothers. Your writing is so compassionate, Kevin, and filled with love and admiration. Rich Blessings to fall on all of you. Nancy Hall
Kevin - you are a rock and Godsend! Your writing is a gift! And Jonnelle - such a powerful, solid woman of God. I am honored and blessed to have been with your amazing family and circle yesterday. May Garrett rest in peace. And may God bless all of you. My soul is richer because of each of you. Michelle
Hey Kevin, My thoughts and prayers are with you. I've been thinking about you, Garrett and the people that surroundyou. I've laughed and cried multiple times thinking about old times and the man that your brother was. There are times I think I've even felt his presence tonight. Thank you for sharing during an extremely difficult time. Much love to you and your family.
As I wake up to feed my little son this morning, I am sad to hear this news. Garret's kind heart and soul will be remembered. I am thankful to have worked with him at DU. He made each day enjoyable and fun. Thank you for sharing this news. I am glad he is resting now. I am sending hugs from Arizona. Naomi
Jonnelle, I am so very,very sorry to hear of the loss of your son. Many prayers for you and your family at this very difficult time..
I had the honor and pleasure of working with Garrett at DU. Any day he was a part of my life was a great one. This world has lost a beautiful spirit. Kevin, thank you so much for your heart-rending prose. It has helped me to remember how truly lucky I am to still have my two brothers and how important they really are to me. Love and blessings always to you and your family.
Words. I don't have any right now, except to say that my heart is just broken. I also, at the strangest moment last night, when I was so so sad, felt Garrett's presence and comfort by the grace of God, though I have not seen him in almost a decade. Many thanks to you Kevin, for being so incredibly strong and for all of these sweet and loving posts. Oh my, yup, the words just don't cut it. My mom and I will sure continue to pray for all of you, especially those darling girls. We are so greatful that you are all cradled in our Father's hands. Much much much love.
I'm going to miss working with Garrett and the visits with the girls...so glad we crossed paths, until we meet again. Thank you Kevin for your strength and support. Blessings, Bonnie Rodriguez
God's blessings to Garrett's family & friends: those present and past. And to the spirit he was, that gentle spirit - l look forward to seeing him again some day. He was a short lived soul on this Earth, and an even shorter lived experience in my own personal life, but he made a lasting and certainly positive impression. My own memory of Garrett was when he visited briefly the East Coast and, at the time, was working with hard-landscaping as his main income at the time. Stone, patio, and other materials that when built well, last beyond a lifetime. It was a brief visit, nearly minutes only in the grand scheme. Talk turned to life and work. It was temporary work, he made clear to me then. But there was an element to his personality that matched the work from what I saw, and years later when I had contracted my own stone patio, I found myself thinking back to his visit. For reasons I could not (then and still don't perhaps) quite understand. I found myself slightly envious on a deep level that he was doing such lasting physical work, and yet so unassuming. It was a skill I admired simply and succinctly. He drifted from my circle and I from his, so far wide and beyond from the day to day. Nearly forgotten at times was he, as does happen when we move ahead in our daily struggle. But the stone. To this very day, I find myself admiring at a nice brick wall or perhaps a nicely built stone patio and I hearken back to that brief conversation I had with Garrett. The words may be lost and forgotten but the feeling remains. His impression. That lasting impression. Mothers the world over could do half as well aiming to raise their sons built such as Garrett was, and the world would fair twice better. Garrett, may your earthly body rest in peace and your spirit savor the light from above. Be there to greet us on that day when we all meet again. I can't wait to see the hard landscaping from your point of view now. Jay Pearson
These comments and photos are but a trace of the abundant evidence that Garrett lived a life that left a legacy. I'm an only child but Kevin's writing made me realize that if I had had the privilege of a big brother, I'd want him to be just like Garrett. If I had a little brother, I'd want him to be like Kevin. Thank you for sharing words of esteem and love. God bless your family.
Hi Kevin, Unfortunately I just came across all this today. I am so sad for all of you and for myself. I had always wanted to reconnect with him but couldn't get any information about where he was since he wasn't on FB. I am heartbroken. He was such a big part of my life and we were inseparable in high school. RIP Garrett. I hope we meet again someday. 😘 Aspen Johnston Hilbelink