Stand with Baylee: Supporting Ed's Last Wish

“Grief is the price we pay for love.”

Monday December 16th I received a message from my best friend of almost 30years, Baylee Buckels, that her father was in the ICU. I was shocked to learn that the man who was practically a second father to me was now struggling to speak. My heart broke for Baylee, her sister Madison, and the rest of her family. He was a medical mystery, the doctors didn’t know what was wrong and they tested for anything they could think of but Edward was still trapped, unable to speak and unable to move. All he could do was track with his eyes and cry…. But his family knew he was in there, they felt it… they hoped for it.

Time passed and we learned it was a stroke, multiple actually.

December 26th, Baylee let me know that Ed was now fighting pneumonia in his right lung but he was breathing on his own, walking.. talking even! Ed was improving, though it was small, it was improvement. A small victory in the grand scheme of things.

Time passed…

Yesterday January 8th, I reached out to Baylee for an update. I was happy to hear that Ed still seemed to be improving! He was still trying to talk and had even told his sister Teresa he loved her back, we were so hopeful…

24hrs later…

January 9th Baylee gave us the news I was hoping wouldn’t come… Ed was now being considered a DNR. The damage to his brain was too severe.. he could no longer eat, talk, go to the bathroom properly.. he would never be the same again and with that my heart sank deeper than the ocean itself. They spoke of Hospice and making him comfortable in his last days, he deserves that much at least.

In the beginning Ed had told Baylee that he did not want to be a vegetable… and Baylee is fully prepared to uphold his wish no matter how much it hurts. After considering their father’s wishes, his other daughter Madison made the hard call of pulling him off of all medications and nutrition, aside from those for pain. At this time he is being made comfortable.. but he will not survive this hardship…

We do not know how long they have with him but Baylee and her family will take advantage of whatever time God has given him. He is tired, and he is ready to rest now and they plan to let him….

I mentioned at the start of this story that Baylee is my best friend and that Ed was basically another parent to me. I remember spending countless days and nights in their home… and I was even there when Ed’s mother Elizabeth passed. We have been through a lot together, and I do not plan to make them go through this alone.

If you are able, I ask that you donate towards meeting this goal. Expenses will be high, and I know finances are limited with everyone… but even 1$ can make a difference. Everything raised will be given to the family.

and to Ed, I know you probably will never see this… but I love you like a daughter and I know Ninna will guide you home when you are ready ❤️

UPDATE

January 12th Ed sadly passed away…

While the news is absolutely tragic, I am glad to say he was surrounded by family and love when he passed.. his family is dealing with unimaginable loss right now… let your thoughts be with them ❤️

Ed is survived by his daughters Baylee and Madison Buckels, along with other family including his sisters Teresa Stassines, Janet Buckels-Martin, Patricia Buckels-Sonnenberg, and brother Shon Buckels.