There are theories that as death approaches, people linger between this world and another, as evidenced by conversations between the dying and those long dead.

The closer one gets to death, the more they sleep. Hospice workers believe this means the person has "one foot in each world," and that they are resolving the last of their personal battles before leaving this world.

Juan Viera Colon's culture believes that death is near when people begin to converse with people who already have died. And when the dying see or hear children whom others do not, death is imminent. Some Puerto Ricans believe that the young apparitions are angels come to earth to escort the dying from this realm

Nilda Garcia visits with her brother Juan Viera Colon while sitting at the foot of his hospital bed. (Bill Kalina Photo)

Colon, 49, has been distracted in recent days by smiles and laughter of children that he tells caretakers are just outside his window, playing on the balcony of his sister's second-floor apartment in York City.

"He was talking last night,
saying someone had died," said Hector Garcia, Colon's brother-in-law and caretaker. "I asked (Colon) who told you that and he said the children. Then he said, 'Can't you see them outside playing?'"

Colon has kidney failure and decided June 10 to end dialysis, which would prolong his life by removing toxins from his body. He is not eligible for a kidney transplant because of other health problems including heart disease and high blood pressure.

Colon confirmed with his doctor Wednesday that he does not regret his decision, that he knows he will die because of it, and that his only desire is to return to his native Puerto Rico, which is an U.S. territory. Sunday he sat with his sister, Nilda Garcia, on a couch at her apartment watching television. He joked that day, even argued a bit with Hector Garcia.

Monday morning he seemed OK, but by mid-afternoon his eyes had become jaundiced, blood pressure soared and his heart beat erratically.

Nilda Garcia gave him a white rose to hold, telling him he could give it to his mother when they met in heaven. She's been waiting for him since her death Dec. 13, 2008. Colon cried, saying he was going to leave and told the Garcias of the parade of people he was seeing.

The Visiting Nurse Association has coordinated care-giving with the family and Colon's doctors, who have said his decision to stop dialysis, to die, is reasonable given his health issues. The Garcias opted to keep Colon at home, moved in a hospital bed and sold their bedroom suite to help pay funeral expenses.

Nilda Garcia has made the calls, rallied the family -- Colon's father, sisters, nieces and nephews -- who camped the night at her efficiency apartment.

Letting go: They've come to say goodbye, to let go, to hold his hand when he leaves this world. And gratifying as it is for the family to keep him at home, the stress of doing so takes its toll. In recent days, Colon's sleeping patterns have changed. He has remained awake long after the moon rises, becomes animated, talks to people and laughs with children no one else sees.

By 3 a.m., as Nilda Garcia readies for work at a blood-testing laboratory, Colon begins to wind down, turns onto his right side, pulling blankets to his ears and succumbing to a restless sleep.

She exits the door; her husband, Hector Garcia, sleeps off and on through the morning and until she returns at 8:30 or 9 a.m. The strain of the situation is evident on their faces, although both do their best to remain strong, to get through these days and watch Colon deteriorate.

They heed hospice workers' advice not to argue with Colon about what he says he sees, but simply to listen and do their best to accommodate his needs. They wear dark circles beneath their eyes. Their smiles have waned, and voices betray pitches one associates with fatigue and frustration and grief.

His decline:Colon hasn't held food down for days. He asks continuously for his 18-year-old niece, Abby Laboy; the two have a strong bond. She calms Colon, does what she can to hide pain she feels each time she sees him.

Laboy stayed at a friend's the other night, just had to get away. But she has been by his side during these last hours.

The Garcias witness the changes and do their best to hide stress and fear while they are with Colon. There are days, though, when the facade fades, tears come and any place to lean is appreciated.

"I'm so sorry, I'm sorry," Nilda Garcia says, tears streaming down her face, Colon curled in a ball upon his hospital bed.

He hasn't eaten; a nurse inserted a catheter to empty his bladder.

"I know, I know I have to be strong. I know."

How to help
The family of Juan Viera Colon asks the public's help in covering funeral expenses.

Donations to help may be made mailed or made in person payable to: Juan Viera Colon Funeral Fund, c/o M & T Bank, 21 E. Market St., York, PA 17401; contact M & T's customer representative Myrta Lopez-Flores to verify account information.

-- Reach Kathy Stevens at 505-5437 or kstevens@yorkdispatch.com.