The time of death is....

It was Friday,the 13th,the day before Valentine`s Day.My son,John was having a debate where to go to take his girl friend on a date.To a party?No-,since it was too late they`d go out for a pizza,in town.It was sleeting outside.Before John left,he said "Mom,looking ,over his shoulder,I`ve been in an accident twice on on Friday the 13th".(It made me wonder).Little did I know,those were his last words to me.I couldn`t sleep, feeling antsy,& thinking of the weather.John wasn`t home at 4:00AM....I got up,& made coffee.5:10,there was a knock at the door.My son,David,was there."Get dressed,Ma.There`s been an accident.Johnny was hurt.It`s serious".I began to shake....I didn`t have a car,then.My son brought me to University Hospital- Approaching the hospital,it was a cold looking building.The doctors immediately met us,& told us my son was in I.C.U.On a gerney.My son had blood all over his face.Why didn`t they clean him up?He was unconcious.He suddenly sat right up,but it was only a reflexbut in a coma.David started to curse at him,thinking he was drunk,& to blame,for the accident.-"Please,David we don`t know that"I said....The doctor said,his brain was injured.The accident occured at 2:25AM.THe police told us a drunk driver,in an 88 Olds,hit his girl friend`s car-a red convertable,only 1/4 of a mile from where we lived.He was coming home from the date.When the doctor told me he had a 50/50 chance of surviving.I shot back at him,as long as there`s life,there`s hope.John was in the hospital for 6 days, never awaking.They operated on his head ,releasing fluids from his head,but I knew that that had to be done in the golden hours,no more than two,not the next day.His jaw was broken.I knoticed his tongue ,even in an aparent coma,working a loose tooth.Thursday,the 18th,in the morning,so many people sleeping all over,I was tired & weary.I had to get his girl friend,also in a wheelchair,with a cracked pelvis,& facial injuries, out of the room,telling the nurse to say they she needed to change the bedding.I was finally alone with my son, his jaw broken,& tubing in his head.I slipped my arm under his head,& lay my head on his heart, beating now, only because of life support,& constant noises of a brain scanning machine."Oh,Johnny, you must be hurting.If you can`t come back to us,it`s ok.I think your`re hanging on because you`re worried about us.But ,if you can`t hang on any more,we`ll be ok".Then,after being so ridged,his body seemed to get limp,I felt his spirit leave his body.I experienced this before,working in the medical field.I had someone perform the last rights for him.There were about 30 friends & family around,spilling into the hall.The nurses were crying.He was only 23,just beginning his life....Pastor Marv,being close to me all the while,& prayed with us, had to be alone,because he was upset.Johnny was so young.That afternoon, the doctor approached me,I knew the scan would show he was brain dead.They took him away, his organs would be used,but it was too late.I told David I couldn`t watch him take his last breath,& the life support was disconnected.I wanted to tell John the accident didn`t happen Friday the 13th- he wouldn`t hear me.It was Valentine`s Day,Feb.14,1987.His beloved Cindy placed a rose over his heart,in the wooden coffin we chose( because he made furniture out of wood,even a large cabinet,bringing it home on Mother`s day).He was buried on the 19th.under a Blanket of Snow.A mother usually wants to protect her children-I couldn`t do that anymore.The thought came to me-He`ll be so cold,but it didn`t matter anymore.