The only person, who could smile in a moment like this, was him. He was lying on the hospital bed, beaten up after the car accident. Most of his body was covered in bandages, or casts. He had a plastic tube down his throat to help him drain the blood out, since the strong impact had caused internal bleeding. Although he couldn’t speak, he smiled. He grabbed the notepad smiling, and he tried to write something with his weak hands. Instead of writing, and since he was a talented artist, he drew. When we asked him what had happened, he drew a little guy with circling stars above his head trying to let us know that all he remembered was seeing stars (at impact). Not even in his condition did he lose his sense of humor. He might not have been fully aware of how serious his condition was, but in that moment, he had already lived through the worst. We were all worried about him, but we were thankful that he was alive, and had faith that he would recover soon. And so he did. It happened slowly, but the months went by and he went back to normal. We never thought we would have to experience again, the pain of seeing him at the hospital, so sick.
We always judge him to be stubborn, but without his controversial conversations, his funny ideas and his way to defend his views, all those chats would have been so boring. He liked to argue, talk about the deep meaning of things, and have fun with every situation. He would make our days fun, always striving to make us laugh at him, at life, or at ourselves. Oswaldo was a man who possessed many talents, loved learning, and loved others very easily and unconditionally. He always saw the good in people, even those who we all knew had bad intentions. I remember the day he got baptized at church. I had just gotten back to church; I remember feeling very excited to see his baptism in Spanish; I didn’t even know him then, little did I knew that he was going to become like another brother to me. He seemed happy, and excited to start a new life. After that day, we became friends. After some time, we became like brother and sister.
He remained reserved concerning his medical condition. Having epilepsy wasn’t something he liked talking about. It wasn’t something he hid either, since his sudden attacks were frequent. His closest friends witnessed them. Despite that, he was strong. He loved life so much and never intended for people to feel sorry for him. Oswaldo became a part of the family… my family. He would come over almost every day. Then there were periods in which he wouldn’t come, but he would still call us. He felt love towards my family, which in a way became his family (since his real family was far away). My family and I also loved him so.
Every time Oswaldo talked about church, his leaders, or when he bore his testimony, he did so with such strong conviction. He loved to read books, stories, interesting and funny things. Oswaldo didn’t fear death, but even better, he did not fear life. He smiled, he danced, he entertained children by dressing up as clown, he helped, he traveled, he explored, he read, he dreamed, and he loved everybody. For that, and many other things, Oswaldo was loved by many.
A few months ago (January 2008), I left Indiana to come live in Utah. When I was driving here, on the long way, confused, sad, worried and scared… my cell phone rang. It was him. I thought about ignoring his call because I didn’t really want to talk… but I answered. He said very special things to me that I needed to hear right in that moment. He started by calling me “my little sister.” He expressed his love and said he admired me. He said very kind words, and the best of wishes in this new chapter I started in my life. He gave me some advice, cheered me up and left me smiling. It wasn’t just a phone call… it was a way for him to show his love and his concern for me. He actually called me several times during my road trip from Indiana to Utah. He said he would like to live in Utah someday too. I could feel how much he wanted to be here to see the Salt Lake Temple, and surround himself in the spirit one feels here. I would’ve liked to say more to him… there were many things I didn’t say, I had no idea this was going to be the last time I heard this voice. I am at peace because I know that I will have the chance to tell him how much I love him and thank him for his love and his words. My dear friend, my brother… I will miss him so much… until I see him again.
Oswaldo passed away a few days ago after having a stroke a few weeks back (March 2008). His mom is devastated; Brother Eduardo Jimenez, who was his best friend, is too, my family as well. We all suffer his loss… but we also have faith and peace to know that God has him in a better place, and that if we are faithful we might have the chance to see him again too, after this life.
During the last hours alive, when the doctors said he was completely unconscious and unaware, his friends from church sang him hymns. I wish I could’ve been there to sing along with all of them, sharing my love and said my goodbye. They said he smiled. According to the doctors, he couldn’t hear or feel anything, but his spirit, on the other hand, could feel the love and hear the songs they sang to him. What a blessing is to know that he lives. What a blessing it is to know that he was welcomed to that special place, also with people singing hymns of joy. What a great blessing it is to know that we will live forever, that our spirits are eternal, that we will never cease to exist… and that if we are righteous, we might gain eternal life to live amongst those who we love most: our families.
Oswaldo is now in a place of peace, where he will continue his progress. The Lord has plans for him; he has a mission for him to embrace. We will all miss him, and we will never forget him. Oswaldo will forever be in our hearts, until we see him again. And we know we will see him again. He’s a part of our eternal family, and awaits us there. I hope that wherever he is at, he could feel and understand everything he meant to us, and how much we loved him.
With this, I want to express the deep sorrow of losing a loved one, a friend, a brother. I want to express the peace my heart feels followed by the hope of the blessings of the Plan of Salvation. I want to express how thankful I am to know that death is not the end, but in fact, the start of the eternities. Death is nothing but a drop of water in the ocean of our existence. I want to hug his mother, with all my spirit, and say to her how sorry I am for her loss. I want to tell him, Oswaldo, that I loved him very much and that I will miss him. I want to tell him how much I thank him for his love, his kindness, his caring, and the endless deeds he had towards me and my family. Oswaldo Tapia, We love you. Love is never ending, death only magnifies it, we will never forget you. Goodbye my friend… ‘Till we meet again.
Oswaldo Tapia 10/5/79 - 3/8/08
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Spanish:
Adios! mi hermano
La única persona que podía sonreír en un momento así… era él. Estaba acostado en la cama del hospital, moretoneado por los golpes del accidente. Casi todo su cuerpo estaba cubierto en gasas, vendas o yeso. Tenía un tubo metido por la garganta para ayudarle a drenar los líquidos, pues el duro golpe había causado una hemorragia interna. No podía hablar. Sin embargo, sonrió. Sonrió y tomó papel y lápiz con la poca fuerza que su brazo y mano le permitían e intentó escribir. Como talentoso artista que era, prefirió dibujar. Dibujo un ser pequeñito con estrellas en la cabeza cuando le preguntamos acerca del accidente. Entendimos lo que quiso decir: vio estrellitas! Ni en esas condiciones perdió su sentido del humor. Quizá no estaba consciente de la gravedad de su situación; pero en ese momento, ya vencía esa dura prueba. Todos sentimos mucho pesar por él, pero nos sentimos agradecidos por que teníamos fe en que se recuperaría pronto. Y así fue. Su recuperación fue lenta, pero pasaron los meses y volvió a ser el mismo. Nunca esperamos revivir lo doloroso de verle tan grave de salud.
Siempre le juzgamos de terco, pero sin sus controversiales conversaciones, sus chistosas ocurrencias y su perspicacia al defender sus puntos de vista, todas esas pláticas hubiesen sido muy aburridas. Le gustaba argumentar, profundizar y sacarle el humor a cada situación. Nos volvía las tardes amenas. Oswaldo era un hombre lleno de talentos y poseía una gran capacidad de aprender y una gran capacidad de amar. Aun recuerdo el día que se bautizo en la iglesia. Recién regresaba yo a la iglesia; recuerdo haberme sentido tan emocionada al presenciar el servicio de su bautismo en español; y a él aun ni conocía. Se veía muy contento y hasta emocionado de empezar una nueva vida. Después de ahí, nos hicimos amigos. Con el tiempo, nos hicimos hermanos.
Siempre fue reservado en cuanto a su situación médica. Tener epilepsia no era algo que le gustara contar. No era algo que ocultara tampoco, pues sus ataques repentinos eran frecuentes, y muchos de sus más cercanos amigos los presenciaron. Era pese a eso, un hombre fuerte. Oswaldo llego a ser parte de nuestra familia. Se le veía por la casa casi a diario. Y en temporadas no se aparecía… pero sin dejar de comunicarse con nosotros. El llego a sentir un gran amor por mi familia, que de cierta manera llenaba el vacio de no tener a la suya cerca. Mi familia y yo también llegamos a quererle mucho.
Cada vez que Oswaldo hablaba de la iglesia, de sus líderes, o cuando compartía su testimonio, lo transmitía con fuerte convicción. Siempre le gustaba hablar de libros, de historias, de cosas interesantes y divertidas. Oswaldo no le temía a la muerte; pero aun más importante, no le tenía miedo a la vida. El sonreía, el bailaba, el divertía a niños vestido de payaso, el ayudaba, el viajaba, el exploraba, el leía, el soñaba, y el amaba a los demás. Por eso, y muchas otras cosas… Oswaldo se ganó el amor de muchos.
Hace un par de meses dejé Indiana para venirme a vivir a Utah. Cuando venía manejando en el largo camino, llena de confusión, tristeza, angustia y miedo… timbro mi celular. Era Oswaldo. Pensé en ignorar la llamada porque no quería hablar… pero contesté. Me dijo cosas tan especiales que yo necesitaba escuchar en ese momento. Empezó llamándome hermanita. Me dijo lo mucho que me quería y me admiraba. Me dejó con sus tiernas palabras los mejores deseos en el nuevo capítulo que emprendía en mi vida. Me dejó varios consejos, ánimo y una sonrisa. No solo fue una llamada… fueron varias durante el viaje, y otras más cuando llegue. Me dijo que él quería vivir en Utah también. Sentí su gran deseo de ver el templo, y envolverse en el espíritu que se siente en este lugar especial. Me hubiera gustado decirle más… tantas cosas que no le dije, pero estoy tranquila porque sé que llegará esa oportunidad, de decirle lo mucho que le quiero y le agradezco. Mi querido amigo, mi hermano… le voy a extrañar!
Oswaldo falleció hace unos días tras sufrir un derrame cerebral unas semanas antes. Su madre esta inconsolable; el hermano Eduardo Jiménez, quien era el mejor amigo de él, también. Mi familia ni se diga. Todos sufrimos por su pérdida… pero también tenemos fe y tranquilidad al saber que Dios le tiene en un lugar mejor.
En sus ultimas horas de vida, cuando los doctores decian que estaba completamente inconsciente... sus hermanos de la iglesia le cantaron himnos. Como me hubiera gustado cantar con ellos dejandole todo mi amor y una dulce despedida. Me cuentan que sonrio. Pese a que segun los doctores no escuchaba, ni sentia, su espiritu si percibio el amor y los cantos de gozo dirigidos hacia el. Que bendicion saber que el vive! Que bendicion saber que de igual manera fue recibido por seres muy especiales que seguramente cantaban himnos para recibirle.
Oswaldo ahora está en un lugar lleno de paz, donde seguirá progresando. El Señor tiene planes para él, tiene una misión especial que él podrá cumplir ahí. Le extrañaremos, y no le olvidaremos nunca. Oswaldo estará siempre en nuestros corazones, hasta que volvamos a verle. Y sabemos que así será. El es parte de nuestra gran familia eterna, y nos espera más allá. Espero que donde se encuentre, pueda sentir y comprender lo mucho que significaba para todos nosotros, y lo mucho que le amamos.
Con esto quiero expresar la profunda tristeza de perder a un ser amado, a un amigo, a un hermano. Quiero expresar la paz que llega a mi corazón tras la esperanza de las bendiciones del plan de Salvación. Quiero expresar cuan agradecida estoy por saber que la muerte no es el final, sino el principio de la eternidad. Quiero abrazar a su madre, con todo mi espíritu y decirle lo mucho que lo siento. Quiero decirle a él, a Oswaldo… que le amo mucho, que le extrañaré, y que le agradezco infinitamente el amor, el cariño, la atención y el sinnúmero de lindos detalles que tuvo para conmigo y mi familia. Oswaldo Tapia. Te queremos mucho. El amor nunca deja de ser. Adios amigo... hasta que nos volvamos a ver.
Oswaldo Tapia 10/5/79 - 3/8/08
