Will’s Story

Site created on November 21, 2022

Welcome to Dr. Will Hamilton's CaringBridge site. 

Will passed away on November 23 at 2:30 in the afternoon.  He was in the hospital but on hospice care and had family at his bedside.  


Below is a quick summary and timeline of this sudden and shocking loss.

Sunday, Nov. 13: After 24 exhausting hours of travel, Will Hamilton and Mattie Decker arrived home in Fairview from their wonderful trip, a combination of family visits in Britain and spiritual pilgrimage in Iona, Scotland.  See some of their amazing pictures!  Around 2:00 a.m. that night, Will suffered a hard fall in their bedroom. There was bleeding, but otherwise he seemed all right.

Monday, Nov. 14: Will began vomiting and was taken to the Neuro ICU ward at Mission Memorial Hospital and diagnosed as having a subdural hematoma. Surgery was performed to—temporarily—remove part of his skull and give his brain room to swell (otherwise internal pressure could cause lasting damage). Will was intubated. Breathing and feeding tubes were put in place. He was put on a ventilator and sedated to help him rest and recover.

 Sunday, Nov. 20: Will showed slow, gradual improvement over the week.  He was extubated - or the breathing tube was removed.  He was able to breathe on his own! His four children and Mattie were there and sang songs to him (in four-part harmony!). At various points in the day, he opened his eyes . . . said words like “pain” and “head” . . . and raised an arm. 

Wednesday Nov 23:  Will was having increasing difficulty breathing on his own and was not able to interact with others.  The family made the weighty and loving decision to transfer him to hospice care.  He died with family.


Thank you, on behalf of the Hamiltons and extended family clan, for your love, prayers and support

Newest Update

Dr Will's Memorial Hike

Journal entry by Sammy Stone —

Dr. Will’s Memorial Hike

 

Today a cold and dreary start to your memorial hike

as we walked silently up the new trail to Ferguson lookout.

Our agreed silence so unlike your warm usual presence yet

you clearly climbed with each of the nineteen of us today.

 

At the first lookout we were surrounded by dense fog

so we walked on to the second view equally fogged in.

This was only fitting as I have been in a fog since

you left us too soon three weeks ago today.

 

There we each took turns telling a favorite memory of you,

the grace and wisdom you lovingly shared with all of us.

We then shared a rendition of “Amazing Grace”,

a prolonged group hug and raised our glasses to you.

 

The bitter temperature, slower pace. and me under-clothed

as usual only reinforced the cold I felt as I hiked.

How will I go on without you, my dearest hiking friend?

Even on this familiar trail I remain lost without you.

 

None-the-less we the remaining “Will’s Wanderers” will

continue hiking every Tuesday morning in your honor.

Our own turns to exit will each come soon enough; I only

hope to leave with half as much grace as you shared with me.

 

Jim Carillon, December 13, 2022

Read More of the journal titled "Dr Will's Memorial Hike"
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