To follow up on yesterday's post...this may not be easy to read. Some might even say, why post at all? Well, as Andy B. said to me, "there is no playbook for this", and honestly, I need to write this based on everyone reaching out; and, my family gets solace knowing you are reading this and thinking of us. This is hard. Goddamn, this is hard.
Michael had a seizure yesterday morning, the first he has ever had in his life (and after 11 years of living with a brain tumor). We had heard this may happen, but he (and we) never experienced it. Needless to say, it was a very, very difficult thing for my parents to witness. M came out of it ok, but he was very groggy for the rest of the day and not responsive to us. He remained in bed, resting. A hospice nurse came and she was wonderful, talking us through everything that happened and what we maybe can expect.
Now, Michael is resting comfortably in his bed. As I write this, the boy is cutting some serious Z's (typical of my brother). His eyes remain closed, but we know he hears us. His vitals are ok. We talk to him, caress his head, and play Irish music in the background for him (you should see Joe Whyte use Alexa!) We firmly believe that he is comfortably making his way along his path. Maybe he's having a meal at Maccheroni in Rome in his dreams, or walking with Uncle Jimmie along 5th Avenue.
The question is, of course, how long will this last? Honestly, no one knows, which makes it very hard on us. It is also hard to believe how quickly this has happened.
I've said it before, God Bless my wonderful, loving parents. They are angels...they are strong.
And as I wrote yesterday, we appreciate some quiet time with him and we know you're thinking about us, so do not feel obligated to call or write. Our requests...continue thinking of Michael stories and share with T.J. and more importantly, give someone a Michael Whyte smile today and be grateful for your Sunday. We love you...
3 comments:
I have struggled mightily in trying to come up with one specific story about Mike. We had so many good times and great laughs. One afternoon when we lived at the Hanks Hill Road house, Mike, Andy, Seto and myself were standing in the kitchen. Seto was on the phone, I think with his mom, and drinking a can of soda. He put the can down on top of the stove for a split second. Mike picked it up and put a hole in it using a small pocket knife or bottle opener attached to a key chain. Brian didn’t see him do it, picked up the can and took a big swig. It took a solid second or two before he realized the soda was pouring down his shirt. Andy and I started laughing hysterically. Brian said “I’ll call you back” and Mike turned and ran upstairs into his bedroom. Brian chased while Andy and I laughed and laughed. One of those things you’d have to be there to really appreciate, but Andy and I will never forget.
-- More than anything, I will remember that Mike was always game. Travel, UConn basketball, casino, trips to Boston College, Providence, Boulder for New Years. Anything! A great steak dinner, he was in. And he always had a smile and a great laugh. We shared so many good laughs right from the beginning. He traveled the world and lived in incredible places. I didn’t have that in me and always admired his ability to just go. In my words, he was always game.
--When Drew and I took him for lunch a few weeks back, we followed Mike who made a wrong turn out the door on the way out. When we turned around to go back the other way, Mike chuckled that Mike Whyte laugh and threw his arm around Drew. It was classic Mike Whyte. If something goofy happened or he made a joke at your expense, he would laugh that laugh and throw his arm around you. On the way home, Drew simply said, the Mike I knew is still in that body. Maybe not on the surface, but he’s there.
--Matt R
Thanks for the update, TJ. Very sorry to hear about his seizure. Hats off to Mike, you, and your whole family for fighting the good fight!
From Sedor (Seto) - I still text with a small college EX crew pretty regularly. Shearer reminded me about Mike's candor and openness when we pledged the fraternity way back 25 years ago. We had a pledge class of close to 15 ppl and Mike was one of the first be comfortable sharing some of his personal goals. He set the tone and was just himself, comfortable in his skin, even if we were all new to each other and on a journey pledging a fraternity together. Yeah, maybe he made some of our brothers hang in the hallway shivering after a swim in Mirror lake, and could bust chops and puff his chest out for the guys in our dorm that came to EX after us (Duaner, Nutsos, Roach), but he was, is and always will be a brother. The fraternity gave Mike and us all, another circle to run in and that suited him as a people person. More and more memories come back about the dorm crew, Hanks Hill, and the fraternity.
Not to mention the years after college...
Mike and his roommate (Chris?) opened they're doors to about a half dozen of us and a bunch of girls to crash on their floor after he moved to NYC. Chris was not happy and Mike was kinda pissed eventually, but only kinda - hahahaha. Good time, even if we were sort of jerks (hey we were self centered 22 year olds!). Lots of reminiscing about that.
New Orleans, mike visiting or working up in Boston when Andy was in Cambridge and I was in Brighton and more.
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