- Jan 16, 2006
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I got the call on Monday April 30th that my dad was not doing well and that I needed to get to Florida ASAP. My dad had just turned 82 and had not even thought he would make it that far. He had battled leukemia for 5 years. But the amazing thing is, that is not what took his life, congestive heart failure did. He had a pace maker put in just a couple of years ago. We just believed that he would make it a few more years.
When I arrived monday afternoon, they had just turned him over to his own room to recover. It was looking as if he might even make a full recovery. I sat beside him and looked up at him as he laid there so weak and tired. He reached for my hand and kissed it as if it would be the last time we touched. There were even a few laughs. I am in my 6th month of pregnancy so when he would get a glimpse of my belly, he would just laugh. After a couple of hours my dad went into a deep sleep. I wasn't sure if he was just resting or if something may be wrong. I knew something was not right because he had been urinating blood for a few hours. In my mind, I felt his kidneys were beginning to shut down but did not want to believe it. I just kept telling him that I loved him and that we all were there with him. I still felt like he might wake up. He didn't. About 10:30 that night I decided I would go to the motel where my husband was staying at and get a shower, but was so scared to leave daddy's side. I had remembered a prayer I had brought before the Lord and that was to give me the chance to be there with my daddy when he left this world. So I left to get cleaned up some. Just a few minutes after I had left, I got the call that my dad was being moved back to ICU. I was just a couple of blocks away but it felt like I was miles away. When I got there, the nurse called my brother and I back to the room where dad was and said that his kidneys were failing and it was just a matter of time. I had been up pretty close to 30 hours at this point and was so afraid to even think of sleep. My daddy's gasps for air was almost to much to bare. But I held his hand and laid my head at his feet and just stared at him for fear that any moment that I may look away, could of been my last with him. About 7am that following morning as I was standing over him, I saw him take his last breath, and it was over.
My dad and I had not spoken for 9 long years. We reunited again in 2005. I have had but just a short time to make up for lost time. I am so greatful that we had some time to grow in our relationship and be close for once. I look at life in a whole new way now. Family has always meant so much to me and I realize what is most important more than ever before. God bless you all here and may God be with you as you remember those that you have lost.
When I arrived monday afternoon, they had just turned him over to his own room to recover. It was looking as if he might even make a full recovery. I sat beside him and looked up at him as he laid there so weak and tired. He reached for my hand and kissed it as if it would be the last time we touched. There were even a few laughs. I am in my 6th month of pregnancy so when he would get a glimpse of my belly, he would just laugh. After a couple of hours my dad went into a deep sleep. I wasn't sure if he was just resting or if something may be wrong. I knew something was not right because he had been urinating blood for a few hours. In my mind, I felt his kidneys were beginning to shut down but did not want to believe it. I just kept telling him that I loved him and that we all were there with him. I still felt like he might wake up. He didn't. About 10:30 that night I decided I would go to the motel where my husband was staying at and get a shower, but was so scared to leave daddy's side. I had remembered a prayer I had brought before the Lord and that was to give me the chance to be there with my daddy when he left this world. So I left to get cleaned up some. Just a few minutes after I had left, I got the call that my dad was being moved back to ICU. I was just a couple of blocks away but it felt like I was miles away. When I got there, the nurse called my brother and I back to the room where dad was and said that his kidneys were failing and it was just a matter of time. I had been up pretty close to 30 hours at this point and was so afraid to even think of sleep. My daddy's gasps for air was almost to much to bare. But I held his hand and laid my head at his feet and just stared at him for fear that any moment that I may look away, could of been my last with him. About 7am that following morning as I was standing over him, I saw him take his last breath, and it was over.
My dad and I had not spoken for 9 long years. We reunited again in 2005. I have had but just a short time to make up for lost time. I am so greatful that we had some time to grow in our relationship and be close for once. I look at life in a whole new way now. Family has always meant so much to me and I realize what is most important more than ever before. God bless you all here and may God be with you as you remember those that you have lost. 
