**Vanity** Prayers for WWII Vet

sweet_diane

[sweet_diane]

I am posting this in request for prayers for my parents. My father has been receiving dialysis for over a year now and has moved into the moderate stage of Alzheimer's. Over the last month it has been very difficult for him to get to the clinic for dialysis and even with the treatments he was always in pain and uncomfortable. My mother and my sisters and I have decided to stop the dialysis and hospice is coming in to help ease his pain.

Daddy was a B-17 pilot in WWII and received several medals including a Purple Heart. He was a Co-Pilot in the Aphrodite mission, the same experimental program that took the life of Joe Kennedy. In his later years he reconnected with the members of his crew of the 'Sittin' Pretty' and enjoyed participating in the 8th Air Force Historical Society. After service and graduating from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) he met and married my mother. In the late 70's he retired from the FAA where he was an Air Traffic Controller and he and my mother moved to the Gulf Coast of Alabama.

Stopping the dialysis treatment is like removing any form of life support, not an easy decision for anyone, especially my mother who has been his primary caregiver, yet it is the only right decision to be made. He has no quality of life and hospice can offer him comfort in his final days (at least that what we are praying for).

I thank God for every second of my 43 years with Daddy. He's a man of dignity and character no matter how hard the Alzheimer's tries to strip that away and I ask that my fellow FReepers would lift him in prayer in these, his final days.

[Johnny Gage]

please see Post 39 for an update on Diane's father.

(remembering the ping list, this time)

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Texagirl4W]

God bless you and your family, Diane. Thank You, Dear Lord, for giving us the hope of a better tomorrow and the knowledge that we will one day be joined with our loved ones who have gone before us.

[metesky]

Prayers from the nephew of another 8th Air Force vet.

[mabelkitty]

God be with you and your family. It's difficult for you, but he will be with old friends when he goes home.

[mabelkitty]

God be with you and your family. It's difficult for you, but he will be with old friends when he goes Home.

EDIT: Home, not home.

[Texas Termite]

God bless all of you.....

Logan, Beth & Nana

[WV Mountain Mama]

Prayers for your dad and your whole family. Also, a heartfelt thank you for his bravery and service to our country. Freedom lives here because of people like your father. God bless you all.

[M0sby]

God Bless your family.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss, and glad he and your mom could be together until the end.
Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
I am thankful for your dad's service to our country.
Sincerely,
M0sby

[redrock]

Prayers on the way.

redrock

[daniel boob]

Prayers to you and your family.

Godspeed solider.

[NavyCanDo]

May God ease your sorrow and surround you with his love.

I lost my Father on the 18th of March. He was a WWII Veteran who served on the battleship U.S.S. Mississippi which fought in several engagements with the Japanese, twice being hit by kamikazes. He was my hero, my best friend, my Dad.
May I suggest reading Tom Brokaw’s book The Greatest Generation. These men and woman who are leaving us by the thousands each day truly are the greatest.

[lakey]

God bless you, your mom, and your family. And may your father's soul rest in peace.

[Alamo-Girl]

I join with the others here praying for your dad, you and your mother and the family!

[sweet_diane]

Thank you for sharing about your dad.. it means alot to me and my heart is with you.

[sweet_diane]

You took my breath away, Johnny {{hugs}}. Thank you so very much.

We've made sure to put out daddys flag every day since he passed. His view of the Gulf of Mexico wasn't comlete without Old Glory blowing in the wind even in his last days.

[BlessedBeGod]

I'm so sorry. Prayers on the way for your father's soul, and you and your family.

[sweet_diane]

skeeter

I just wanted to thank you once again for posting High Flight. My mother requested that my Husband read it at Daddys memorial service. It was read at my Daddy's twin brothers funeral, so it wasn't even optional that it be read. My Husband wasn't sure he couldn't make it thru, yet he wanted to do it for my mother.

He made it thru and it was beautiful. My cousin (Daddys twin brothers daughter) has been following this thread and she too was very moved by your posting of the poem.

thank you so much

[skeeter]

Thanks for telling us about your dad... God bless you and your family - you sound like good people.

[sweet_diane]

Johnny

On occasion I come to this thread to remember my father. I just can't tell you how much that flag graphic means to me. My eyes swell with tears as much as my heart swells with pride.

Thank you