You were growing up and finally starting to act mature.
"Dustin has been in an accident" was more news than I could endure.
I didn't know how serious it had been,
but even so, I started to cry right then.
My sister was at work; I said I would make the call.
"Get home right now and don't waste any time at all.
We're going to Mankato as soon as we can,
Dustin has been in an accident," and with that I set down my hand.
She was home in two seconds flat;
how in the world did she manage that?
Seeing you like that was more than I could bear,
so I went to a friend's party and stayed there.
I couldn't concentrate on the cake or the food,
you could definitely see I wasn't in the mood.
I sat by the phone and waited my parents' call at midnight...
hoping and praying they would tell me you're alright.
The told me what the doctors had said;
that you would need surgery inside your head.
You might not even live until tomorrow...
hearing this brought me so much sorrow.
You lived all through the very next day,
but still you were in the very worst way.
You remained in a coma for about 3 weeks,
and then the doctors said "We can't give him what he needs."
All family and friends were called in to say good-bye.
The news finally hit me... you were going to die.
Everybody must have cried a countless number of tears,
for the news we heard confirmed our fears.
Eight days after my fourteenth birthday
we got a call saying you had passed away.
I kept on thinking how could this happen to you?
There were still many things we didn't get to do.
Your accident took us by surprise.
Now I think of you and my heart cries.
"It only happens to other people" I thought.
Now I know from experience, the truth it is not.
I have learned that it could happen to anyone,
and that dealing with this is far from fun.
It does happen to people like us,
but only if God thinks it's a must.
God's reason to take you must have been good,
for if it wasn't, the doctors wouldn't have done all they could.
I'm sure our grandma was beside you so you wouldn't go alone
that tear-filled day God called you home.
I have realized that Heaven is where you belong,
and that God is never wrong.
We miss you so much and wait for the day
that we will join you in Heaven and it'll stay that way.
I won't see you again for a long, long while,
but, guaranteed, you will see a smile.
There were many things we didn't get to do,
but I say now, cousin, we ALL love you.
Forever you will stay in our minds and hearts,
until that day we're no longer apart.
You will always be in our thoughts,
and we'll always let you know we love you lots.
