Looking back...

We got a call today from the pathologist who did my brother's autopsy.  He stated that even though we had the death certificate that stated that he died from Pulmonary Edemic Congestion, he had more information to give us now that all of the toxicology was back.  I called it back in December... Obstructive Sleep Apnea caused the congestive heart failure.  He said that the congestive heart failure was not something that he dealt with for any time.  He just stopped breathing due to the sleep apnea and that caused his lungs to fill with fluid.  A silent thief in the night.  He was not dealing with other serious health conditions that we were speculating over the past week since receiving the death certificate.

I was looking on the internet during the call and came across this paragraph during my search.  It all makes sense now. "People with sleep apnea syndrome have a higher risk of death than the normal population. The price they pay includes a potentially crippling deterioration in daily functioning, an increased risk of high blood pressure and stroke, depression, and death either in accidents or in their sleep. There are terrible costs for the family of the person with sleep apnea syndrome, who may experience irritability, mood changes, lowered sexual drive and capacity, and a reduction of intellectual ability. In addition there are major business, insurance, health, and social costs including the loss of productivity, the impact of accidents caused by a driver or worker falling asleep, and the wasted health care dollars spent on alleviating symptoms like heart disease without treating their possible underlying cause."

I mention this for those who are awaiting insurance approval, or contemplating a band to deal with this condition.  Please don't take sleep apnea lightly!

Here is the article: http://www.healthyresources.com/sleep/apnea/articles/protect.html  A lot of the things mentioned in this article make a lot of sense looking back.  If I can say one thing that gives me peace, it would be a thankfulness that this only took him.  I say that because 2 weeks after his death, he was set to start over the road truck driving classes with a guaranteed employment. He had been looking for a job for a long time.  We just thought he was really lazy.  I thank the Lord for not allowing him to take this condition over the road and possibly take someone with him.  My brother was a very caring and loving man, it would have broken him if something had happened in a big rig and he took someones life.

I love you Bill. I always will miss you, but I feel so much better knowing that you weren't keeping any problems you were having from me.  I feel fortunate to have been your sister.  I wish my kids would have been able to spent more time with you, but as the article suggests... sleep apnea is a thief in the night.  I'm sorry we suggested you were lazy.

This is the last picture that we have together.  It was taken about a month before he left us.