Frank's brain damage proved far too extensive for him to ever again be capable of anything but suffering. So I gave the order to withdraw life support today and switch to an end-of-life protocol where he will be made as comfortable as possible. I said my goodbyes just in case it was my last chance, then I left the medical people to do their job. It could be minutes, it could be days. But I heard from a friend who visited later that he'd been successfully moved to the palliative-care unit, so he must be breathing on his own for now.

I'll pay him a visit in his new room tomorrow. Tonight I've done little but talk, text and tweet the news to family and friends. Everyone has been very kind and supportive and I appreciate that. What little else I did was largely, finally, have a good cry because I watched this Reading Rainbow episode featuring one of my favorite children's books, Badger's Parting Gifts - http://vimeo.com/6370892 .