The Residents

out of nowhere he became sick
he collapsed in the emergency room
he was admitted to the neurological ICU
Thank God Caleb was there

they didn't know what was wrong with him
and they said it could go either way
you are talking about my husband of 37 years
but GOD sent an Angel to look after him, his name was Caleb

my husband spent 17 days in the hospital, 15 days on a ventilator
they struggled to get a diagnosis
First Miller-Fisher Syndrome as he laid there unconscious
but GOD sent an Angel to look after him, his name was Caleb

then Guillain-Barre syndrome and a spinal tap for diagnosis
still struggling for a diagnosis
still on the ventilator to breath
but God sent an Angel to look after him, his name was Caleb

the training residents waited their turn, for experience
while the testing continued
still on the ventilator to breath, but conscious and writing notes
but God sent an Angel to look after him, his name was Caleb

on day a resident called his wife for permission to operate
she said my husband is alert get permission from him
they incorrectly said he is not able to give consent
but God sent an Angel to look after him, his name was Caleb

his wife went to see him the night of day fourteen and withdrew her consent
Caleb assured her he would see that things went the way they were suppose to
the morning of the fifteenth day the residents tried to talk him into a tracheotomy
but God sent an Angel to look after him, his name was Caleb

the diagnosis changed again to Myasthenia- Gravis, a muscle disease
they admitted they were unsure of the diagnosis
finally it was show time, and the respiratory therapist was ready to remove the breathing tube
but GOD sent an Angel to look after him, his name was Caleb

the therapist said cough, and a tug and a pull, and out came the tube
Caleb stood by the door, and would not let the residents in
he was breathing on his own, and talking, and soon he called his wife
and GOD sent an Angel to look after him, his name was Caleb

This poem was based on true events, as recently as July 2026. Gregory Payton a vocal plus member, was stricken with a non diagnostic illness, and collapsed in the emergency room, in Delaware. He stopped breathing, and was placed on a ventilator. He spent 15 days on a ventilator, and 17 days in the hospital, and came home.

I know we could be standing in a much different place today, if not for our Angel Caleb. He literally saved my husband from a tracheotomy and rehabilitation from all that goes with having a tracheotomy.

If you know about an Angel here on earth, that God works through, I would like to read about it.

and God sent an Angel to look after Gregory, his name was Caleb