Mike Ramsey

 

Today is 12/25/2022: I got a call from my sister that my older brother, Mike Ramsey, died this morning at about 630am. He was 73 ½ years of age.

 

Mike was disabled most of his life, and had many, pressing, cumulatively impactful health issues that plagued him. He survived being put in hospice twice. He lived a couple of years with congestive heart failure and trouble breathing.

 

Three things impressed me about Mike.

 

First, he contracted meningitis at the age of 2 and a rural North Dakota doctor misdiagnosed Mike’s ailment so his prolonged high fevers so hurt his brain that he ended up mentally handicapped for the remained of his life. Despite his limited cognitive abilities, he repeatedly demonstrated artistic and creative inclinations throughout his life. My hunch is that if he had not been ill, he may have been a great artist, but fate is sure a funny creature.

 

Second, his physical courage--despite high levels of pain that he suffered for years--was astounding. He longed to live. He willed himself to live. He loved life and wanted to last as long as he could, as well as he could. No individuator could show greater resolve.

 

Third, everyone was amazed at his positive attitude, despite enormous levels of suffering and ill health that he experienced and lived with. He was always upbeat and never complained about his lot in life.

 

These natural character traits that he lived and exemplified, though he could not articulate them as life goals, inspired all that knew him.

 

We are blessed with life by God, and then we are called home. Go and rest now, Mike.