In Memory of Tony Collick: Support Needed

In memory of Tony "Remy" Collick

Tony or Remy as most his friends knew him is an amazing soul. He is a tough warrior that unfortunately was unable to make it through this last sudden battle.

He spent his last 20 or so years fighting almost every medical mystery you could throw at this poor young soul. Though if you heard him talk, he would insist he was an old man...diabetes was his biggest downfall and even though we had been making strong improvements in that avenue, the world felt he didn't belong to us anymore. He got really sick on Friday December 6th, and was rushed to the hospital. He was admitted with a blood sugar of 1100 and no heart beat or brain activity. Despite this, the doctors put him on hyperthermia to try and slow any further damage and worked on bringing his sugars down. For most of friday and Saturday his sugars were the biggest change. Once his sugars came down I was really starting to hope we may actually pull through like we always have in the past. Heck he had been in a coma before and come out...he could do it again. Well, the tests on his brain over the next couple of days were the things that were bound to kill every ounce of fight I had in me.

On Monday afternoon December 9th, he was pronounced officially brain dead. The swelling on his brain from lack of oxygen during his cardiac arrest...was pushing on his brain stem and killing every last bit of hope that he would wake up from this. Now we sit waiting to find out if he can give the gift of life and live on through others, or if we will have to fully say goodbye today.

Here is where the help comes in. Due to the suddenness of everything Tony and I had never actually talked about what he wanted. He never told me what his plans were or what his wishes were. We are barely making it like many in this economy and as many know funerals/death is a lot on family's to handle. I am currently trying to do a lot of this on my own, so I'm here to see who may be willing to assist in helping me and the family have one last wish granted. We are looking at cremation because it's the easiest and best option for everyone given the way we are all living. This would allow for me to give his family a piece of him and to allow for me and my family to carry a piece of him...to remember him by.

So please, share with your friends. Spread the word. Tony touched a lot of people in his life. He was a healer in his own way and I'm hoping that somehow that good will be able to be felt again. If anything his story could be an awareness story to families....please don't waste time. And never be afraid to give an extra hug or kiss and an I love you. You never know if it will be a last....