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It was cancer and congestive heart failure that took Dad from us. I had the honor of being his "Primary Care Giver" during his last weeks with us. During these last weeks my Dad experienced beautiful miracles and I am grateful to have been with him during his experiences.
A couple weeks before Dad's passing, I entered his bed room to wish him a good morning. He seemed confused that I could see him and talk to him. He ask if I could see him. I said "Yes Dad, I can see you." He then ask where he was. I told him he was at home with me and Mother. He then told me that was impossible because he had been cremated during the night. He ask to speak to the Hospice Chaplain. Dad was not of the Christian faith as me and my brother. In the whole 25 years Dad and my Mother were married, not once did any of us try to convert Dad to Christianity or to leave his own faith. So this was an unusual request coming from Dad. When the Chaplain arrived, Dad explained his cremation with Mother and I present. He said a lovely lady led him through the fire just like Shadrach, Meschach and Abednigo. Dad has never picked up a Christian Bible or the KJV of the Bible. I spoke up and ask him how he new the names of Shadrach, Meschach and Abednigo and how he new the story. Dad said the lovely lady told him before she led him through the fire. The Chaplain agreed that Dad really did have a "Near Death" experience.
After this experience Dad told me he had a lot of questions he needed answered before he could leave this earth and he was determined not to leave until his answers were met. So he ask a lot of questions. I answered the best I could and at times quoted scripture in order to answer correctly. Once he was satisfied he said his answers had been met. He told his daughter (my step-sister) for 77 years, he had been wrong.
One week before Dad left us he was so weak he couldn't lift his head off his pillow and could only speak in a whisper. On this night one week before Dad's passing, I had a dream that Dad was walking through my bed room on his way to my bathroom. He had a light glow around him and was wearing white pajamas. I woke up (or so I thought). Looked at the clock. It was 3:00am. I thought what a weired dream then went to check on Dad. His room was pitch black dark which was unusual because we kept a night light on in order to do bed checks. I could see the outline of him in bed and new he was alright because I could hear him breathing. I awoke again at 6:30am. When I went to the kitchen the CNA on duty for the night told me a strange thing happened with Dad at 3:00am. On hearing the time, I became fully awake, alert and was all ears. She said she heard a noise on the baby monitor we kept in the TV room for the CNA's for when they couldn't be in the bed room with him. She went to his room. He was sitting up on the side of the bed partially dressed! I ask her if she had turned his night light out. Her answer was "No." I then went to his room to check him for my own satisfaction. Realizing I had not woke up from my dream after all at 3:00am since his room was not dark as in my dream. By his bed side was his "burp" bowl. He had not used this burp bowl for weeks. We had moved it from his bed side table to across the room in order to allow more space. The bowl was full. I took the bowl to the kitchen and ask the CNA if Dad had thrown up during the night. She said "No your Dad had a very quit night until 3:00 this morning." In the kitchen with proper lighting we could see that Dad had NOT thrown up in the bowl but had used it for a urinal. Now how did my Dad who was so weak he couldn't lift his head off of his pillow or could barely speak, get the energy to walk across the room to get his burp bowl, let alone sit up on the side of the bed and undress himself?! Again the Chaplain was called in. Dad had an out of body experience.
A couple of days before Dad left us. Dad was at the point he couldn't speak at all. His tongue was stiff and his body was becoming rigid. On this day I was helping the CNA turn him while making his bed. As we were turning him he said clear as a bell.... "I feel it." I said..."What do you feel Dad?" He said "I feel Heaven." I ask him "What does Heaven feel like?" He could only tell me he didn't feel it any more, it was for only a short time. I then ask .... "How do you feel now Dad?" He couldn't answer me his tongue was stiff once again. All he could do was shake his head "No". The Chaplain was called again. Another "Near Death" experience.
On the morning of my Dad's passing. I was sitting at the kitchen table while the CNA was preparing Dad for his morning bath. All of a sudden I felt a hot flash go through my entire body. I quickly as fast as I could went down the hall yelling for the CNA to check my Dad. I yelled it twice. As I got to the door, I said bring him back. My brother was with the CNA and he told me Dad just now left.
I couldn't explain why I KNEW what was happening wih my Dad while I was in another room on the other side of the house. But I knew and I felt it. It was explained to me that Dad and I always had a close bond and even closer the last few weeks as I cared for him. And that it was the Holey Spirit guiding me to his side. God granted me one last look and farewell as my Dad departed.
All these experiences has given me inner peace and joy. I know without a doubt my Dad accepted Jesus as his Saviour and Redeemer not out of fear of death, but out of love. I know without a doubt my Dad has passed through the Gates of Heaven perhaps led by the lovely lady that led him through the fire.
 Israel Arnold LeskJanuary 26, 1927 - March 5, 2004
Submitted By: Sherry Worth
Page Design By: ~sw~
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