Dear Rush,
I was listening to your program this afternoon when you told us about your friends, the Hasara family – the one’s that became a part of this terrible club.
It was a story that brought a lump to my throat. We’re getting close to the second time we’ve had to celebrate our son Richard’s birthday without him. Birthdays are tough for bereaved parents.
Like your friends we were very blessed when our son came into our lives. He was a treat – most of the time. He was a Rush baby too. We homeschooled him till he was in high school, and your show was part of the curriculum. I have a lot of books about our founders, American history and conservative politics. Yes, your books are on my shelves. I planned to leave my library to Richard someday – the parts of it he hadn’t swiped from me already. Unfortunately I have my books back now. And I inherited his.
It’s not supposed to work that way.
I’m glad the Hasara’s had you to help them in their time of crisis. When your child dies it sends you into a fog. You have all this activity and planning, but you’re in shock at the same time. It’s good to have someone you can depend on to take over some of the details. We went through all the funeral events for Richard. I know we greeted a lot of people, and got a lot of hugs. We even managed a smile here and there. But I have no idea how that happened. It was just something we had to do for our kid. One last thing we could do for him.
The funeral is just the beginning for the Hasara family. As totally heart-breaking and traumatic as the funeral is, it’s easier than some of the times that will follow. Right now they’re numb. That will wear off.
So stay in touch with them. Let them know you’re thinking about them. Remember their son’s birthday. And his death day. Those are both tough for a grieving parent. Share in their memories of their son – that’s all they have now.
We recommend they check out The Compassionate Friends. They’ll find people that know what they’re going through – because they’ve been there too.
We’ll be praying for them. Give them hugs for us.
Thanks,
Joe Mudd
P.S. I hope you don’t mind that I lifted that picture of you from your website. I don’t have any of my own pictures of you. If you mind, let me know and I’ll remove it right away.
P.P.S. Did you know that generic drugs aren’t really the same as the name brand drugs they replace? It’s not a good thing to find out from the state medical examiner. Just a little taste of what government run health care will be like.