10.25.2007 Our Most Momentous Day!

Everyone:

I have been remiss in posting as I have been concentrating all of my time on Bruce and our family. As many of you  know he enter the hospital on Sept 5th. We had every hope and expectation of a successful surgery to remove the cancer and be restored to health within a two week recovery time in hospital plus a brief rest at home, return to work, able to eat and speak normally...essentially to regain his life full throttle. Nothing else was on our radar. We were both shocked by healing challenges and another very long surgery which resulted being in ICU for over two weeks.

Bruce Anthony Bourgault died today (Thursday @ 4:40 PM Hawaii Time) at Queen's Medical Center's ICU surrounded by family members, Linda and Judy Bourgault, Lisa Albright, Chaplain Scott from Queen's, Army Battalion Chaplain Inghilterra, his assistant Wellington, and ICU nurses - Josh, Swi Ming, Michelle, and Kay. Immediate and extended family, friends, associates, doctors, nurses and so many more were with us in spirit...as they have been with us during this past year during Bruce's challenge with cancer

As a family we decided to let Bruce go on Friday morning, but Bruce and God had a different plan. We responded with love and compassion to honor his wishes...everyone and everything fell into place = Divine Order. We had private time with him, his children called, they sent lovely Hawaiian flowers, my family called, the ICU staff prepared him with compassion and dignity, Chaplain Scott visited with us, we joined as one in prayer and scripture, Judy shared a special prayer of passage, Army Chaplain Inghilterra (a cancer survivor since July) and Wellington arrived, we joined in prayer again, I held Bruce's hand with my other hand over his heart...I felt his heart stop, he died peacefully, without struggle. Being with Bruce, knowing he was surrounded by love and God's grace with people who loved and cared for him, was the most beautiful experience I have ever witnessed. Even in death he continued to guide us gently, protect us and gave us "The Greatest Gift"...Love! 

Preparing for this day has been the saddest, most heartbreaking and difficult challenge of my life, yet living/believing/knowing the life I share with Bruce and the reawakening of my Faith in God has given me strength to face this day ... I can't really express this experience in words. Just know from my perspective that the nearness of Bruce and God (and so much more) created this day as most momentous, beautiful day and will never-ever be forgotten and cherished in my heart and soul for all time.

Thank you to each and everyone of you for being with us as we appreciate your love, respect, steadfastness, and faith for one of the best human beings you will ever encounter...the most wonderful man many us will ever know.

We are now making plans on Friday for B's cremation and local/Hawaiian funeral mass service. We will celebrate his life and will let you know our plans very soon for local services and additional service to scatter his ashes. Stay tuned...I will let one-n-all know about local services when they are in place. Please continue your prayers for Bruce and our family.

My niece, Lisa, and I shared a toast of champagne to My Love complimented by a bright full moon celebrating his  passage to his new Life tonight. We hope you will join us in celebrating Bruce's life as well.  Please do not forget  B's "hot dog" day via Activerain members. We need to set a date to honor him with hot dogs, beer or other beverage of choice.

David Kucic has been gracious enough to keep you informed until I was able to post again...and continues to help us through this special time...I cannot thank him enough for all of his timely and most needed help.

Mahalo (thank you) again to everyone for sharing this time with us.

All our love and Alohas,

Linda & Family

posted by Linda Bourgault