Do we know what happened?
He just... stopped. Just in a moment. Keeled over on the sofa. I walked into the living room where he was watching Monty Python's Flying Circus on DVD and I didn't see him sitting in his usual spot (i.e. his head sticking up so I can see it over the back of the sofa). I walked closer and found him slumped over on the sofa sideways as if he'd been really tired and just laid over to exhaustion-nap. But he was unresponsive. I dialed 911, did CPR, and the EMTs came and did CPR and more, but he couldn't be revived.
Probably heart attack or aneurysm or blood clot or something. He looked peaceful. There was no sign of struggling. I like to think he was unaware and his body just went from on to off for some reason. The coroner is still deciding what he's going to do, apparently. it's a rural county and the coroner has to decide if he's going to send the body to another county for autopsy. As of 5pm Friday they hadn't decided. And they haven't been in when I've phoned today. We are planning the funeral for Friday morning assuming his body will be released in the next day or so.
I don't think he suffered. It was just way too soon. So shocking. Like he was violently ripped from our arms even though there was no violence. He was so healthy (good annual check up at the cancer center in August) and fit (still cycling almost every day, training for his next century ride in November, slim and trim, only 54, etc.). We thought he would outlive everyone. I am bereft. Mama is bereft. His Mom is inconsolable. Everyone who loved him is in shock. We are just going on like zombies.
He was truly the best of men. He loved me even when I was unlovable. He never had a harsh word to say to anyone. He never passed up an opportunity to help people. We are at a loss without him. Helpless.
