04:34 A.M. Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital, Jasper, Texas 2004
Event’s as remembered of Father Rinaldi
Sad I…
am waiting to read a 5 year old his last rights
A lot of thoughts pass by, grasp at my rosaries
A cold chill…no im cold still
then the feeling of sleep washes over me
my eyes glazed as I slowly slip into a glum daze
the world around me becomes a dull roar then it just fades
shake my head, Man im tired….why are the lights dim?
No one around…The boy’s door is open so I walk in
A thin kid, blonde hair, blue eyes, freckles on his face
“Am I alone in this place?”he asked with an expression so brave
He sits up. I say "Don’t, rest please son. Lay down”
Press the emergency button, nothing…. No sound
“Don’t move stay here ill be right back
I’ll run down the hall and get the hospital night staff”
Out the door, turn the corner stop at information
There is no one waiting, the desk and seat are vacant
Got to find help!
How is the boy up? He had severe extremity wounds
Adrenaline rush, so I rushed to the emergency room
As I past the infirmary two…
men in black coats, one said -See he is in a big hurry too…-
I screech to a halt “Gentlemen, Do you work here?
Is there staff or somebody with training that can help near?
There is a boy down the hall earlier he fell out of a 3 story window
His arms and legs were glass riddled, fragile and crippled
I came here to because he was expected to die
Read him his last rights, but now how he is up and alright?”
-Relax father he is fine…-
-If you didn’t recognize his face your realize in due time-
-You are a good man so we do this for your true faith-
-as you prayed we came ease your pain before you wake-
-Tell him he is loved, there is no way to replace him-
-your worldly possession you would trade in if only to save him-
-that you will miss him and not a moment will go by-
-where you try to hold it together, but tears are pull from your eyes-
-alas it will be hard but have inner courage for this task, choose-
-to be strong enough answers the questions he could not ask you-
……..
“Father Rinaldi, wake up your family is waiting,
For you to read the last rights and say goodbye the patient”
“Thank you nurse”,
“Thank you all for coming and before the prayer has begun
In your presence there are a few things I want to say to my son"