Don,
all flesh is like the grass... it withers and fades away. And that includes all of us sooner or later.
In the time you've been granted on this planet, you have been a good friend, a good example, a good man. I hope that trend continues for a long time to come. But, when the time comes for it to end, I suspect you won't have many regrets. You've fought the fight, kept the faith, done unto others as you'd have them do unto you... and remained cheerful and positive in the face of your tribulation.
Like Paul and Silas singing from the depths of their prison cells, you have cultivated the will and attitude to sing from the depths of your own imprisonment. And when you finally do, I suspect it will be a song of praise, not of whining.
Thanks for your good friendship, good humour, good example and good memories. I only wish you enjoyed good health to go with it... but you will. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not (yet) seen"