Ruth Graham Slips into Coma
CBNNews.com
June 13, 2007
CBNNews.com - The wife of the Reverend Billy Graham has slipped into a coma.
"She appears to be entering the final stages of life," said Larry Ross, Graham's personal spokesman.
Ruth Graham's illness took a turn for the worse this morning. Mrs. Graham has been suffering from pneumonia. She also has degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck.
The Graham family says she is being treated at the family's home in Montreat, N.C. which is near Asheville and will not be taken to a hospital.
She is surrounded by all five of her children.
Earlier today, Billy Graham said that the two of them would be buried side-by-side at the library that was dedicated to him earlier this month.
"Ruth is my soul mate and best friend, and I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side. I am more in love with her today than when we first met over 65 years ago as students at Wheaton College."
He also told Christian Newswire that "Ruth and I appreciate, more than we can express, the prayers and letters of encouragement we have received from people across the country and around the world. Our entire family has been home in recent days and it has meant so much to have them at our side during this time. We love each one of them dearly and thank God for them."
An ABC affiliate out of Ashville, N.C. posted the following from the evangelist on their website: "We have held this decision privately and only decided to announce it now that she is close to going home to heaven. Ruth is my soul mate and best friend, and I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side."
Ruth Graham turned 87 Sunday.
The Grahams were in Charlotte last month for the opening of the $27 million, 40,000-square-foot museum.
"This building behind me is just a building," Billy Graham said at the event. "It's an instrument, a tool for the Gospel. The primary thing is the Gospel of Christ."
Stay with CBNNews.com for the latest on the health of Ruth Graham.
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