A remarkable man.

My son Jack was supposed to die. That’s why I came to see him. At the hospice. In Kennewick in the state of Washington.  I spent five days with Jack  And he refused to die. Yes, Jack is stubborn. He wants to live. A while longer.  Jack is gaunt. Looks like he just got out of Auschwitz. Jack has lung cancer. And it has  spread. Throughout his frail, emaciated body. Jack is semi-conscious. He talks in a whisper. Says he wants to live another day, maybe a week, or more. He takes life one day at a time. Free and clear of medications. Except for the stuff that helps quell the pain. I tell Jack. That it’s all right to surrender. To let go. To see if death will unshackle his spirit. And allow for a better life in a spiritual dimension. Where there are no physical restraints. But Jack doesn’t want to let go of the physical. He’d prefer being reincarnated. In the physical realm. Over and over and over. Jack thinks that would be far better than being a spirit. Jack is very much a physical being. And he wants to stay physical. As long as possible. Jack asked that his life be prolonged. By inserting a feeding tube into his stomach. Every day. Jack finds reason to live. One day longer. On Sunday, it was the Super Bowl. On Monday, it was something else. Same goes for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  Jack hasn’t yet tired of living. Because it never is the same old daily grind. Jack always finds something to savor. For one last time. Over and over and over again. Yes, my son Jack. Is a remarkable man.--Jim Broede