Sister Sally: Folklore legend and healing properties of Aquamarine Gemstone:
Endows the wearer with foresight courage and happiness. It also treats anxiety.
In the middle ages it was believed to reduce the effects of poisons.
Sailors wore aquamarine gemstones to keep them safe and prevent sickness.

On Monday afternoon in the ICU, Chris had a code blue. I was the only family member present. I grabbed a doctor from the common area, and the crew tried to save his life. I was paralyzed with trembling tears. I was trying to call mom, trying to call Andy, trying to call Asmara to see if she had Andy's number, and trying to be there for Chris.

The ICU nurse called my friend Louanne, who was upstairs working in surgery. She then told me he was leaving us. I moved in close, held his hand and told him I loved him over and over again, while the crew frantically and aggressively fought for his life around us. All along I was saying to myself, this is not the way to go: with the monitors wacking out, a tube down his throat, horror on his face surrounded by a room full of strangers except for me. This was the most stressful moment I have ever experienced.

However, he survived. At that moment all I could think of was that jubilant day after he was born when mom brought him home from the hospital. That was the best day of my childhood.

Louanne showed up and then Mom showed up. Louanne explained to my mom what had happened. His oxygen levels had fallen to 30 and then to 40 for about a half hour (Kissing death so to speak). We talked with him about our memories of his childhood. Then his oxygen levels rose to 87. Finally, I could walk to the bathroom.

On the walk I found an aquamarine on the ground. The very stone that mom had chosen as her wedding ring to Chris's dad. This sacred child Christopher John created from this gemstone union. No coincidence, he was graced with the most amazing aquamarine eyes any of us had ever seen. Those magnificent eyes mostly closed at that point, with all the pain and trauma.

He rallied in the transport with his oxygen levels at 99 when we got to the 8th floor of Hospice Comfort Care. Amazing, a miracle! Through the night, he wrote notes, made jokes, opened his eyes, drank apple and cranberry juice with all the monitors off. Only the CPAP mask kept him with us.

On Tuesday afternoon, Marshall and Rhonda Waterman showed up with Andy. Louanne came from work. Mom held his head. We surrounded him, touching him, talking softly and loving him.

The Strings of Compassion live harp music resonated with the most peaceful tones. The sun was shining brilliantly as we looked out on the fall colors and the river glistening below. A priest came and gave him his last rights and blessing. We all said the Lords prayer (even the nurse) as we all cried quietly. Andy wanted him to write I love you on a piece of paper but Chris could not write. Andy and Chris had some alone time together.

Then we all came back in. The comfort care nurse took off the mask. He reached up and touched his face as if to say I am home. At one point I cried out loud, and he opened his eyes wide as if to say not now, I am busy with something here....After 5 minutes, he opened his crystal aquamarine eyes and looked directly at Andy. As if to say I love you, (writing that note Andy asked for with his eyes). That gaze was like a window into heaven, full of a ceaseless supply of love, wisdom and compassion. That was the most spiritual moment of my life.

Chris came into this world in brilliant sunny October skies and left the same way.... I delighted in his raspy voice, playful nature and sense of humor. Animals loved him, and they followed him with delight. A kind man, a good man. I adored him from his first to his last breaths. My brother, my life, my heart, my pleasure. My Gem Stone forever shining. Thank you for your gifts. You are in the arms of an Angel now and will stay forever young.