My father in law, Al has been sick with Leukemia on and off for the past couple of years. Recently he had a toe removed due to an abscess. and spent a month in a nursing home recuperating. He was able to spend 3 weeks at home with his wife before going back into the hospital 4 weeks ago. His immune system had lost all functioning white blood cells. Yesterday I was called from work by my wife, saying her father had had enough and wanted no more treatments. The staff at the hospital were preparing to put a feeding tube in. He had a severe case of pneumonia in his left lung and was on a forced breathing mask. I rushed to the hospital. He was very alert, and his mind would not be changed. he had called for the priest earlier in the morning. With his wife, his daughter ( my wife) and myself at his bedside. We exchanged hugs and cried alot. My son, a recent grad of West Point and stationed at Ft Sill OK. called just as he was ready to remove his mask, and said his goodbyes thru tears. His mask was removed, his last communion given. He was at peace with his decision, and never shed a tear. It took an hour before he past. Man was that ever hard! I cried like a baby. I loved that man. While not a gear head, his patience an guiding words of advice will be sorely missed. I look back at yesterday as his last gift to a loving family, giving us all a chance to tell him how much he meant to us, how much we loved him. He will be sorely missed. Al was 80 years old.
Jim, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I'm glad you were able to spend some time with him before he passed. God bless you and your family.
