<Begin Segment 36>

TL: Your interest in healing, have, you've been able to apply that for your own health and also George?

YB: Yes, and I think it comes out more when someone is ill. You feel for them. And I have never seen another patient that pass on peacefully as George did. The color was beautiful, the most beautiful, peaceful face I've ever seen. And I'd have to bring a mirror to make sure if he was breathing. He wasn't drinking, talking, moving, or nothing for a whole week; and it worried me. But he said, "When I come to that point, please don't press me to revive me." He says, "I want to go." And I was hoping and praying that he wouldn't be in pain, but his facial expression didn't show any signs of pain. So I stood by until the last -- the last breath is when they open their eyes and won't close it. That's when they're gone. And I dreaded that moment 'cause I've experienced it before, with my mother, and my foster mother, and other loved ones. And that is the most awful feeling, 'cause they look up at the ceiling, and they won't close their... you have to immediately close it, or it won't shut, the eyes won't shut. But I knew that he went to meet his maker peacefully. His face was just as gentle, and relaxed, and peaceful, as if he were just sleeping. And that's the way I wanted it to be. And up until the time he could just squeeze my hands to say, "yes" for one squeeze, and two for "no." I say, "Are you comfortable?" And he'd say one squeeze, 'cause he couldn't talk any more. So when he got to the point that he couldn't squeeze anymore -- they say the hearing is the last thing to go. So if you can say anything nice to him up to the last, that's the last thought that they take with them.

<End Segment 36> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.