Dear Editor,
The passing of Vivian Jordan (VJ) was so sad and sudden. He migrated less than one year ago to the USA with his family, and had so many great plans for the future.
At home, in Guyana, he had a few stomach problems and thought it was just an ulcer, gas or ‘burn’ stomach and always would get an antacid from the local pharmacist. After living a few months in the USA this problem recurred and he decided to visit a doctor, and after testing and X-Rays it was discovered that he had stomach cancer. During surgery the doctors discovered the cancer was at an extreme stage and closed his stomach without operating on him.
I think the attempted surgery was a big mistake, which caused the cancer cells to become aggressive and resulted in his early departure from this earth. After the attempted surgery the doctors had given him one more year on earth, but he did not last for two months.
He wanted to live so much and was sad to depart from his family and friends. On several occasions during his stay in the hospital, he would beg or request to discharge himself to go home and be with his family. His final request to his doctors was to try as hard as possible to let him live for two more days on earth and this was granted by his doctors with the help of a life support machine. He was fighting so hard to stay alive but told his wife that she didn’t know what he was going through, but she was a strong takuba and would hold the family together for him. Even though he was lifeless and was on the life support machine, his ears were sharp and he responded to loved ones by a movement of his eyes only. The last time I hugged and gave him a kiss was two weeks before he died. He had asked his sister-in-law to drive him out for some fresh air and they came and visited us, but he was too weak to climb the stairs and I went down to the car to meet him; as usual he would always have a smile on his face or say something funny under any circumstance.
I am telling you people his story because it must be told about a true son of the soil, activist, pioneer, leader, nationalist, easy-spirited and compassionate husband, father, uncle, relative and friend that lived his life to entertain, inspired the people of Guyana, and also loved fellow Guyanese, especially his heritage.
Local news media would not write an article or documentary about his life and death, but I know his supporters deserve to hear about his last days on this earth and I would like to encourage all Guyanese, men especially, in honour of VJ, to do a thorough medical check-up at least every year. If VJ in Guyana had done this he would still have been alive today.
His funeral will be on November 8 in Landover, Maryland, and if anyone would like to send condolences to his wife and children, please call 301 773-1713.
Rest in peace the mighty VJ. One Love! He would surely be missed by us all.
Yours faithfully,
Ronnie
This comment was taken from the Stabroek News website.
