TUMORS.SUCK ~ CANCER.SUCKS
Uncle Ula lost his battle with cancer around 7pm on 12/28/2010
An amazing man has left the Earth and gone back to our Father in Heaven
He was greatly loved in life, and will be greatly missed!
November 2002 in Hawaii, eating breakfast with Uncle Ula
(Ova is taking the picture)
November 2010 when Ova and I went to Hawaii to bring him to Utah
December 2010 in the University Hospital
January 1st, 2011
We brought Uncle Ula to Utah on November 20th, 2010 in hopes that the doctors here in Utah, at the Huntsman Cancer institute would be able to do something for him....something that the doctors in Hawaii couldn't do. When he got here he spent a lot of time at the hospital. He had monitors covering every inch of his head running tests to see what, if anything could be done to help him. After about two weeks straight of testing, we didn't get the news we wanted to hear. The tumor was right in the middle of his brain, in the crease and it had grown into all four quadrants of his brain....which was why he lost all his motor skills so quickly. The location of the tumor and how deep it had grown had made it impossible to remove. They didn't give him very long to live. He was moved to a rest home right by the Huntsman Cancer Institute. They wanted him close by. The family visited him often, laughed and talked and visited with each other around his bed. He wasn't able to speak or talk or laugh....but we knew he knew we were there.
Slowly he got worse and worse, until he stopped eating. On the morning of December 28th, 2010....exactly 16 years to the day that his father passed away...... after he hadn't eaten or drank anything for two days....the doctors only gave him 3 hours to live. He ended up holding on until about 7pm, about the same time his father passed away 16 years ago. He was finally in peace. Finally pain free. Finally rid of the tumors that took over his life. Finally reunited with his Dad, brothers and other family members that have passed on.
Ova and I were both at work the day of the 28th. We were both praying that he would hold on long enough for us to be able to see him. As soon as we got off work we headed over to him. Ova got his ukulele and was ready to sing to him (he loved that).... but we didn't make it. He passed away 20 minutes before we got there. That was hard, Ova cried for the longest time. He was gone and we didn't get to say bye to him. :( When we got to the house where his body was at, the whole entire family was there. They were all gathered around his body crying, reminissing about his life, sharing stories and experiences they had with him and giving advice. Uncle Ula comes from a very big family....there are 15 brothers and sisters and they are all very close. That means tons and tons of first cousins.....since he passed on, the family has been spending time together every single day. It's so sad that it takes something so tragic to get all the family together, but it's nice to be able to spend time with the ones you love the most.
Since Uncle Ula's home is in Hawaii, his body is going to be shipped back there to be buried. We're having a viewing this Sunday night for the family and friends that are here in Utah that won't be able to make it to Hawaii.
All the nephews got to go to the funeral home to dress their Uncle. Ova said it was a very spiritual and emotional experience. Quality time the the boys got to spend with their uncle.
He looks so handsome....he look at peace...he's not in pain anymore.
We are happy for that, but we miss him so much!
So grateful for the Plan and the knowledge that families are forever, and that we will see him again!
