Life Perspectives - George and Alpha

   I often espouse my opinions and lament about public school issues in this column, but sometimes relate personal views and perspectives of events which have affected us all at one time or another. Every now and then something happens to each of us which causes a realignment of what is really important in life. It seems that those life-changing events happen at a faster rate when we get older. Twenty-five years ago, my twelve year old nephew, Austin Beckham, tragically died from an accidental gunshot. I still haven't fully recovered. The child's father (my brother) hasn't either, but he was the strongest I've ever seen in dealing with this tragedy.
   I suppose some people have such an inner strength and faith, that they actually become stronger when faced with adversity. Such is the case of my brother... and Glenn Floyd, who lost two young daughters in a house fire in the 1970's. I asked both my brother and Glenn how they recovered from such a personal tragedy, and their answers were the same - Faith in God and work. People also must have another reason to continue on, and its usually for others. In other words, when something tragically happens to a loved one, most people actually become stronger and more faithful for their loved ones still around them. It is when this reason for living disappears, that many couples leave us at the same time.
   George Ingram, my brother-in-law, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about three months ago. A pancreatic cancer diagnosis is most often a death sentence in the majority of cases, but George fought valiantly with the help of his wife Alpha. Unfortunately, George succumbed to the disease at the end of September. The battle was gut-wrenching for George as well as Alpha, and it took its toll on her. George was 63 at the time of his passing, and Alpha was 58 (still young by my standards).
   On Wednesday, October 2, 2019, a neighbor found Alpha unresponsive in her home. She was transported to the hospital and placed in intensive care. My wife Sherrie (Alpha's sister) went to the hospital to support Alpha. Sherrie stayed with her for several days. The next week, on Tuesday evening, as Sherrie was taking a break to eat, Alpha called her from the hospital and said she was dying. Sherrie rushed back to the hospital to see Alpha and try to comfort her. That night, Alpha "coded" and became comatose. The doctors and nurses did everything they could over the next several hours to save her, but at around 10 AM on October 9 - they decided that they could only make her comfortable during her last few hours. Sherrie asked them to stop extraordinary life-support at around 12:50 PM. Alpha left us at 1 PM on October 9, and is now with her husband George - where she always wanted to be.