My father was admitted to the hospital on Friday for blood transfusions because his blood platelets (sp?) were so low. On Saturday, my father's oncologist came in to talk to them. He told them that the treatments were not working and the prognosis was not good. My father asked how long he had. He was told with treatments, maybe 6-8 weeks. Without them, 4 weeks. The doctor said it was totally my Dad's decision and that he would do whatever it was my Dad decided he wanted to do. After talking to my Mom and several other people, he decided against the treatments. He did not want his last days with us to be wasted. He said that he has fought as hard as he could, and he couldn't do it anymore. He was ready to go home to God.
I am leaving tomorrow to go to Atlanta and be with my family. My brothers and sister need me there, my Mom needs me there and of course, my Dad needs me there, too. When I went up to see my Dad last month, he was so weak and so tired from the treatments and I really believed that there would come a point in time when it would come down to this. I just wasn't ready for it to happen yet.
My Dad is very emotional because he doesn't want us to go through this pain. It is a tremendously difficult time for all of us, but admidst all the pain we are feeling, God has given all of us a very special gift....the chance to say our goodbyes, the chance to tell him how much we love him; to just sit and talk and comfort each other. We will be able to laugh, to cry and even heal a little bit. My Dad is very much accepted the fact that he is going to die, but in order for him to be at peace, he needs to hear from us that it's okay to go. We will miss him, but he will always and forever be in our hearts and souls and he has left us with many blessings and good memories. I do not want to see him suffer...and he does not want me to suffer. He has been our rock for such a long time, and now it's our turn to give back all the love to him that he showered upon us since the day we were all born.
The only gift I have left to give to my father is my love...and he needs to know that as much as we will miss him, he has our blessing to go home to God, and to go with peace of mind.
I love you all, I thank you from the very bottom of my heart for all your kind thoughts and prayers.
Love, DJ
(((hugs)))
God bless you.....our prayers go with you.
Safe travels, and prayers for peace for all of you. God bless you.