Nappers
07-23-2010, 02:59 AM
Gang,
As you know, I haven't posted much in a while. I do pop in time to time and check things out. I love the new video's and new products....
My dad had Stage 4 lung cancer which was originally thought to be curable or at least give him more years to stay with us. Unfortunately, the cancer spread to his bones. The other day (Saturday) he lost feeling in his legs and ended up in the hospital. An MRI later, doctors found 4 tumors, 2 of which are pressing against his spinal chord. The doctors reamed out his back to give room for the tumor to grow (the worst one) and hopefully gain back his feeling to his legs. The surgery was sucessful however his feelings didn't come back as we had hoped. He can't walk right now. After a closer look, the doctors revealed to us the cancer has spread to his brain. He is on a lot of pain killers and it's a chore for him to even stand up or move around. They have given him weeks, instead of months or years when first diagnosed. He now has to wear a back brace to keep from injuring the spinal chord.
He is being discharged tommorow (Friday) and he is going on a fishing trip to Washington State at the behest of his doctors. My sister and I are going to tag along and make sure Dad makes it to the fishing designation and the soothing salt air and the view and sound of the ocean will soothe him. He will among a group of friends and his wife and me and my sis (for a day or two). His trip usually lasts a month or so and he usually brings a chest freezer for the salmon he brings home.
Say a prayer for happy times in his final moments, safe travels and a good time for me and my sis as we spend possibly his last days with him.
When he returns (I hope he does), hospice will be available to keep him in comfort his last days. I am blessed to be in a job that has family leave for emergencies (sick leave) so I can spend time with him and the family. It's been a rough year for us.
I haven't been with AG a long time. But I do know that I belong to a great group of gals and guys who care about one another.
If you or a loved one smokes, please tell them to quit and if you do, please quit. My dad is 69 years young. Dad worked hard his whole life and now has retired this last year. His grand plans were to fish, play golf, spend time with family and live happily ever after. Those plans are now gone due to smoking.
My dad was so strong, he would carry a stack of banded wood shingles on his shoulder to the second story of the house we rebuilt when I was in school. I considered myself strong but I could barely carry that stack of shingles much less carry them on my shoulder to the second story of a house. He was an electrician, the best in the business. He was a member of Local 6, San Francisco electrician union. He once went to Alaska to do a job as he was sought after.
Dad has a great place on the Rogue River in Shady Cove Oregon. He has his house, front lawn, dirt road, then river.
We spent many of summers and fall, heck spring camping and fishing. He took up golfing as a sport with his older buddies and was quite a golf shark from what I'm told.
He was initially healthy as a horse, strong and full of life. He worried about us kids, his other family and friends long before he worried about us. He took care of us even now on his death bed. His whole life was family and holidays. CHRISTmas was his favorite time, he would go out and get presents for everyone, cut the tree and have a dinner fit for a king. He was the one to get the presents and give them to everyone, stockings and the works. Now...it will not happen. He can hardly get up to go to the bathroom without help. He was an awesome dad as I'm sure your dad's are.
Sorry for rambling.
The moral of the story, quit smoking. Dreams are shattered.
I feel bad for him more than me or my family, his dreams are shattered as well. He knows now he can't do the things he wants anymore and he is upset. This fishing trip is his last request and I hope and pray he has fun. Fishing makes him smile.
Say a prayer for us. My dad's name is Clif.
I'm just going to push away from the keyboard until the dust settles.
See you soon.
Aaron, Clif my dad, Tracy my wife, Stephanie my sister, Bill my brother, Judy my step mom (married 35 years+).
As you know, I haven't posted much in a while. I do pop in time to time and check things out. I love the new video's and new products....
My dad had Stage 4 lung cancer which was originally thought to be curable or at least give him more years to stay with us. Unfortunately, the cancer spread to his bones. The other day (Saturday) he lost feeling in his legs and ended up in the hospital. An MRI later, doctors found 4 tumors, 2 of which are pressing against his spinal chord. The doctors reamed out his back to give room for the tumor to grow (the worst one) and hopefully gain back his feeling to his legs. The surgery was sucessful however his feelings didn't come back as we had hoped. He can't walk right now. After a closer look, the doctors revealed to us the cancer has spread to his brain. He is on a lot of pain killers and it's a chore for him to even stand up or move around. They have given him weeks, instead of months or years when first diagnosed. He now has to wear a back brace to keep from injuring the spinal chord.
He is being discharged tommorow (Friday) and he is going on a fishing trip to Washington State at the behest of his doctors. My sister and I are going to tag along and make sure Dad makes it to the fishing designation and the soothing salt air and the view and sound of the ocean will soothe him. He will among a group of friends and his wife and me and my sis (for a day or two). His trip usually lasts a month or so and he usually brings a chest freezer for the salmon he brings home.
Say a prayer for happy times in his final moments, safe travels and a good time for me and my sis as we spend possibly his last days with him.
When he returns (I hope he does), hospice will be available to keep him in comfort his last days. I am blessed to be in a job that has family leave for emergencies (sick leave) so I can spend time with him and the family. It's been a rough year for us.
I haven't been with AG a long time. But I do know that I belong to a great group of gals and guys who care about one another.
If you or a loved one smokes, please tell them to quit and if you do, please quit. My dad is 69 years young. Dad worked hard his whole life and now has retired this last year. His grand plans were to fish, play golf, spend time with family and live happily ever after. Those plans are now gone due to smoking.
My dad was so strong, he would carry a stack of banded wood shingles on his shoulder to the second story of the house we rebuilt when I was in school. I considered myself strong but I could barely carry that stack of shingles much less carry them on my shoulder to the second story of a house. He was an electrician, the best in the business. He was a member of Local 6, San Francisco electrician union. He once went to Alaska to do a job as he was sought after.
Dad has a great place on the Rogue River in Shady Cove Oregon. He has his house, front lawn, dirt road, then river.
We spent many of summers and fall, heck spring camping and fishing. He took up golfing as a sport with his older buddies and was quite a golf shark from what I'm told.
He was initially healthy as a horse, strong and full of life. He worried about us kids, his other family and friends long before he worried about us. He took care of us even now on his death bed. His whole life was family and holidays. CHRISTmas was his favorite time, he would go out and get presents for everyone, cut the tree and have a dinner fit for a king. He was the one to get the presents and give them to everyone, stockings and the works. Now...it will not happen. He can hardly get up to go to the bathroom without help. He was an awesome dad as I'm sure your dad's are.
Sorry for rambling.
The moral of the story, quit smoking. Dreams are shattered.
I feel bad for him more than me or my family, his dreams are shattered as well. He knows now he can't do the things he wants anymore and he is upset. This fishing trip is his last request and I hope and pray he has fun. Fishing makes him smile.
Say a prayer for us. My dad's name is Clif.
I'm just going to push away from the keyboard until the dust settles.
See you soon.
Aaron, Clif my dad, Tracy my wife, Stephanie my sister, Bill my brother, Judy my step mom (married 35 years+).