My Beloved Husband Ted

by Martha
(Strongsville,ohio)

I lost my husband on April 30,2010 by him being assaulted by a fellow veteran in a VA hospital in Ohio... My husband took me to work the morning of April 27th and was supposed to pick me up after I got off work at 5:30.. He had an appointment with his social worker at 10:am....Usually he would call me after his appt. And tell me what he was going to do the rest of the day..I kissed him good bye that morning and never imagined how my life was going to change. By 4 pm I didn't hear from him and I started to get worried because it was not like him not to call me...He had a lot of medical problems but was doing better...When I got home at 6:30 pm and no Ted was home I freaked out...called my son, he told me to call the VA which I did and someone there told me that Ted had left an hour ago...I knew that wasn't true so I got in touch with his social worker and I asked her if Ted was ok because I had not heard from him all day...She said to me "oh u didn't hear" and I said heard what and she said "oh I am so sorry no one called you". By this time I was going out of my mind with worry...She asked me if I was sitting down and told me that My Ted was assaulted by another veteran and was in the hospital.....By the time I got to the hospital Ted was in a coma and never came out of it....For 3 days I hoped for a miracle but it never happened..My children and I had to pull the plug and watch him take his last breath...All the health issues he had and overcame and I lost him without saying good bye and telling him how much I loved him..because of a stupid action by another person....I just can't seem to get over the fact that I never got to say good bye....