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BABY'S NEW LIFE BLESSES ELDERLY VETERAN
IN YEAR
LEADING TO HIS DEATH -- "We came to visit you
and let you see our baby," the note said.
Story here...
http://www.mywesttexas.co
m/articles/2009/01/12/news/opinion/columns/
shanna_sissom/doc496c219b40e2f284332921.txt
Story below:
Your comments accepted at bottom of
page.
Share story/email link.
-------------------------
Baby's new life blesses
elderly veteran in year leading to his death
Nearly a year ago, the story of a newborn baby finding her way into the
life of a childless World War II veteran was shared here. It was one of
those chance encounters: Tyler Owen, after suffering a fall on his 86th
New Year’s Eve, crossed paths with an especially caring nurse at Midland
Memorial Hospital who was expecting a baby any day.
Tyler left the hospital after his overnight stay and later sent a gift
card for the little one, just out of his own kindness and not expecting to
ever hear from the nurse again.
After little Kyra was born, her parents found Tyler’s address and left a
note on his door, thanking him for the gift and saying they wanted to show
him their baby.
During their first meeting, they decided to have a party last Feb. 5, to
celebrate Tyler’s 87th and Kyra’s 1-month birthday. A unique bond
developed, as that baby and her parents etched a special place in Tyler’s
heart, as he also became very important to them.
At a ripe age, Tyler finally had a baby to love. Kyra’s parents say he
became a grandfather figure.
But recently Tyler again found himself in the hospital under the overnight
care of Kyra’s mother, Justina.
That was before he was transferred to hospice. It looked like Tyler would
pass on her daughter’s first birthday, a thought the nurse had great
difficulty handling.
From his death bed Tyler asked someone to get a birthday present for Kyra.
It was a birthday he couldn’t forget, no matter what. His death
 happened
rather quickly, and his suffering minimal as Tyler made it just one day
past Kyra’s first birthday.
Indeed, this veteran’s final year leading to death was marked with the
special blessing of a new life.
The baby’s father tells me he appreciated how Tyler accepted their family
being interracial, since not everyone does.
It was difficult to say good-bye, but everyone who has seen this
relationship unfold knows it’s one of those happenstance meetings that can
sometimes change lives for the better.
And so goes another cherished member of the “Greatest Generation” of World
War II veterans, who are passing away at a rate of about 1,000 per day,
according to latest government projections. Only about 2.5 million of the
original 16 million of them remain.
It’s always proper to thank veterans and those currently active in
military, but chances to express gratitude for those who fought and won
World War II are becoming few and far between.
Because of Tyler — and many other brave souls like him — little Kyra and
all our lives are so much better for it.
It goes without saying our modern-day armed forces face new threats and
evil enemies in an uncertain world.
But every time I read the obituaries and see another member of the
“Greatest Generation,” in there, I stop and ponder what exactly defines
that group of Americans.
To those who still remain, thank you. May Tyler and all who have passed
before him rest in peace.
The original story about this
"love affair" is here and then posted below...
http://www.mywesttexas.com/article
s/2008/06/08/news/opinion/columns
/shanna_sissom/shannas_column.txt
'It all happened in one night'
as baby comes into veteran's life
by Shanna Sissom
Midland Reporter-Telegram
It all started when World War II veteran Tyler Owen found himself at
Midland Memorial Hospital after suffering a fall, and staff wanted to keep
him overnight for observation.
That was this past New Year's Eve, a fateful night when he met by
happenstance a special nurse, and a baby soon would enter the
octogenarian's life.
But this didn't happen in the way you might be thinking.
You see, Tyler's path crossed an especially caring medical professional,
"the best nurse ever" as he describes Justina Collum.
He could see the nurse obviously was pregnant, in fact Justina would
deliver a baby girl just a few days later.
But during her shift that night, Tyler was touched to the point that he
left the hospital and purchased a gift card for the baby. He didn't even
know if she was married, but of course that didn't matter as his gesture
was for the little one on the way.
After purchasing the gift, Tyler went on about his life, forgetting all
about the pregnant nurse who had cared for him that night.
Until one day weeks later he came home to find a note at his door.
"We came to visit you and let you see our baby," the note said, thanking
Tyler for the gift card, and leaving contact information for Justina and
her husband.
So Tyler made that phone call and the next night, 2-week old Tyra and her
parents paid him a visit.
They decided during this meeting to have a party on Feb. 5, which was
Tyler's 87th and Tyra's 1-month birthday.
Since that time, a special bond has developed between the baby, her
parents and Tyler, who never had children of his own and lives alone after
becoming widowed about five years ago.
"I've been on my own since then," Tyler said of his wife's 2003 death.
"But now I have a baby in my life and this one feels like its sort of my
own, or I feel like it's partly mine."
It was recently at the American Legion when, at a table across the room
from ours, I noticed a man among our area war heroes who has been
mentioned before in patriotic stories for this newspaper.
It was Tyler with guests and a grin illuminated his face like a youngster.
There was also excited chatter. As I looked over to see what the commotion
was all about, my companion started to "ooh and ahh," as we noticed an
adorable little baby girl.
So I later had opportunity to ask Tyler whose baby that was.
"It all happened in one night," he started, and was delighted to tell the
whole story.
And I'm really glad I asked.
So at least in some measure, Tyler finally has a baby in his life, and new
friends with her parents.
Something immensely good came out of Tyler's fall.
"I think God had something to do with it," he said while proudly showing
me his collection of Tyra's pictures.
Of that, I have no doubt.
-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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