Loading next page...
/lp/university-of-hawai-i-press/in-memoriam-george-william-grace-1921-2015-ylFDz4GTV0
- Publisher
- University of Hawai'I Press
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2008 University of Hawai'i Press.
- ISSN
- 1527-9421
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
Robert Blust UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I On January 17, 2015, after a week of refusing food in the Honolulu hospice where he spent the final month of his life, slowly succumbing to a blood condition called "myelodysplastic syndrome" (MDS) that had morphed into leukemia, George Grace drew his last breath. To the very end, he was in control of his mind and emotions, and even of the circumstances of his departure. Just eight days earlier, he wrote the following passage to me on his cell phone in a surprisingly long email for someone who was dancing on the brink of death: Bob, don't worry. Everything as they say "is cool." Or maybe that's precisely wrong--my email is behaving mysteriously beyond belief. That's probably ultimately my doing. ... Now let me try to explain my medical and then my communicative situations. Medical: a blood problem. Bone marrow isn't providing the hemoglobin and platelets needed. Therefore, progressive weakening. I tell my legs to lift me but they show no interest in doing so. Etc. This is most likely to be involved in the ultimate "cause of death." Second most likely--something to do with stopping bleeding. This is a notoriously good way
Journal
Oceanic Linguistics – University of Hawai'I Press
Published: Nov 23, 2015