Number 19

Prior to September 20, 2020, I did not know anybody that had tested positive for Covid-19. On that day, I found out that my little brother had Covid-19 and was in the ICU with double pneumonia. Yesterday, I was called to the hospital because my brother's oxygen levels were low and it was time to say good-bye. When I got there, I, along with my other family members, did what over 200,000 American families have done. We said our tearful good-byes outside of a loved ones ICU room. But, at least he wasn't alone.

His palliative care doctor held his hand while a nurse held up a tablet so that he could hear us and those not at the hospital say their good-byes to him. We watched as they took out his intubation tube. We watched as he quietly passed, leaving all of the pain of the past week and a half behind. 

Today, my son Andy texted through a group text that he noticed that the local government's Covid-19 app had updated the number of county deaths to 19. He was upset that his uncle was now just a number. My daughter, Holland, added that she was also very upset because people were saying things like "19 is not that many deaths". 

Every time that the local press or newspaper reports a new statistic or the fact that numbers are spiking, there are always trump supporters chiming in "fake news" or "what is the big deal, 99 percent of those that catch it will survive". 

My brother was the first person I knew who definitely had Covid -19 and he ended up being that 1 out of 100 that died from it. He is the 19th person to die from it in our county. But, he is more than a statistic. He is not "virtually nobody", as the president called the number of people who got this very deadly virus. His life mattered. 

I am writing to tell you about my brother, Edward Konaha, who died after contracting Covid-19. I wish more people would share their loved one's life stories.

My brother, Eddie, was born in 1966 in Sheboygan to Peter Konaha Sr. and Sharon Rabideaux Konaha.He was a proud, enrolled member of the Menominee nation. 

When he was a young boy, he had an odd love of cowboy boots, dickies and dress-up shirts with ties. When he was school aged, he loved to play baseball in the local recreation department. He was an outstanding pitcher and played for many years. He and his brothers did funny things like playing in a band in the garage singing "Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog". He liked to scare our mom by jumping off the garage roof. He played hooky with his sister Carol and brother Peter, always trying to make sure that their big sister (me) did not find out. On a family trip to our uncle's lake lot in Keshena, he decided to jump out of the back window of the station wagon shouting "Mannix!" right before he fell to the ground, breaking his leg. 

When he was very young, he met the woman he would marry, Chris Kewin. They got married and had 2 boys, Jeffery and Jonathon. Altough the marriage eventually ended, Chris ended up being a lifelong friend that Eddie could always count on.

Throughout his life, Eddie was an avid Packer fan. He was a devoted son to his mother when she was alive, always going over to her house to spend time with her. Following her death, he spent a lot of time with his step-dad, Bill Dodge Sr. They spent many hours watching the History Channel and eating KFC or one of the dinners Eddie would make for Bill. 

The best part of Eddie's life was the time he spent with his grandchildren; Quinn, Lydia, Aubree, Odin and Josiah; they were his pride and joy. 

Eddie was an employee of Kohler Co. and a proud member of the UAW Local 833. I still remember when Bob and I joined him when the union went on strike; he was so proud to be part of such an organization, for which in was a union steward. 

Eddie was a loyal brother to his brother and sisters. He spent many times hanging out with his brother, Peter having fire pits and playing cribbage. He often gave rides to his sister, Carla and her children after her husband Dino died.He attended almost every family event from birthdays to our extended family Christmas bash. At these events, he was pretty much the life of the party. He was always the one to share recollection of stories from the past. He would play cribbage with various members of the family, who often brought along a board just for him!! (Melody and Andy LaFave). Anytime anyone would call him to join them for a night out or a ride, or a place to stay....he was alway there.

He was more than a number. He was our Eddie.

 

 

Little Gestures

When you are a grandparent, you try to teach your grandchildren as much as you can....take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. Sometimes it may be as simple as showing them how to cut a piece of yarn in half. And some times the subject is deeper...such as handling the death of a loved one.

Prior to February 28, 2019, the closest deaths that any of my grandchildren lived through was the death of great grandparents and that of my sister, Carol. I know that they understood the profound loss that my family suffered with Carol's passing.. My grandson Gabriel, showed true compassion one day when he was playing on the swing in our backyard. 

He said to me, "Do you ever wish that you could be a kid again?" 

I thought about it and answered honestly, "No, because if I was a kid again, I would not have you guys in my life". 

He replied, with so much compassion and purity that it brought tears to my eyes, "But, then you would have your sister back". I will never forget the look on his face and the purity of the moment. 

On February 28, my granddaughters lost their beloved Bumpa Kaiser. His death, at the young age of 59, was devastating to his family and friends. So unexpected...how does one deal with expressing your sympathies of this loss to a child? 

The day after his death, my granddaughters came over to my house while their parents were with Grammee Kaiser, helping her with funeral arrangements. We made plans for my grandsons to come over after school so that they could play with and bring comfort to their cousins. I was a little worried about how the situation would play out....how they all would handle those first few minutes. I know it is hard for adults...much less little people.

Shortly after 3, I heard the front door open. Lainie and Lucy were sitting next to each other, playing on the computer. Ian, Gabe and Teddy filed in, looking timid and hesitant....unsure of what to do. Ian tip toed up behind the girls and patted Lucy gently on the head and then did the same to Lainie. I saw Lainie slowly turn her head to look up at Ian....and she gave him the sweetest smile. Those little gestures were all that needed. But, they said a lot.

I am grateful that God blessed me with these 5 little beings. They have taught me way more than I could ever teach them. Little gestures can mean a lot.