Our Father Needs Your Prayers

[hiphop]

Another update to our situation -

Oh I am so sorry to hear this. Well its good there is still a lot of appetite.. you know... All the Best ..

 

[Doozer61]

I am going to see him for the first time at his house. The last time I saw my dad was in Jan 2004.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

I am going to see him for the first time at his house. The last time I saw my dad was in Jan 2004.

Good luck doozer

 

[kellyahern]

Prayers sent

 

[Mr. BAW]

On Thursday, BAW and I accompanied my father and his wife to the area mortuary for the purpose of making final arrangements. Once again, his wit continues...the attendant asked us, where is the decedent? My Dad raises his hand and tells him, "bet you didn't think I was gonna come in on my two feet did ya...!"

The attendant was more than thorough; I advised her that Dad was eligible for internment at the Riverside National Cemetary since he was Honorably Discharged from the Army in 1944. She reviewed his paperwork and it was a breeze. My father has chosen to be cremated; he is cognizant of his choice, he answered questions with information that even I, nor do I suspect my brother or sisters, would know.....

I made a decision that we children would pay for the services; this act took my father and his wife by total surprise...for one of the very few times in my life, I actually saw my father and his wife cry....his memory is still present; he quickly reminded me of my older brother's untimely death approximately 17 years ago...he told me that my brother's then-estranged wife told my Dad..."he's your son, you bury him!" He said those words have haunted him since...the fact that his children were "burying him" was the most loving act a family could provide...

My Dad and I locked eyes for a moment and I actually saw myself; could I, one day, expect the same from my kids? I'm not sure but I do know for a fact that if I live as long as my father has that it will be a fruitful life...

I also learned that my father suffers from Chronic Lymphoid Leukiema...its a long, dibilitating disease...unfortunately, we are not certain how long he's suffered from it...one of the indicators is Severe bruising that manifests itself near "the end"...I know that Dad complained of this bruising last August, 2004...

I will close by stating that I called my father's nieces and nephew last night to inform them of what was happening; at my Dad's request, he asked that I not call until he gave me the thumbs up...

Dad and his wife hugged me and BAW; his wife has warmed to us; she has chosen me as the contact person for the family..I am hopeful that her warmth continues...I believe that it will.

Doozer and my sister will visit him this weekend; I am praying that their visit will be filled with love. Thank you for your continued prayer and words of encourage and love.

Estrada Family

 

[Sicy]

 

[pax]

Prayers and best wishes to all the BAWs!

 

[enajh2]

My Nan is 87 and has a similar dry wit and feelings about all things terminal! And she's told my Mum countless times and made it very clear she wants no-one making any fuss when she goes. Just a simple cremation and her ashes scattered in the gardens of a local park where my grandad used to walk/sit.

What did your Dad do for a living, post-1944?

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

Many more 's for you all.

 

[Bonochick]

 

[Mr. BAW]

My Nan is 87 and has a similar dry wit and feelings about all things terminal! And she's told my Mum countless times and made it very clear she wants no-one making any fuss when she goes. Just a simple cremation and her ashes scattered in the gardens of a local park where my grandad used to walk/sit.

What did your Dad do for a living, post-1944?

Dad was always connected to the Steel industry; he worked for Armco Steel dba National Supply Co. in Torrance, CA for many, many years...they were a primary military hardware contractor, i.e. cannons, hardware, etc., for the US.

Following his retirement, Dad was an Independent contractor working for a company that specialized in pollution control..specially, he designed, inspected and supervised the installation of pollution-friendly Steel Mill smokestacks in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and other northeast locations...

My father has always been a hard worker; a welder by trade, he was working up to three weeks before his illness was diagnosed making, fitting and installing wrought-iron gates and fences to many of the homeowners in the community AND when he had time, he would also spraypaint houses..all of this was side money to supplement his income..And if that wasn't enough, he found time for 9-holes of golf twice a month.... Thank you for asking and your good thoughts....BAW's

 

[enajh2]

My Dad's dad used to install boilers in many famous and important buildings in London like hospitals and Somerset House where the births and deaths records were once held He was a very hands-on kind of person and practical too. Come to think of it he hand built a wooden gate for my parents garden when he was still around!

I was trying to ask if your Dad's evident humour and outlook now is due to him knowing he's lived a full and active life but couldn't quite work out how to word it in a sensitive way!

 

[Doozer61]

All dressed and ready to go. This morning I was thankful in the shower that I was going to HIS home, someplace that I have never been. I think this would have been much harder if he still lived in the house I grew up in.

 

[BAW]

All dressed and ready to go. This morning I was thankful in the shower that I was going to HIS home, someplace that I have never been. I think this would have been much harder if he still lived in the house I grew up in.

 

[Shaliz]

More prayers and good thoughts coming your way, BAWs, Doozer, and all.

 

[diamond]

db9

 

[Doozer61]

Just a quick update -- saw my dad on Saturday and he was looking rather tired but his wit continues. He said he doesn't know how he got leukemia when he doesn't even know how to spell it!

The visit was short but good. Thanks again everyone for all your prayers and support.

 

[martha]

I'm glad this went well for you.

 

[anitram]

I am wishing your family and your father all the best at this time. You sound like wonderful people.

BTW, as it pertains to his bruising - this is an indicator that his platelet levels are low. The "occurs late in the disease" basically means that he is now at a point where treatment should be given. Early on in the disease, chemotherapy is not administered because the side effects of it are greater than the good it will provide. So when they say that it occurs late in the disease, it doesn't mean necessarily that things are at their most grim, it just means that he now has one of the symptoms which the classification system sorts into the late rather than early category. I hope I made some sense there.

 

[Mr. BAW]

It does make sense and its very reassuring...I called the house today and spoke with his wife; he told me that he was napping...at 8:30 a.m.?

She told me that his appetite is back; he woke this morning at 4:30 a.m. and wanted to go to Denny's for breakfast...which they did...they returned home and waited for Hospice to arrive at 8 a.m. (which she didn't...)...He was napping until the nurse arrived..I will see him Friday; I'm taking my 30-year old daughter who has an interest to see her grandpa...we'll see how it goes..thank you Martina, your words and your knowledge mean a lot to us...

 

[joyfulgirl]

 

[BAW]

I still can't believe he made his wife take him to Denny's for a Grand Slam breakfast at 4:30 in the morning

But (God forbid) if I was in her position, I would be willing to do just about anything to make him happy too

 

[joyfulgirl]

I still can't believe he made his wife take him to Denny's for a Grand Slam breakfast at 4:30 in the morning

When my best friend was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer a few years ago and given a grim amount of time to live, all of his close friends including us health nuts and a clinical nutritionist were encouraging him to drink carrot juice and eat all of this really boring healthy food but he was insistent on pancakes.

 

[Mr. BAW]

Just a few words to bring you up to date on Dad's health...he had a number of visitors during the past week including Doozer and my older sister...

On Friday, I drove out with my 30-year old daughter, who, by now, most of you didn't realize existed...admittedly, Jenny's had her own problems to deal with but she appears to be trying to get her feet on the ground ... she's just not there yet..anyway, she was made aware of grandpa's health and she wanted to see him (that was an accomplishment in and of itself!) Dad is visibly weaker but surprisingly still chipper. He continues to maintain a healthy appetite.

I wasn't very happy to learn that my father has been driving. OMG. I told his wife that she might have to start hiding the keys... he drove from home to the golf course..all his friends were happy to see him; matter of fact, they all sat in the club house shooting the breeze and 6 of his buddies missed their Tee-times just to be with him. If that wasn't bad enough, he drove cross-town Palm Springs to lay some bets down on the upcoming horse race!! Jeez...! Some might think this is comical and healthy but I think he's a rolling disaster and I told him so...I gotta get those keys.

Dad also received several calls from out of state relatives who have learned of his condition; he has trouble hearing - he has lost a lot of weight and his hearing aid doesn't fit well..

My Dad had no problems recognizing Jenny. He told her, "I've been thinking about you! how are you?" with a big hug...

At the end of our talk, he stood and grabbed my daughter,,,he told her, "it was nice to see you mijita (mee-heeta)" an endearing word that means "little daughter"... Dad had a tear in his eye.

We left there and drove home in basic silence,,,,I'm believing that the sight of an ailing grandpa might have made an impact on my daughter; I'm hopeful anyway.

There needs to be one more visitor to see his grandfather...and he knows who he is...

I've made plans to go see Dad on Father's Day,,,I've already got my brother to confirm that he'll join us as it may be Dad's last...I'm hoping that other family members will join us...

Thanks again for all your wonderful thoughts and prayers,,,he's made it this far, no reason he can't keep going...

Appreciative, The BAW's

 

[Laura M]

Baw's & Doozer, I am thinking about you. I am sorry it took me so long to reply to this thread.

 

[BAW]

Thank you Lara (and everyone else)



Yikes, I still can't believe he got in the car and drove to the off-track betting place. I think his keys need to be hidden and just to be safe, the battery should be taken out of his golf cart! I can just imagine him cruising down Hwy 111 in it

 

[Doozer61]

There needs to be one more visitor to see his grandfather...and he knows who he is...

I think we all have our own process in this. I know for me, it was a tough decision to go see him.

And I don't know that I would say that we all NEED to see him. Sometimes, it is easier to remember them like they used to be. But I certainly wouldn't guilt him to go see dad. It has to be his own decision, not something you think he should do or something you want him to do. And, brother, I say this with complete love in my heart.

So, now I am faced with the decision of the father's day thing. Hell, I was struggling with getting him a father's day card. And now this? And I know we should all forget the past, but for the last 17 years, I haven't celebrated father's day.

 

[fah]

 

[Mr. BAW]

Its been a while but a good month for Dad...you see, he's still with us...your prayers are awesome!

BAW and I visited Dad this weekend; its obvious that he's lost some weight but that doesn't keep him from wearing his hot pink Bermuda shorts! Oh, my God! HOT, FREAKIN' PINK!

Dad retains a good deal of his memory; he recalled a number of incidents that happened during my childhood that I would not have expected....like the time he found a case of beer in the garage (I didn't hide it there, I swear! )...he also remembered when I told him not to walk in front of me when I was about to "tee-off"..."Go ahead, son....you won't hit me! THWACK!!!!!

LO-FrickenLOUD! He looks good! He is still and will remain under HOSPICE care and I must confess that I'm quite impressed with the way they are taking care of him...I just thought that Hospice would fill him full of morphine and then pick him up the next day (if you know what I mean) but that's not the case...they really are making him comfortable.

My relationship with my step-mother is getting better with each visit! she really cares for Char and me and that's important...what makes it really special is that I know she is taking care of Dad during his final days...he looks comfortable, he's happy! We even saw their wedding album from 18 years ago...my God, did Char laugh or what??? pics of Mr. BAW with a head of hair,.,,Dad told her it was a wig!!!!!!!!!!!!! (joker)...

It was a great visit. BAW and I will return to the desert next week for 3 days and I plan on taking Dad somewhere, who knows, maybe a casino!

Finally, I want to let all of my loved ones here know that there is POWER in prayer and I believe when Our Savior thinks that its time for our Dad, then so be it...we will accept it and then cherish our beautiful memories of this man! I love you Dad! and I really love our friends here at the Blue Crack,,,,Peace

 

[~LadyLemon~]

Sending big hugs to the BAWs and Doozer!!!!