Walter Landin's Memorial Fund

Walter Landin's Obituary:

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Walter Landin, a beloved husband, father, brother, and brother-in-law; who passed away on January 16, 2021 at 3:20pm.  He is survived by his wife Ana and his three children; Michael, Christina and Vanessa.  Walter was a loving father, devoted husband, a loyal friend, and a kind soul with an infectious smile.

He loved spending time with his family, his friends and his dogs. He enjoyed a good BBQ, visiting Disney World, watching sports, and on special occasions dinner at Benny Hana’s.  Walter loved music, the color blue, classic old movies, and cooking.
 
In his early years, Walter was a New York hairstylist working on Madison Avenue for the renowned Vidal Sassoon Salon and later opened his own salon, Linea. His styling career spanned several decades encompassing early Punk music style trends, continuing through to the “bigger hair is better” fashion scene of the 1980’s.  Colleagues and clients would often comment about how “Walter took great pride in creating unique personal looks for each of his clients”.
 
More recently, Walter’s career in the Florida hospitality industry working in organizations such as, Marriot, Disney’s MGM Studios and Disney’s Dolphin Resort provided an opportunity for Walter to meet many life-long friends.
 
Although our hearts are heavy from his passing we are comforted in knowing that he is resting peacefully in God’s loving arms. He will be truly missed.

Donations may be made for Walter’s family in his memory and are extremely appreciated. The donations will go to medical expenses along with memorial services.
 

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                                                Below is the entire story of what Walter Landin experienced from
                                                                        November 28th 2020 -Jan.16th 2021                                                                 
                                              A total of 50 days being cared for at multiple hospitals and rehabs.

          Please excuse the grammar. This was very difficult to recount theses events  as well as to write it out.
                                                                                    I hope you can understand.

     Walter Landin at 62 years old had always been a man and father that provided for his family. That was his way of expressing love. A man of few words is how he would be described by his family. Thus he had a hard time telling his kids and wife how much he loved them through words and affection. And by not expressing himself and keeping his thoughts and emotions bottled up so tightly depression became a frequent friend to him.
     Like many people during March of 2020 Walter lost his job in hospitality. He tried his best to look for work. With no luck. He was depressed and filled with anxiety. Along with this Walter suffered from diabetes and only had one functioning kidney. That very kidney was donated to Water by his wife Ana back in August of 2008.
     During 2020 not able to get back to a normal 9-5 job he was lost. And contemplated applying for early retirement. To start to enjoy his life again and stop stressing about work and money. One of the things that warmed Walters heart was having the love of dogs. On May 2020 Walter pleaded with his kids and wife to purchase two new puppies. His family reluctantly said yes. That was one of his happiest days. On November 28th 2020 Walter was rushed to the hospital. Walter ended up having a stroke, an embolism, pneumonia, and 4 blood clots in his right leg. After being in the hospital for over 2 weeks the the doctors said he recovered and was approved to go to rehab. The only rehab that his provider approved was located  an hour and a half away from his family. Walter's daughter Vanessa transported him to Sea Pines rehab. The rehab provided mandatory covid tests on Walter. Walter's test came out positive. He was then transported to another hospital called Palm Bay Hospital after only being in the rehab for two days. Covid patients are not permitted to have any visitors for ten days. Walter's family called the hospital every day for the next 10days from 6am-10pm at night asking for health updates. Along with phone calls to Walter.
     Ana called the hospital again and if Walter was getting much nourishment. The nurse told Ana that she could only get him to eat four bites of a meal. Ana was worried for her husband and asked the nurse if it was ok if her daughter can bring homemade food to Walter. The nurse said that would be allowed but he would not be permitted to be visited. Vanessa drove an hour and a half to bring her mothers homemade food to her father. After Vanessa dropped off the food at the hospital and was about to leave the main entrance she got a call from the nurse that was providing care for her father. She told Vanessa that they moved her father to an area where her father can have visitors. Since Walter completed his 10 days he was "in covid recovery phase". Vanessa immediately parked the car and went to her fathers room. 
     Walter looked weaker since the last time she saw him. He was happy to see Vanessa but was so tired and exhausted to say much. Vanessa stayed with her father from 9:30am - 9:30pm. Her goal was to provide her father care and get her father to eat his homemade food and drink as much water as she could get him to drink. The next day Vanessa went to go visit her Father again. She believes time is the most precious gift in life. She arrived back at the hospital in the morning. She was told by her fathers nurse that he would be discharged and transported to the rehab called WaveCrest. The nurse said his next step was "to get stronger." Vanessa questioned the nurse asking the nurse "in your professional experience have you seen worst patients go to rehab?" The nurse replied "yes". Vanessa didn't think her father should go to the rehab but her and her family trusted the doctors and their recommendations.
     When her father was in the process of being placed in the transport van at 1:30pm she looked at him and said I love you. Walter smiled and said  "I love you" back. She followed the transport van to make sure he arrived at the rehab safely. Vanessa left and headed home to be with her mother Ana. Ana called the rehab center at 6pm the same evening to see how her husband was doing. They rehab nurse said he was stable but he was still positive for covid. And didn't understand why Walter was sent there. 21 hours later At 10:50am the next morning Ana received a call from the rehab facility stating that Walter was sent to the emergency room at Holmes hospital across the street. His oxygen level dropped to 37%. After receiving the call Ana and Vanessa hopped in their car and  rushed over to the emergency room to get more information. Walter was in the emergency room from 11am-9pm at night waiting for the next available ICU bed to open up at any hospital near by.
     Viera Hospital 30 minutes away was able to get an ICU bed for Walter. The nurses and Doctors at  Holmes Hospital feared for Walter's life. They knew it was a risk to send him in an ambulance in the state that he was. Fearing that he wouldn't be able to make it to the next hospital alive. They took the risk because an ICU is where Walter needed to be. And as fate had it he did make it to Viera Hospital. Walter would have to again begin his 10 day covid care since his he had a "covid relapse". Vanessa, Christina, and Ana decided to stay at a hotel 4mins away from the Hospital. They wanted to make sure they were near by for Walter if anything happened. During the next 4 days Walters major body organs would start to deteriorate, especially his kidney.
     On the second day Walter's family were able to see him through a video call. And share words of inspiration and hope to give Walter the strength he needed to fight. Walter's family believed he could over come this battle. On that very night they received a call from the doctor that cared for their father. One the third day Dr. K phone called the Landin family in the evening stated that "Walter's vital signs were not getting better and will be deteriorating more. And the fact is that Walter is a 62 year old man who has one kidney that is deteriorating, lungs that are being assisted by a bi-pap machine at 100% assistance, and he is not eating or drinking water. As well as has minimal response. And he is not a suitable candidate to receive a kidney transplant when his kidney fails him." The entire day the family kept calling the hospital to have another video call with Walter. The hospital kept saying they would set up a video call at a specific time but would push back the time.
     At 9pm Vanessa called the hospital one last time to get that video call. The night shift nurse felt compassionate and felt guilty that the hospital did not follow through on the video call request when promised. The nurse was able to set up the video call and give Walter's family a couple minutes to see him.  After that video call Ana, Christina, Michael and Vanessa all knew deep down their father was suffering and they needed to do what was right for him. The next morning on the fourth day at 6am Walter's family called the hospital to schedule the "the comforting process" at 12:30pm. The comfort process was described as sedating Walter with the medicine such as Ativan, Morphine, and Valium to prepare him for traveling too that next place. Ativan was given to help with Walter's anxiety. Morphine for his pain. And Valium for muscle spasms and anxiety. It will help Walter not feel the sensations his body will go through. When a patient has covid the hospitals only allow one person from that family to be with their loved one before they pass. The hospital made an exception an allowed two family members to come to be with Walter. As a family they decided to choose Vanessa and Christina to be with their father Walter.
     Walter's wife Ana desperately wanted to be with him since she had not seen him for 50 days. But she has COPD and a low immune system that would put her at risk. Walter's only son Michael chose to not see his father because he knew that would change him and affect him in a negative way. In a way that affects his mental health. And decided to do what was healthy for him.
     Christina and Vanessa arrived at the hospital at 12:15pm wearing their covid protective gear. They headed to the main entrance and got checked by the security guard. He checked their bags and checked their temperatures. They were cleared and were guided by nurse Courtney to meet with nurse Jenna who provided care for Walter. Nurse Jenna gave Christina and Vanessa the hospital protective covid gear such as mask, gloves, plastic apron, googles, and hair net. She explained to Christina's and Vanessa that their father is in a pressurized room to contain the air flow. To cancel out any covid from getting out of his room and into the hospital hallways.
     Jenna took Christina and Vanessa to room #309 and saw their father Walter hooked up to his bi-pap machine. His body was struggling with every breath he took to gain air into his lungs. Eyes closed, hands lifeless, and feet cold. Jenna explained that Walter could be touched, hugged, and spoken too. While Christina and Vanessa held their fathers hand Jenna started accepting Walters immediate and extended family to be on the virtual video call. During this Jenna also played the first song Vanessa requested for her father named "Broken Wings" by Mr.Mister. Vanessa lead the entire group through prayer and said "Lord we thank you for giving us the opportunity to be here with Walter. Giving us the gift of Walter Landin. We kindly ask that you bring all the archangels here to be with my father. To help prepare him and guide him to that next place. We ask that all the pain that he feels is give to us to bare. We ask that you give him the nourishment we have to him. We ask that you give him the air that we have to fill up his lungs so we may breath for him. We ask  that he is surrounded by love and light. In the name of Jesus christ amen". Vanessa called on every family member individually to share their last words with Walter on this earth. Tell him what he means to them and how much they love him and will miss him. Vanessa ended the time left by telling her father Walter to "dream a beautiful dream and to come and visit her and her family." And hopes that he will be their angel to watch over them all.
     Jenna told Christina and Vanessa that their time has ended. And it was time to say good bye one last time to their father. Afterwards they were sent to a calming room where Jenna consoled Christina and Vanessa and stated that "your father is a fighter and will most likely pass away this evening." Vanessa and Christina expressed their gratitude to Jenna for the care she has provided for their father. Jenna said that she promised to treat Walter like he was her own father. Vanessa took Christina's hand and walked to the elevator and out the hospital entrance to the their car. Vanessa was sad but was able to be clear and grounded while driving. Christina was in a state of shock. She was numb and did make a sound, move, or blink throughout the drive. During their drive at 3:25pm Jenna called Vanessa and Christina to be added to the call she was on with their mother Ana. Jenna explained that she called Anna at 3:20pm and said that Walter's heart beat was extremely low. She was able to put the phone to Walters ear so Ana could say her last words to him. Ana told Walter "I love you and I'll be with you for eternity." After those words were expressed Walter passed away.

We hope this story will remind you the importance of making sure you leave no word unsaid when it comes to telling your mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, aunt, uncle, grandma, grand pa, or your dearest friends how much they mean to you and how much you love them. 

Thank you for reading. 

Donations may be made for Walter’s family in his memory and are extremely appreciated. The donations will go to medical expenses along with memorial services.

"Keep the faith"
-Walter Landin