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| Andrea & Trevor Dancing in Washago |
I received an email from one of my Ramara Centre dance students who informed me that the reason they had not been back to classes was because her beautiful man was dying. She called me because they and I had such wonderful memories of laughing so hard and the joy on his face when he danced was infectious! He had gone through colon cancer, recovered from that then liver with chemo... the usual insidious assault on the body so many of us have had to endure.
Trevor had recovered enough to come to the Fall class, I didn't know that it had spread to his spine which is why he had to sit down a lot but he wanted to swing with me and we let it rip! His face lit up so brightly when he danced I can see him now as our 'spirits' danced in total joy!
I phoned Andrea and immediately went into my 'afterlife' conclusions and sent her the video I made of my son's testimonial of his NDE where he died and came back and the joy he felt on the other side to give her something to assist her in the courageous journey she was on. I then discovered the doctors that are now coming forward with their stories of people upset with them when they have been brought back because they were so happy and free of their broken and diseased vessels.
Andrea asked me to come and visit him in the little hospital room she set up in their home to see if I could help him as she knew he was fearing his death. He was so happy to see me and he started talking about his last class, and those of you who were in that class with him may remember it. He especially rememberd the other young couple as they were all laughing together at their attempts to get past their awkwardness. I took the opportunity to drop some seeds on the subject of 'transition' and told him of all the studies I had done with a circle of Cherokee Medicine people and Tibetan Buddhists and how we all used to 'know' that we are all-knowing eternal beings of light and energy and why the natives would go off to die alone. Studies have shown that most people wait 'to go' until their friends and families have left as it is hard to leave with such a strong attachment in their presence.
Last Wednesday he started blood transfusions at Soldiers Memorial's outpatient clinic and Andrea asked if I could visit him there as it was 6 hours and she had to work and had the kids. I jumped at the chance and again expressed to her what an honor it was for me to be invited to share in this very personal experience and would do whatever I could to help alleviate his fears. I stayed with him for about an hour and in between his nodding off I had him laughing a little as I told him this is when I usually get 'called in' because he is a 'captive' audience and can't get away! He then remembered his sister being visited by their father after he passed and I could feel that he was 'lightening' up and 'getting it'. He was starting to sleep more so I said I would leave and gave me the strongest hug he could.
He passed away on Tuesday and true to human form he 'transitioned' 5 minutes after his family left the room. Andrea and I had both lost the photos of them from when I had my dances at the Washago Community Centre but one of my dancers still had them and sent them to me last night. I am sharing all this because the pure joy some of my students have experienced when dancing regardless of the condition of their 'vessel' stays with them. The experience of sharing this joy with his partner's 'dancing' spirit' provided a happy place for Trevor and Andrea to go back to in their time of need. I will always be grateful and in awe of Andrea's and all the partners who have gathered their courage and strength to assist their loved ones to transition as it is one of the most important things we can do as 'human beings'.
There are two viewings today at Carson Funeral Home I will be at the 7pm one. The funeral will be in the L. Doolittle chapel tomorrow at 1pm if anyone is interested in joining me or just lending some support to Andrea and her two beautiful children.
