Steven

During my childhood, I spent about 1/2 of it in England. Time for which I am grateful because I had the opportunity to get to know my family over there.

My cousin Steven was about 3 years older than me. Sweet natured, easy to laugh, and he loved life. He just retired from the police force last year after over 30 years. He struggled with a heart condition, that limited what he could do, but he tried.

He was married to his beautiful bride, they struggled to have a child and in 1997 their baby girl was born. She was the light of Steve's life.

They went on holiday with my cousin Les (his sister), her husband and daughter as well as their parents. They were a close knit family who often travelled and spent time together.

After they returned, Steve was not feeling well, a week ago today he went to the doctor who told him he had a gastrointestinal infection and to go home. The doctor advised him to stay away from people as it could be highly contagious. On Friday, my aunt and uncle went to check on him, he could not get out of bed, they called the doctor and he was admitted to ICU, however because it was the weekend, testing to see what was wrong was very slow. He was diagnosed with Strep....

Sunday he went into kidney failure and died.

National Health did not allow testing when he first was ill as he was not ill enough. He died for the cost of an antibiotic. Welcome to Obamacare!

I pray for my Aunt who is so totally devastated at having to bury her first born, I pray for my Uncle who has to write his son's obituary, I pray for his wife who has lost her partner in life, I pray for his daughter, who at 13 will sorely miss her father's guidance. I pray for Leslie...his sister, they were as close as two siblings could be, I pray for Leslie's dau, who was extremely close to her Uncle.
I lift my mother who wants to be there for her sister, but cannot as it is to cost prohibited.

I pray that Steve was a believer, I think he was but do not know for sure....I pray that his family will see the hand of GOD as they walk through this difficult time.