{Ronnie}

This has been an incredibly hard week for our family. Just 2 weeks ago, Quentin's dad went in for a CT Scan to rule out a kidney stone and within a week, we were planning his funeral. I have never seen cancer claim a life so quickly!

We learned on Monday, September 12, that Ronnie had lung cancer that was in the advanced stages. His doctor made us an appointment with the oncologist for September 20th. On Wednesday evening, Ronnie was taken by ambulance to the hospital because he was in so much pain and having a difficult time breathing. They were able to get his pain under control with morphine, which made his breathing a little less labored. We were told that the CT we had the previous week showed that the cancer had spread to the liver and bone. I knew we were on borrowed time. We went home only to find ourselves back in ER the following afternoon. This time, they kept him. After finally finding a regimen of pain meds that worked, he settled in....ate an excellent dinner and had a good nights rest. Friday afternoon though...he took a hard turn for the worse. He was put on a ventilator temporarily while the family was called together to make some very difficult decisions. We decided that he would not want to suffer and be kept alive by machines, so we decided to take the vent off. The ICU staff and Dr. Hines were so wonderful...they allowed us all to stay in there with Ronnie...as did they...and at 6:42pm Ronnie slipped peacefully from this life to eternity, surrounded by his family whom he loved so much and who loved him.

Ronald Vance Bales, Sr. ---May 28, 1040 - September 16, 2011

I have learned so much about Ronnie over the past week while helping Frances sort through the many legalities that had to be tended to. He was so organized...loved his family so much...I have just been in awe at the man I was really just beginning to get to know.

He will be greatly missed.