David James Guy Sr.

We think of you often and hope you are doing well.



John and JoAnne

I will always carry with me the memory of seeing Mr. Guy in the hallways at Akron General
Med. Ctr, on 5400 while he was a patient. He had not seen me since I was a little girl, who
grew up on the other side of the dirt road. He recognized me first. His distinctive white hair and his smile were my first thoughts of remeberance from my childhood. Mr Guy! We talked a lot those couple of days and he offered ME reassurance for the difficulty my husband and I were facing and it was like finding an old friend. So it went for the next few months, I'd always be sorry to see him on the unit but happy to see him as you would a friend. He was always eager for news of the other neighbors and news from the neighborhood. I had the priviledge of caring for someone who had been part of my "younger years" and considered the responsibiliy an honor as well.


I will always remember his last day on the unit. We spent quite a bit of time that afternoon
talking about himself, his family (whom he adores!) and his life. He was accepting of his disease yet afraid and unsure of his future. I said a prayer with David that day. That was the first time in 30 years I had ever called him by his first name, but that day it felt right. In the two weeks following his discharge, I thought of him often and offered up prayers for him and his family. I was saddened to
hear of his passing but felt privileged that his son Sam called me directly. I may live "on the other side of the dirt road", but those few months were a time of friendship and connection for us all.



As he faced life with zest, he faced death with Grace. Always the teacher.....


Love,
Shelley