A trip home with my Dad.

SnowMaker

SnowMaker

Eight Pointer
All my best to you, I can't imagine what you've been through and only hope I could handle myself as well as you have.
 
surveyor

surveyor

Old Mossy Horns
Thanks for all your thoughts.

Things move slowly out here. Took a while for the Hospice Nurse to get out here. Waiting for FH now.

I've notified all the family I could. Helped the nurse with her tasks. We even cleaned Dad up and dressed him in his coveralls, because that's what he wore almost all the time.

I'm going to admit leaving the room to get a drink and came right back and for an instant I thought, "what's the big deal, he's just napping."

And about lost it.
 

nchunter

Twelve Pointer
I remember the feeling. Reading this brought me back to May 20, 2020. Same circumstance.
I’ll certainly say a prayer for you.
 
Blackwater

Blackwater

Twelve Pointer
Prayers for you and family. It's never easy, and we never seem to be adequately prepared mentally or emotionally. I suppose it's meant to be so. God bless!
 
CJF

CJF

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my Dad recently (June 10). He was my buddy, hunting partner, and Father. He taught me the difference between right and wrong, how to be a man and how to pray.

A Trip Home With My Dad

He had been in the hospital for while and wasn't getting better in fact he was getting worse. He called me one week day and said come up Saturday and get me out of the hospital. I am 60 years old and I do what Dad says. He was signing himself out against Dr. orders. I didn't care he called and I went. He also gave me instructions. He wanted to have a party and he wanted to do it in style. He had me buy the best steaks, lobster, shrimp, clams, corn, beans, and cheesecake I could find. He had me invite all his friends to our hunting camp. I took him out of the hospital Saturday morning and we went to camp Saturday afternoon (Dang I'm crying) He held court in a wheelchair by the campfire wrapped in a polar fleece deer blanket. Everybody ate and drank except Dad (He was beyond eating at this point). after we got done eating Dad would point at one of his friends and tell a story about him (Usually a deer hunting story) and afterward he would give him a hunting knife from his huge collection. This went on till he had to go to bed about 8 pm. I knew that would be his last night at camp in the Adirondacks that he loved.

The next day I loaded him up in his Rav4 for the 12 hour trip to NC to his apartment. We got about halfway to NC, around Maryland and he was in so much pain I had to stop and get us a motel room. This was Memorial Day weekend. He was a Marine Veteran and I am an Army Veteran and both of us realized the mission we were on and knew it would be our last. The next morning we got up and he said there was no way he could sit in the car for another 6 hours. After some thought I said I could put the back seats down and put a mattress in his car. He thought that would work so after a quick trip to Big Lots the Flay ambulance service was born or as he called it the Flambulance for short was in service. I got him down home to his apartment in Elkin, NC that day. He saw his 3 sons, his 3 grandsons and his 3 great grandsons for the last time here on Earth. He went over wills and bills with me. Hospice came and brought him a walker. I kidded him, told him we needed to put knobby tires on it, a rifle rack and a camo bag to put his ammo and grunt calls in. I was still teaching(working) so I had to get an aide to watch him. First day on the job she called me and told me Dad had escaped but she caught him before he got on the main road. She asked him where he was going and he said to Walmart to get a camo bag for his walker. OOPS I knew where that came from! I knew then that it was time and we took him to Hospice in Dobson (Wonderful saints and angels of mercy). Two days later he passed with my wife in the room with him. This was Dad's last trip, but the start of an even greater one.
 
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BigBow

BigBow

Ten Pointer
Contributor
CJF, so glad your Dad was able to do it his way & that you, his son, was able to be there for him through the process. Praying that the Lord's peace will be w/ you @ this tough time. Gotta say though, your story brought a tear to my eyes. 😭 My Dad & Mom have been gone now for 10+ years & sure miss them.
 
surveyor

surveyor

Old Mossy Horns
We had graveside yesterday. I knew the honor guard was supposed to be there, and was expecting the local auxiliary, but FT. BRAGG sent a contingent of America's Finest instead, and seeing those young men and women in full regalia snap to when the hearse passed was all it took to break me down. I have his Flag, presented by a SFC from 10th Mtn. That's make two now. His and Mom's.

The Pastor gave a wonderful summary, and even the local people that knew him were surprised to know that the old country handyman could actually set up, run, and decommission a small nuclear power plant with a skeleton crew of grunts and squids.

The next task at hand is to detail the old work shop, which over the last few years during his health decline had declined as well. With the exception of the two old chairs that had retained the same spot for 25 years. Him and I would sit during the evenings or Saturday mornings, and make plans for future things, some that happened, and many that never came to pass.

But planning things was his favorite past time, so it was all good.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
 
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CJF

CJF

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
surveyor said:
We had graveside yesterday. I knew the honor guard was supposed to be there, and was expecting the local auxiliary, but FT. BRAGG sent a contingent of America's Finest instead, and seeing those young men and women in full regalia snap to when the hearse passed was all it took to break me down. I have his Flag, presented by a SFC from 10th Mtn. That's make two now. His and Mom's.

The Pastor gave a wonderful summary, and even the local people that knew him were surprised to know that the old country handyman could actually set up, run, and decommission a small nuclear power plant with a skeleton crew of grunts and squids.

The next task at hand is to detail the old work shop, which over the last few years during his health decline had declined as well. With the exception of the two old chairs that had retained the same spot for 25 years. Him and I would sit during the evenings or Saturday mornings, and make plans for future things, some that happened, and many that never came to pass.

But planning things was his favorite past time, so it was all good.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
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That is awesome Dad had been in the Navy and Marines so they each sent a representative. The preacher was a musician and he played taps on his trumpet. My brothers decided because I was the only Vet that I would be presented with the flag. I still break down when I think of that moment.
 
dfitzy

dfitzy

Ten Pointer
Contributor
Thanks for sharing. Will continue to pray as I know how difficult it is. Wish my dad had the chance to meet my daughter as she would have had him wrapped around her little fingers
 
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