Dad had some kind of heart event over the weekend. Not much was getting better so I drove back to Athens last night.
Got there late and discovered my two aunts/cousins were there (Dad's brother and his brother's wife were killed in a car wreck before I was born and Dad's parents adopted the two surviving daughters.) I hadn't seen them since the death of Dad's mom. They looked a lot different after almost 20 years but if either or both had snuck up behind me and said, "Hi, Scott," I'd've recognized their voices immediately.
So, all four of his children and his two sisters and wife were with him today. His breathing pretty labored...mask on all the time. Arrangements made for hospice care at home.... I spent the day in funeral homes; that is not very fun though I found the procedure much less ugly than I suspected.
Reported the results to my sisters...his sisters and my brother having returned home thinking all the arrangements were made. Mom had rearranged a hair appointment to today thinking tomorrow, Friday and the weekend were going to be moving days for Dad.
I jumped in the truck and drove the 4 hours back to Austin. Got home about 30 minutes ago and sure enough, Dad was mercifully taken into the arms of G-d while I drove home. I'll return to Athens tomorrow. After seeing him struggle to breathe today, I'm primarily relieved. I'm also selfishly relieved for Mom...she would not have been equipped for him at home...even with "Visiting Angels" and hospice care.
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3 comments:
Scooter, sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad. Condolunces to you and your family. He is in a better place and as painful as this time has been for your Mom, it might have been worse for her if the last days had strected on to weeks.
Hi Scooter -- I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. Will be thinking about you and I wish you the best for the difficult days ahead, first the busy ritual-filled days and then the even more difficult days of trying to return to routine.
Thanks, Steph and LJ.
Really and truly (he said in his fourth grade voice), things, especially the timing of events, could not have been better.
I'll update soon: think 95 degree heat and twenty 65-92 year old bridge playing women.
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