Taking Care of Your Parents – The Dance Is Over
With great sadness I’m sorry to announce that my father passed away Monday morning. He fought as hard as he could and never gave up, even at the end of his life. Dad had a saying “If you go to the dance then you have to dance”. It was his way of saying that you need to give 100% effort all of the time and never give up until you succeed. Quitting was never an option for Dad and he never gave up hope that he could beat cancer and Parkinson’s.
On Thanksgiving Day Dad took a turn for the worse but he kept battling until his very last breath at 4:15 AM on Monday morning. It was so hard to watch him fight his last battle but there’s no way I could leave the room and let him fight it alone. We were all there comforting him and encouraging him to let go but he just couldn’t give up. Giving up was never an option for Dad and he fought as hard as he could until he had nothing left.
I’m still reeling from the past three months and I have so much to process. I’m exhausted and sad but Dad has moved on to a better place. Not being able to walk and talk was not the way Dad wanted to live his life so I’m so glad he’s moved on. Passing was not easy for him because he wouldn’t give up but he’s completed his transition from this life. I’ll share more after I get some rest and have time to process my thoughts.
Thanks to everyone that’s commented to this blog and contacted me personally with support. I have so many new friends that I know will be there when I need them in the future. Thank you again!
You can read Dad’s obituary at http://www.legacy.com/philly/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=98738210
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Comments on Taking Care of Your Parents – The Dance Is Over
When the bank sends us letters to leave, we’ll offer to stay and caretake the property, or simply ignore the letters. ,
My father recently moved in due to his failing health and I knew he couldnt live alone any more. I have a VERY supportive husband and 7 year old daughter, they never complained they just help in anyway possible.
I am feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, etc. It has only been 2 months, does it get better?
Any suggestions on ways I can cope better?
Hi Jenny,
It is very overwhelming and frustrating. My mother’s health has been failing recently and she’s struggles to do the simplest tasks. She calls me almost every day and asks who she is speaking with. When I tell her it’s her son, she asks if I’m home not knowing she called my home.
This week she was in the hospital with an infection then fell when she was released. She has stitches in her head and an injured back. Today she called and said she couldn’t get out of bed. When I tried to help her, she screamed in pain. Her bed was soaked with urine and she was crying. There’s nothing harder than cleaning up your mother’s mess, changing her diaper and dressing her.