The fight is over.

Leo's fight with Leukemia ended this morning around 10am. The last week has been horrible for him. They were able to control the bleeding, but were not able to drain the fluid that was collecting in his lungs, so he was having a more and more difficult time breathing. He was going back and forth from the ICU whenever his heart rate would increase. On Friday morning, I got a call from one of the doctors on Leo's oncology team saying that his heart rate was really high again and his breathing was very labored. I made an attempt to rush to the hospital, but was stuck in downtown traffic. Thanks so much to Fevin for giving me the advice to ride on the shoulder with my hazards on, as this got me through the worst part of traffic. As I was waiting in traffic, his doctor called again and said they couldn't control his heart rate and breathing pattern, and he was estimating that Leo had 24 hours to live. He was about correct, as this was around noon on Friday.

We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family that showed up to the hospital that night. Leo was on the bi-pap machine but on some morphine to make him comfortable. So many friends and family came by that night to see Leo and have some final words with him. He was still responsive to people as they spoke inhis ear. His eyes still opened as they heard familiar voices. We took over the entire 6th floor at the hospital. Thank you so much to everyone and I know that Leo appreciated seeing everyone for one last time. He saw the girls and smiled at them all and the girls all said their goodbyes to their dad in their own way. Most stayed until around 2 that morning and a few of us stayed the night. Around 9:30 in the morning, his doctor spoke with me and said that the oxygen machine was not helping him anymore and we could take the mask off at anytime, but that he would be gone soon after. We stopped the machine around 9:40 and he was gone around 9:45. It was horribly difficult in ways I cannot explain, but Leo was ready to go and was just so exhausted. He is finally at peace.

We are making arrangements for a wake for this Monday and Tuesday and a funeral mass on Wednesday, but we're still confirming plans. I will post the arrangements at some point tomorrow. Thanks so much to everyone for your calls, texts and IM's. I can't respond to you all now at this point, but know that all your kind words will help me and the girls through this difficult time. I hope to see most of you in the next week to pay your final respects to my wonderful husband. Take care and I love you all.