On bleak day, help was there for them

The most difficult day of my life was Feb. 25, 2016. This was the day that I visited my son in his Wauconda home and discovered he had taken his own life. There were many factors that led up to this desperate act that I will not go into.

I would like to commend the local and county professionals that need to respond to difficult situations such as this. Wauconda firefighters and police officers quickly responded to my 911 call. Every one of them was very polite and compassionate as they performed the unpleasant tasks that needed to be completed.

In addition to the uniformed officers on the scene a police chaplain was summoned and I had the pleasure of being ministered to by the Rev. Chael Tiller. He prayed with me and provided very wise counsel concerning the importance of following up with a grief counselor and support group. Chael remained with me for three hours until he was relieved by my friend and pastor, Luke, from the Orchard Church in Barrington.

Fast forward to April 25 while my wife, Dorie, and I were having lunch in Lyndes we continued to be comforted by another Wauconda service man when we entered into a conversation with Tim Perry, another chaplain with the Wauconda Fire and Police Department.

We shared the account of Feb. 25th with Tim and he consoled us further with appropriate words of wisdom and a wonderful time of prayer. And then an act above and beyond the call of duty; he picked up our check on his way out.

Feb. 25th will always remain the ugliest day in my life, but the Wauconda employees who showed up to assist injected some beauty for which they deserve praise!

Raymond Lorden

Palatine