PrairieSong Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 (edited) My elderly father passed away suddenly, but not totally unexpectedly. He had a bad heart since suffering a heart attack about fifteen yrs ago. My brother had taken him to a routine cardiologist appt and when they got home Dad collapsed on the garage floor. He wasn't unconscious, but my brother was concerned about a possible fracture and called 911. He had no broken bones, but coded three times at the hospital and the third time they couldn't bring him back even though they did CPR for an hour. They believe it was a stroke, and looking back I think he had been having mini strokes. Anyway, I'm just too tired to go into any more details. I didn't have time to write before because it was so fast. He was gone in just a few hours. The past days have been a blur. My dad was a workaholic. He loved his profession and caring for people but honestly, as a kid I wasn't that close to him. He was always gone. In the past 25-30 years we had become much closer. Our phone calls were an hour long, at least. He was full of stories. I appreciated him in a way I hadn't as a child. At the visitation and funeral, I was touched by stories from people who had worked with him and people he had cared for. He was a kind, compassionate man and went above and beyond in his care of his patients. The sadness hits me in waves. We are a close family. It will be OK, but I will miss him so very much. We all will. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that he is really gone. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Edited to add: I wasn't going to say all this but I just want to share. He was a family physician for several decades, all but his first two years in the same town. He finally retired at nearly 80, and when I read through the retirement cards and letters people gave him, I bawled. What an outpouring of love. He truly cared about each of his patients, about the whole person. He made house calls after most doctors had stopped, into the 2000's. If someone was sick and needed extra care, he'd deliver a jar of my mom's chicken noodle soup to them. At Christmas time he took Mom's delicious vegetable soup to people who didn't have much family around, to brighten their holiday. My sister and I went with him a few times to sing them Christmas carols. Once a woman in respiratory distress called him and couldn't even talk. He could tell who she was just by her breathing, rushed to her house, and took her to the hospital. Another patient couldn't afford an ambulance ride so Dad took him to the hospital in his own car, and returned him home when he was discharged. I'm sure those things wouldn't be allowed today. I could go on and on with stories like that. You get the idea. He made the world better by being here. Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk Edited February 2, 2017 by PrairieSong 34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I'm sorry for your loss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selkie Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm sorry. :grouphug: He sounds like a wonderful man. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 :grouphug: I'm sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am sorry for your loss. :( 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thessa516 Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm sorry for your loss. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnE-girl Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for your loss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjeepa Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 :grouphug: So sorry for your loss! :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Coast Sue Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure he enjoyed your phone calls immensely. (((Hugs))) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear father. It's wonderful that you two were close and that you had a great appreciation for him--that was surely a great blessing to him! :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am so very sorry :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a beautiful, kind person. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbookbuzz Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I know what it's like to have to say goodbye to your dad when you have a close relationship with him. I think I probably talked to my dad that long on most phone calls, too! Grieve as you need to. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Hugs and peace to you and yours. The death of a parent is such a huge moment in life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 So sorry. Those of us with aging or ill parents are helped to know others are going through it as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry!! :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm sorry. I can't imagine how hard it will be when that time comes for me. My father is quite elderly too, and though we were always a close knit family, I've really gotten to know my father so much more deeply these past ten years, as two adults. I'm so very grateful for that. I'm very glad you had that extra time with your father too. And how special to hear the stories from others who knew him during his life. Hold on to those stories. Take care. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaeFlowers Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 :grouphug: I am so sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am deeply sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for your loss :( 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Very sorry... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 My elderly father passed away suddenly, but not totally unexpectedly. He had a bad heart since suffering a heart attack about fifteen yrs ago. My brother had taken him to a routine cardiologist appt and when they got home Dad collapsed on the garage floor. He wasn't unconscious, but my brother was concerned about a possible fracture and called 911. He had no broken bones, but coded three times at the hospital and the third time they couldn't bring him back even though they did CPR for an hour. They believe it was a stroke, and looking back I think he had been having mini strokes. Anyway, I'm just too tired to go into any more details. I didn't have time to write before because it was so fast. He was gone in just a few hours. The past days have been a blur. My dad was a workaholic. He loved his profession and caring for people but honestly, as a kid I wasn't that close to him. He was always gone. In the past 25-30 years we had become much closer. Our phone calls were an hour long, at least. He was full of stories. I appreciated him in a way I hadn't as a child. At the visitation and funeral, I was touched by stories from people who had worked with him and people he had cared for. He was a kind, compassionate man and went above and beyond in his care of his patients. The sadness hits me in waves. We are a close family. It will be OK, but I will miss him so very much. We all will. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that he is really gone. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk I am so so sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I'm so sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 you have my deepest condolences. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 ((hugs)) I'm sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share Posted February 2, 2017 Thank you so much, everyone! I updated my original post to say a little more about him. Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Sorry for your loss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like he was a wonderful man. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a wonderful person and I'm glad that you were able to know him better as an adult. :grouphug: :grouphug: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm really sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for your loss. :grouphug: :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am sorry for your loss. I hope he did not suffer. He sounds like he was a very nice and caring person. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am so sorry! :grouphug: The world will be a sadder place without your father in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 So sorry for your loss! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am sorry for your loss. I hope he did not suffer. He sounds like he was a very nice and caring person.He didn't suffer. He was smiling and joking with the nurses at first, when they were doing x-rays and other tests. He was trying to diagnose himself, too. ☺ Things didn't start to get serious until about an hour before he died. Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 (((PrairieSong))). What a wonderful man!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm sorry for your loss. Clearly his community also lost someone very special. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmstranger Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'm so sorry for your loss... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Thank you for sharing that loving tribute to your dad. I'm so sorry for your loss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am so sorry for your loss. I am sending prayers to your family. He sounded like an amazing man. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Ariel Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 So very sorry for your loss. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KayT Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am very sorry. What a wonderful person your father was. It sounds like he gave so much of himself and made the world a better place. ((( May the Lord bless you with Peace and comfort))) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scholastica Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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