Bob Kennedy

My dad’s story starts June 2, 2015. He was taken by ambulance to our local ER complaining of horrible stomach pains. They did a CT scan and found an ulcer had eaten into his stomach and broke open. They rushed him to Indianapolis hospital because our small northern Indiana town was not equipped to deal with the surgery he needed. Surgery was a success the next day to our excitement! Our family was looking forward to having our dad, husband, and grandpa back home. Three days later, all of the sudden, he was talking to his nurse and screams in pain. The same pain he had the night of his ER visit. His surgery had not been a success, due to his heart being in congestive failure. He was also suffering from vasculitis, which causes huge black and blue blisters to appear on your body.

Second surgery was done but the beginning of the end for my father began. We spent another 6 weeks traveling 2 hours one way to see him degrade more each day. At about week 2, he was unaware of who any of us were. Week 3 of hospital stay, his kidneys shut down completely. They wanted to put a drain tube in to drain the infection off as much as they could, but it was clear it was winning. Week 4 and 5, we tried to stay as much as we could. It was clear to me my dad was never coming home again. It was to hard for my mother to accept and she wanted the doctors to do everything to preserve his life.

July, 10 2015 they told our family that there was nothing more they could do and if we decided to take him off all life support measures, it would be a good thing. Family came in from out of state to say their goodbyes to this larger than life man. My kids said goodbye to the only grandpa they have had in their life for 17 and 14 years. His heart was just not strong enough to fight the sepsis that had ravaged his body. He passed away July 12, 2015 at 7:28 am.

Our life will never be the same without my dad. He was full of life, laughter, wit and loved his wife, kids and grandkids more than life itself. He made me promise to take care of my mom and his grandkids and I will never waiver on that promise to him. Sepsis ultimately took this great man from us but sepsis didn’t take our memories, or love we will always carry with us for him.

Source: by Michelle Erbaugh (Bob's daughter)