...yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14 (ESV)
This is the day 3 years ago that my Dad suffered his stroke. In some ways it seems impossible that 3 years have passed and in other ways it seems like just yesterday. In many ways most of the day proceeded as the majority of the days of my life had proceeded.
I was off work that day and heading to pick up Abby from school. She was week away from graduating from High School. Her exams would be starting that week. Mary called to tell me that Mom had called her and my Dad was being taken by Ambulance to the hospital. I dropped Abby off at Mary's work and headed straight to the hospital thinking that Dad had overdone it once again and Mom wanted him checked out. I arrived in the ER to see the paramedic finishing up his paperwork with Mom. That was the first time I heard the word "stroke" mentioned. After some paperwork, Mom and I were allowed to go back to see him. That image will be burned in my mind...bear in mind that at this point it had been less than an hour since Mom had summoned the paramedics to the house. His left side was already totally paralyzed. When I spoke to him his right eye looked at me and he reached out with his right hand and I grabbed it. He tried to speak but couldn't and tears were streaming down his face. Soon after the ER Doctor informed Mom and me that the neurologist had viewed the EKG and Dad had suffered major brain damage and there was nothing more that could be done other than make him comfortable. Dr Kendall, the family doctor, would confirm the diagnosis. By later that night Dad would slip into a coma and 2 days later he was dead.
I miss my Dad. His 75 years really do seem like no time at all. Life is short and we all will face death one day. My Dad's life meant many things to me but most of all that life was about a relationship that spanned the 50 plus years of my life. A relationship I will never enjoy again this side of eternity! It reminds me to make the most of the relationships I have in this life because my life has appeared for a little time and before I know it will vanish from this world.
Tears. Touching post. I remember you were planning to take him to your work to see all the machines, etc. He would have loved looking at each one of them and asking you questions, sharing his knowledge of the industry, just being around that stuff. I miss him for Mom, too. She has been amazing in her attitude and in her life. Thank you for remembering him.
ReplyDeleteMary