My Dad

My dad passed away last week. I got a call form the hospital at 3:35 a.m. that they had him in the emergency room, and he had stopped breathing, and they wanted to know what his wishes were. I told him that he would not want to be on any lifes saving machines, but to contact my mom for the final decision. I then got dressed, went by moms,picked her up and got to the hospital. They had intubated him, so they removed the tube, and just put him on oxygen, and made him comfortable. I told him I was there, and mom too. He said where is Artie, I said she is right here. He said where is David?, I said he is in Nampa, but on his way. He then asked what time it was. He had a thing about the time. They had given him a muscle relaxer, and some moraphine. We waited, and about an hour after he had been in the ER, they moved him up to a room. The ER doc, told us he could live an hour, a couple of days, or bounce back. He just didn't know. So away we went up to the room in which my dad was moved to. I called my brother agian, and he was on his way, the RR was driving him home. Time seemed to be moving really slow, but fast at the same time. I just held my dads hand and talked to him, he seem comfortable. Then the nurse, who was very caring came in and moved him to his side. He didn't seem comfortable on his side, so she moved him back to his back. It was just after 8:00 in the morning, when the doctor came in. Introduced himself, as dad's regular dr. is ill and on leave right now. The nurse was taking dad vitals, and looking concerned. I had been watching him breathe, and knew that it was slowing down. She got the dr. to come take a look and listen to him. At around 8: 25 a.m. or so, I watched my dad take his last breath. I must say, it was very peaceful. It just ended . At the very time he took his last breath, I just felt this heaviness lift from my shoulders. It felt like an angel came from above and took the stress and the weight from me. I had never been with anybody when they passed away before, except some of my animals. I was so glad that I could be there with my dad. I can't explain the feelings, but I am so glad that my mom and I were with him. My brother did not get there in time. My dad passed about 10 minutes before he got there. Even when someone is sick and you think you have been preparing yourself for this day, you are not. The finalilty of it all is overwhelming. All of a sudden I was thinking of things that I would never be able to ask him. Things I would not know. We then went into planning mode. We had a celebration of life on Monday, June 30th. It was a very nice service. A full house!!! My dad knew no stranger, that was evident. He will be missed. I miss him so much, I actually have been missing him for several years, do to his disease. I know I will see him again someday, until then I have many great memories that continue to pop into my thoughts everyday. I love you dad.