Day 79 -- Michael

Enough already.  A student, Jacob, informed this morning that his friend, Michael, also a student in my class, died on Friday the 25th.  Michael had been in a serious car accident on 4 November and, according to his obituary, put up a helluva fight to overcome his injuries.  Okay, I added the profanity.  Michael would've appreciated it.  I knew the accident left him paralyzed, but this news of his death was completely unexpected.  I had no idea that he'd even been put on life support until Jacob told me Michael's family decided to take him off the machines.  I know their anguish, but then Mom never should've been intubated at all.  I hope they got a chance to say their good-bye's.  To be present at someone's death is powerful.

Shortly after Michael's accident, I made a goofy card for the rest of his classmates and myself to sign.  I have no idea if he was ever conscious enough to read it or have it read to him.  If he did, I hope it made him chuckle.  A few weeks ago, I received an email from the college's registrar that Michael's parents were petitioning for his grades to be finalized at that point in the semester.  It was completely my decision, and I'm especially glad now that I granted that petition.  I regret not checking w/ Jacob more often to find out about Michaels' progress, but the two of them were like peanut butter and jelly..........completely inseparable and an ooey, gooey mess.  I didn't want to put Jacob through the questioning.  Even today when he talked w/ me after class, he started the conversation by saying that he wouldn't be in class on Wednesday b/c he'd be at a funeral.  I had to then ask who had passed away.  I'm not sure he would've told me if I hadn't asked.  Maybe I shouldn't have; then I could keep imagining he was getting better.

I only knew Michael for about two months, but he was a charmer.  He had a smile that was devilish and impish and sweet.  The last image I have of him in my mind is him walking past my office and flashing that huge grin w/ Jacob two steps in front of him.  That was a just a day or two before his accident.  It was a cheesy grin that materialized quickly from a deadpan expression that somehow communicated sincerity.  The two of them had been best friends since they were in first grade.  Michael told us a story in his first speech about how he pulled down his pants and mooned his first grade class.  They were fast friends from that point on.  I regret having deleted the video of that speech.  I asked the IT department if they could retrieve it from our Shared Drive, but the trail was cold.  His family would've appreciated hearing what Michael had to say about his life up until this point.  Michael would've flashed me that grin and then promptly said, "Hell, no."