It’s Sunday evening and probably the first time I’ve had opportunity to try to put some thoughts to screen here. Dad’s gone, Friday morning he slipped away so quietly and peacefully it seemed as though he had drifted into restful sleep.
Thursday morning, Jane and I went up to dad’s. He was so weak and in so much pain, his breathing so laboured — it was even a surprise for me at the changes which had taken place since just the day before. While the three of us were in the room with dad, Jane suggested the reading of a psalm. As she read we watched as dad calmed and a look of peace came over him, the look and calm remained as we joined hands and Jane led a prayer. When she finished we heard dad clearly say “amen”.
Jane spent some time in with dad while Lynn and I talked in the living room. She joined us there and we sat and talked some more while the VON arrived and went in to see dad. Tracy (the VON) joined us in the living room and walked us through the procedure if dad died over the weekend. Read the rest of this entry »
I went up to dad’s this morning and took him into the doctor. He’s admitting to a lot more pain now and is getting very weak. I was gone just over an hour with him and used his walker like a wheelchair to minimize the amount of exertion for him and it still exhausted him. There were some prescriptions to fill but I opted to take him home and get him resting and then go back into town to fill them. Read the rest of this entry »
Yesterday was a long day, physically and emotionally draining. I arrived in London around 11:30am, had lunch with Megan and Maria then gathered up my sister Lynn around 1pm to head back to Colborne. By the time we reached the west end of Toronto and the rush hour underway I received a phone call from Steve.
He had brought dad home from a consultation with a radiologist and oncologist. He has a mass in his right lung and nodules in his liver. The response to Steve stating dad wanted quality of life was to take him home and keep him comfortable. He has an appointment with his GP on Wednesday who will be managing his last days. I let Steve know that Lynn had come prepared to stay with dad for however long this takes. That is a huge relief for all of us. Read the rest of this entry »
Had a really good visit with Megan and her friend Maria. Saturday evening we spent at my oldest brother’s. Meg and Steve really hit it off, was fun watching the two of them trading remarks. It was a pretty relaxing evening.
This morning, I skipped church and took the two girls to Ajax for lunch at the Mandarin. That is one of the best chinese buffets I’ve ever been in and the girls just love it. I was really surprised when the girls treated me to lunch. My little niece is an adult … how time flies 
From Ajax we headed up to Lakefield to visit with dad. Megan wanted to see her poppa. I did what I could to prepare her for the changed man she was about to visit. Well, his appearance had changed a lot but he was still her poppa, just a very sick poppa. She didn’t outwardly show much reaction but then Megan has always been pretty good at keeping her own counsel.
While I had been on the phone every night with him I hadn’t seen dad for almost a week and was jolted at how changed he was in just that time. The most notable change was the swelling in his ankles. I put a call in to Steve right away and brought that to his attention as he has to take him to an appointment tomorrow while I’m taking Megan home. Read the rest of this entry »
They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them
In memory of our fallen Canadian:
Corporol Francisco Gomez–Afghanistan July 22, 2006
Corporol Jason Patrick Warren–Afghanistan July 22, 2006
Well, it has been a couple of days since I learned about dad’s health. I’ve spoken to my oldest brother and he knows.
When I first caught on that dad’s health wasn’t good I had called my brother to see if he was aware that dad wasn’t well. He wasn’t and after some discussion we agreed that I’d keep him up to date on what was happening and if I needed any help he’d be there. Seeing as dad’s pretty independent some stubbornness wouldn’t have surprised us. That hasn’t happened, it seems dad knows and is accepting this is pretty serious. Read the rest of this entry »
I was up to see my father yesterday. Actually, I went up prepared to take him into the doctor and give the doc’s desk a pounding if needed as dad’s been hardly able to eat for about a month and is getting steadily weaker. He needed to be seen. The doc had seen him about two weeks ago and had ordered bloodwork and then last Friday a Catscan. You might say with his deteriorating condition, we (or at least I) was getting a bit impatient.
I did get dad’s consent that if the doctor wasn’t prepared to give him an appointment yesterday that we’d go into the office and park there if needed. Sort of figured I needed that consent as I’d seem rather silly to go in there pounding on the desk and getting the doc’s attention and then when he agreed to see him saying “well, dad wouldn’t come in with me”. Just doesn’t make a good ending. Read the rest of this entry »
They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them
In memory of our fallen Canadian:
Corporol Anthony Joseph Boneca–Afghanistan July 9, 2006
