Today is my brother’s birthday. Although he is no longer here to celebrate, the love in his children he left behind is inspiring. No matter where they are in the world…via skype they will share a meal and celebrate their dad. Six years ago this March 9th, my brother left this earth. He was the one to rescue me from a molesting neighbor, and the one sibling to come and hold my child that had passed on. So gently, he scooped her from my arms, and held her with such care and tenderness, even though she had passed on to her heavenly home, the hour before. He was a gentle giant, and big teddy bear when it came to the smallest among us. I have no doubt he watches over his children, and is oh so proud of the adults they have become. He would have been an amazing grandfather to the three wee ones born to his kids. He suffers no more, and I am sure he is sharing his gift as an artist with all of the wee angels in heaven. God Bless each of his children as they remember him today on his birthday.
March 9, 2011
My brother Patrick Gordon McCants has left his body, to join my father and our beloved Uncle Bill in heaven. May he be raised up on eagles wings.
As I have mentioned before, I come from a large family. I am the 7th of 11 children. My brother Patrick was number 2.
From an early age, he was my protector. Like me, he had the look of the Irish with jet black hair and blue eyes. Patrick was eight years older than me. As kids, we called him Ricky.
My last best memory of my brother and I together was a trip to Disneyland. My husband and I treated his wife and young son with our kids to a day of magic. Patrick was a two- sided character. One moment filled with glee, and the next filled with gruffness. A reason for this I will get to in a minute. But first, this trip. On this day, he was the happiest I had ever seen. He had four children, and three lived with their mother in Hawaii. We went to Disneyland with his youngest son, who was his spitting image. We set off on this adventure cautiously because my brother “hated” Disneyland, or so he thought! It was the rare time, that I was without a camera, and we just enjoyed the day. We had the most magnificent joyous day, and his son was over the moon by the time we left. As was sometimes my brothers way, he went back in time, and enjoyed the trip as if a young child. WOW! Was he happy! Went on every silly kid ride, just to experience the joy with his young son.
This day itself was a miracle. You see, my brother should not have been here to even produce another child. Nearly twenty years ago, he suffered from a brain tumor. A medullablastoma. Half of his brain stem was removed, and doctors did not say a word until he was fully conscious, because missing half of your brain stem, is not generally a pleasant thing! A patient does not always fully regain all of their faculties. But true to Patrick’s form he fought the good fight, and lived and even thrived for a long time. He was the most remarkable graphic artist. Always sketching where ever he may be. He was a gifted drum major in his youth and could drum with his fingers like none other. He was a gifted musician, and an amazing auto technician. He could diagnose a Mercedes Benz, the way a cardiologist can diagnose a bad heart. He was that good.
When my first born came into the world, I managed his Mercedes Service Center. Ariana came to work every day with me, and we worked upstairs in a loft. Her Uncle Patrick would take his breaks speaking to her in all of his silly kid voices. When his fourth child was to arrive, we showered his wife with all that a little boy would need. It was a glorious time.
Patrick gave up the service center soon after the cancer diagnosis, and he moved up to Northern California with his young family. It was from up north that they came to visit Disneyland.
I saved my best memory for last. As you can imagine, in a large family, there are many, many dynamics, and competition for who gets what. When I was turning 17, my brother Patrick did for me what is to this day the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. He was working for a Mercedes dealership at the time, and knew how I adored that car — He was given permission to borrow a top of the line 500 series, and he picked me up and took me to a Bette Midler concert! It was A M A Z I N G! He thought of it all, just for his baby sister! He planned it all, soup to nuts, just for me! Can you imagine a brother being that kind?
It is a memory I will cherish forever.
My brother has taken his final journey. He lived a life full of ups and downs, and roller coaster moments. As a young child, he lost his beloved Uncle (my dads brother). I was not yet born, but I heard from my dad that Patrick was closest to our Uncle Bill, and the sudden loss was devastating. I don’t think he ever got over that pain, and his sometimes reckless behavior reflected that. What I do know for sure was that by the time his brain tumor was removed, it was the size of a golf ball. Since it is usually identified as a childhood cancer, it was most likely growing since his youth. Brain tumors will do all sorts of things to your personality. He was lucky, my brother. He lived much longer than he was supposed to. I will hold in my heart, only memories he and I shared, and I know that he suffers no more. He has gone home to my dad and uncle, where he will spend all of eternity.
I always say I am one of eleven. I am still one of eleven children, but now when people ask where everyone lives, I will say ten on earth, and one in heaven. Vaya Con Dios Patrick. May the peace of the Lord be with your children during this most difficult time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]