Face of Beauty; Face of Grief

In my estimation, he has been elevated, and could you understand Dustin’s entire history you would likely agree with me. Let me tell you a little of his story.

Some time ago, Dustin Halliday’s father Daniel had a heart attack, an episode that left him with significant brain impairment. He cannot talk. He does not open his eyes. His hands are clenched, his feet are curled. For many months Daniel was treated in a VA hospital, and it was during those times that Dustin often begged to have his father released to him.  Dustin wanted to care personally for his father.

A couple of weeks ago, the dream was realized. Now, on a hospital bed in Dustin and Misty’s living room lies Daniel. On the front door is a warning sign: Oxygen in use. Daniel is totally dependent on others; he can do nothing for himself. Someone else is responsible for his feeding, his medication, his bathing–his very breath. At times, others in the family lovingly tend Daniel, but the preponderance of his care comes from Dustin.

Daniel bleeds, and in the long, dark nights, Dustin tends him. He lifts his father’s legs, arranges the cloths, then pulls snug the tabs. His is a life-watch, a death-watch. It is of antiquity, of creation, of beginnings and endings. More often than not, though, throughout history, women have been those who people such a room.

I visited a few days ago. Dustin stood near the top of the hospital bed. I watched as he lifted his hand and caressed the slick head of his father. Dustin’s handsome face was a study in grief; marble chiseled by a master, canvass plied with dark and heavy strokes. Tears cascaded down his face. Tender. He ran his hand over the face of his father.

Dustin is not a man of softness. As is true for many people, his has been a life of challenge and of extreme grief. He has responded in a manly, strong way. Tonight, as his father nears the inevitable crossing place that leads from this life into that of another world, Dustin delicately ministers to his father. With love, he watches and washes and prays. His is a face of beauty.

Dustin Halliday, you are a prince.

Safely Through The Valley

…so George is home, having passed perilously through the shadow of death.

…and Dustin has been determined well enough to be moved from the ICU.

We’re thankful.

Dustin, Rhoda, and Peter’s Prayer Meeting Buddies

I just called Misty to be sure what I  heard was accurate…and it is. Dustin is to be released from the hospital this week–probably by Friday! It seems unbelievable to me, given the severe and extensive injuries he sustained a mere eight days ago. Just last Sunday when we visited him, he didn’t even open his eyes, although I know he had done so at other times. Now, he is fully aware, and scheduled to be released by the weekend.

Why should I be shocked? Have we not been praying? Have not people told us they were fasting for these families? Have not thousands of people joined in extreme and faithful prayer? Yes! Why then am I shocked? Why are you shocked?

I remind myself of that long-ago day recorded in the 12th chapter of Acts after Herod had killed James and had thrown Peter into jail. A bunch of Christians gathered over at Mary’s house for a prayer meeting; after all Peter was their leader, and here he was, a prisoner. Time for a prayer meeting. Time to pray Peter out of jail.

Meanwhile, there were rumblings over at the city jail. An angel flitted into Peter’s cell, poked him in the side, and said, Get up. Uh, get up? Yes, get up, Peter. Put on your shoes and socks, throw something about you, and follow me.

Peter did as he was told, not understanding, thinking perhaps he was dreaming, but the chains had fallen off his hands as he first arose; would that be in a dream? Quietly they crept–the angel and the man–past the first ward, past the second ward, then to the iron city gate which opened of its own accord, and finally through one city street.

The angel left Peter then. Poof. Disappeared. Peter was now standing in the dark of night–an escaped prisoner, startled and bewildered at what had just happened. Finally his senses kicked in, and he said, “…The Lord hath delivered me…” Think I’ll go over to Mary’s house.

Peter’s banging on the door interrupted the prayer meeting, and somebody sent Rhoda to see what was going on. She must have asked, “Who’s there?” for verse 14 says, “And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.”

You’re mad, Rhoda. Can’t be Peter. He’s in jail, remember.

“It’s Peter, I tell you,” Rhoda insisted.

“Rhoda, there’s something wrong with you.”

“No, there’s not. Peter is standing at the gate, I tell you.”

Finally  they all went to the door–all the unbelieving prayer meeting buddies–and sure enough, there stood Peter. They must have yelled out in astonishment when they saw him, for Peter “beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison…”

I feel like one of Peter’s unbelieving prayer meeting buddies today. But the news is real, it’s true. In an astonishing way, Dustin has been touched by God, and is scheduled to be released from the hospital by Friday.

Arrested! Second Degree Murder Charges for Killing Our Daniel

It has now been confirmed. Tina Means has been arrested here in Lake Havasu, charged with second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

A Lake Havasu City woman was arrested Monday on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault in relation to the fatal head-on collision March 17 that critically injured two local men and claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy.

 

Lake Havasu City police arrested Tina M. Means, 37, at her home in the 3700 block of Sloop Drive at approximately 11:30 a.m. after blood tests revealed her blood alcohol concentration to be .26 percent at the time of the accident that allegedly caused the death of Daniel Halliday, of Lake Havasu City.

“The arrest was very simple, like she expected it was coming,” said Lake Havasu City Police Sgt. Troy Stirling.

Means’ arrest came two days after Mohave County Sheriff’s Office arrested her Friday on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, endangerment and multiple DUI charges related to an incident on State Route 95 March 3, according to a Mohave County Sheriff’s Office press release issued Monday.

Last week, Daniel Halliday was riding in a Ford Bronco driven by his father, Dustin Halliday, 31, and front-seat passenger George Hope, 47, when the Bronco was involved in a crash in the 2900 block of Daytona Avenue at approximately 3:45 p.m. March 17, according to earlier reports in the Today’s News-Herald.

Means was reportedly driving a Toyota pickup truck traveling eastbound on Daytona Avenue in excess of 50 mph in a 35 mph zone when she swerved across the centerline and into the path of the westbound Ford. The two vehicles collided head on causing the Ford Bronco to roll onto its side and catch fire, reports said.

Daniel Halliday was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dustin Halliday and passenger Hope were air-evacuated to the University Medical Center Burn Unit in Las Vegas, according to earlier reports.

The driver of the Ford Bronco and the passenger, for whom Means was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, remain in critical but stable condition at the burn unit in Las Vegas, Stirling said Monday.

Means was transported by ambulance to Havasu Regional Medical Center from the accident scene, where she was treated and released, police said.

Means was booked into Lake Havasu City Police Department holding facility to await her bond hearing.

The March 3 incident involved MCSO deputies dispatched to the area of Cattail Cove where a Good Samaritan was with a vehicle that was allegedly traveling northbound in the southbound lane on SR95, MSCO authorities said.

When county deputies arrived, they contacted the female driver, later identified as Means, who was reportedly in an unresponsive state and was emitting an odor of alcohol, according to the MSCO.

“We thought we were dealing with a medical issue,” said Trish Carter, MCSO public information officer.

River Medical ambulance service transported Means to Havasu Regional Medical Center where routine blood samples were collected from Means for further analysis in the Arizona Crime Lab.

The Good Samaritan, a witness, told MCSO he was traveling southbound on SR95 approaching the upward left turn at milepost 167 when he saw a vehicle heading toward him in the southbound lane. The Samaritan said he avoided a head-on collision with the oncoming vehicle by turning into the shoulder.

The witness further reported he turned his vehicle around and watched the suspect’s vehicle drive back across the highway and onto the shoulder where the vehicle came to a stop. The witness turned the suspect’s vehicle off and it was later towed from the scene, according to MCSO.

MCSO deputies arrested Means for her alleged involvement in the March 3 incident at approximately 2:30 p.m. last Friday at her residence on the 3700 block of Sloop Drive where she was taken into custody without incident.

The Arizona Crime Lab revealed Means blood alcohol concentration was .32 at the time of the March 3 incident on SR95, the press release said.

Means was transported and booked into the Mohave County District 3 Substation jail, according to the press release.

Means was released Saturday at 1:30 p.m. from the Mohave County District 3 Substation jail when she satisfied a $1,000 cash bail, Carter said.

Means has previously been convicted on DUI; alcohol, drugs, toxic vapor or combination, DUI with blood alcohol concentration of more than .08 percent, and extreme DUI blood alcohol concentration of more than .15 percent in Lake Havasu Municipal Court in August 2002, according to Arizona Supreme Court records.

From Lake Havasu Herald

 

Accident Update

Edit: Tuesday morning, April 21

Both the men are doing well. George is home and has been to church a couple of times in a wheelchair. Sunday morning he walked in all by himself–no wheelchair, no crutches, no cane. He still returns weekly to Las Vegas to have his burned leg tended, but has made tremendous progress.

A couple of weeks ago, Dustin was transferred to a rehab unit here in Lake Havasu, and he also has made great strides. Continue to pray for him, please. He has developed blood clots in both legs, and faces more surgeries on his legs. His spirits are high, though, and his attitude concerning the death of his son, Daniel, is remarkable.

God is a good God. We thank him for sparing the lives of these two precious men.

Edit: Wednesday afternoon, March 25th

George is having surgery today to graft skin onto his badly burned leg. I have called Michele, but was connected to voice mail, so have not heard how he is doing. I did speak with his mother, Laurel, who is also in Las Vegas, but she did not yet have news of his surgery.

I expect he will do very well. He continues to improve every day, is eating adequately, and has less pain than previously.

Amazingly, Dustin is to be released from the hospital by the end of the week. God, most gracious and loving, has heard our prayers, and has exceeded our expectations. (Edit: April 21 As it turned out, Dustin was not released when it was thought he would be.)

Edit: Tuesday morning, March 24

Both men continue to improve; on Monday Dustin was much more alert. It is Jerry’s understanding, according to a phone conversation, that Dustin has been told of little Daniel’s death. “It was very rough,” Dustin’s mother told Jerry.

We so appreciate your prayers and other support.

Tonight and tomorrow night convene our Christian Intervention classes; the lesson this week is What alcohol and drugs do to families. We are believing God for a special anointing and visitation of the Holy Ghost during these sessions.

Though unconfirmed, I have been told that the woman, who driving while intoxicated, and who crossed the center meridian and crashed into Dustin’s vehicle, has been arrested and may be charged with man-slaughter. I hope she has someone in her life who can minister to her.

Edit: Monday morning, March 23

After church yesterday, Brandon drove Jerry and me to the hospital in Las Vegas where we visited with George and Dustin and with their families.

George has been moved a step down from ICU, where he is in a private room, but still connected by telemetry to the nurse’s station. He wears an oxygen mask and still experiences extreme pain, especially from his leg that was so badly burned. His spirits are high, as are Michele’s. We had a lengthy visit with them and a peaceful prayer before we left.

“We are pleased with his progress,” the nurse told us as we visited with Dustin. Dustin’s eyes are closed most of the time, but after we had been in there awhile and had told him who we were and that we loved him, he began muttering, and I believe he said, “I love you.” Later, Misty fed him spoonfuls of a milkshake. It was strawberry, and he didn’t seem to want it.

“What kind do you want?” Misty asked.

“Chocolate,” Dustin was able to say, and so Misty went to the cafeteria to buy a chocolate shake for Dustin.

Again, thank you for your prayers and other forms of support for these families and for us.

———-

George and Dustin, though severely injured as previously reported are making progress. Please continue to pray for them and for their families.

Misty has found some comfort in knowing that her son is now safe in the arms of Jesus.

Previous posts concerning this incident have now been made private.

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