ANDREW WEISS
by Sharon Weiss
My son Andrew, a vibrant and kind-hearted soul, passed suddenly on November 5, 2021. Andrew, who always had a smile on his face, had a cold for about two weeks and went to the doctor numerous times. November 4, 2021, he was rushed to the hospital. The emergency doctor said he was the sickest person in the room. After hours of tests and speaking to multiple doctors, they said he was going to the ICU. They were unable to diagnose him at the time and said he would be in the ICU for days. We were told to go home at 9:30 PM and not to return until noon the following day. At 12:30 that morning, we received a call that Andrew was coding, and we needed to come to the hospital immediately. Arriving at the hospital just a few hours after we left was like a scene from a bad movie. We got off the elevator, where a doctor, a priest, and a nurse greeted us. I knew instantly that my 26-year-old son was gone. I asked to see him. He was cold, still, and had a tube down his throat. The shock and disbelief were insurmountable. We drove to my parents’ house and called my son, Evan, and other family members. When I arrived at my parents’ house, they were leaving on the way to my house. They had no comprehension of the news they received during the call I made to them. By 4:00 am, friends were coming over in an attempt to comfort us. Their presence and support, even in the darkest hours, were a reminder that we were not alone in our grief.
This November 5, 2024, will be three years since Andrew passed. I have learned a lot about myself over the past three years. I realize how lucky I was to have him live at home during COVID; I also acknowledged that he didn’t suffer; he wasn’t married and didn’t have his own family. I believe that was a blessing. Andrew was a happy young man who loved his profession, loved his family and friends dearly. I do believe he is in a better place, although the pain in my heart will never go away. I also believe that he is always with me. I sometimes feel his presence, whether on a nice sunny day, a song, a butterfly, birds flying in the sky, or imagining his bright, beautiful smile.
I know we all grieve differently, but after almost three years, I have begun to turn negatives into positives. I know Andrew was living his best life, and I know he would want the same for me. The healing process is slow and painful, but I’ve found comfort in the little things that remind me of Andrew. I’ve learned to cherish the memories we shared and to find joy in the present, knowing that Andrew would want me to be happy.
Sharon Weiss, Andrew’s mom