It was Thanksgiving day, 1989. Life took some unexpected turns the months before and the changes were almost overwhelming.
My father had fallen at work. He'd sustained a back injury that wasn't improving as anticipated. Months of treatment yielded few results, until an x-ray revealed an ominous spot.
Tests revealed a malignancy. The strategy was to go to the best hospital, which was in Houston. He was transported by ambulance and treatments were started.
My wife and I walked into his room around noon. I was shocked to see how much weight he'd lost and how he didn't seem to be aware of our presence.
We visited for a few minutes and decided to go eat Thanksgiving dinner in the cafeteria. We needed to discuss the treatments and I knew my mother needed the time away.
It was a surreal experience. Even though it was a beautiful day, the hospital environment, isolation and conversation were far from the pleasant Thanksgivings we'd shared in the past. There were no happy thoughts, the warmth of all the family was missing and my mother's words of the discovery of more malignancies were ominous.
We discussed the strategy. More treatments were needed, but they could be performed at a local hospital. The game plan was transporting my father in a little over a week, so he could be at home.
After we finished our dinner, we returned to my father's room to visit a little longer. He was the same. After the visit, I rose, took his hand and told him I'd see him later. He squeezed my hand and weakly nodded. I fought back my tears as I hugged my mom.
That was the last visit I ever had with my father. He was gone the second day he returned. I think that was the plan; I just wish somebody would have told me.
So, if you still can, spend some time with your father tomorrow. Life whittles away the opportunities and you can't get them back.
My dad had been diagnosed with haert disease and was given 6 mos to live. I started spending Sat mornings with him.
ReplyDeleteThat went on for 6 yrs.
Never regretted it.
From what my mother told me, the doctors were hopeful and my father had more time.
DeleteWhen he came home, the hospice nurse asked my mother if she had any children. When she answered "yes", she told her my father didn't have long and she should notify them shortly.
It pissed my mother off. She didn't believe the nurse. My father died the next morning.