Under normal circumstances, when someone is in a hospital and is close to bidding goodbye, family members gather round to support each other. Still, with the pandemic, they can only talk on the phone or through video chat like in FaceTime. Such is the case of the Adair family, whose 76-year-old father, Don, was hospitalized in Rochester, New York. They talked for 30 hours on the phone before Don died.
Saying Goodbye
In an interview with CNN, one of the children of Don Adair, Abby Adair Reinhard, shared how a good-hearted nurse offered to have the telephone next to their father's ear. Reinhard then merged the call to his other siblings. They were living away from each other, in Denmark, Texas, and North Carolina, while their father was hospitalized in upstate New York. Reinhard recalls that Don was not able to speak and that they could only hear his breaths, but they still found this moment as a huge blessing.
They stayed on the phone with their father for more than thirty hours. Knowing that it is already their last chance to talk to their father, the sibling made sure they made the most out of it. They shared stories, sang songs, and remembered all the good memories that they shared as a family. Some of these were their singing around a campfire while their father was playing his guitar. There were also moments when they feel they were all dozing off, and then one of them would cheer their father and say, "We love you, Dad, we're here for you, Dad."
After more than thirty hours on the phone, Adair already bid his goodbye to the world last April 7, one hour after the phone call with his family ended.
The closure that the family needed
For the entire Adair family, it was difficult to let their father go during a time that they cannot even see him in person. However, the 30-hour phone call allowed them to have closure. Adair Reinhard shared that during the phone call, she was able to say what she had to, especially since she knew it was the end for his father. That included apologizing, thanking, and forgiving her father for everything that happened to them. Although the physical aspect was missing, they consider the call very valuable.
Just like any other family, the coronavirus has changed Adair Reinhard's perspective about life. The business shutdowns due to coronavirus initially stressed her as she owns a small business. However, her father's death changed all that. She knew now that more than anything, life is really about family and love.
Don Adair: A business lawyer
According to Reinhard, aside from being a loving father, their dad is also an active member of the community. His daughter describes him as a man who has a heart for helping people.
Adair is a business lawyer. And aside from knowing his way around the laws, he also spent his life helping people start their dream businesses.
