Happy Belated Thanksgiving and farewell to my daddy.....

[RhondaQ]

I wish you all a Belated Happy Thanksgiving my friends!

At approx. 5:45am yesterday, my dad passed away at home, surrounded by those he loved most, including our little dog Buddy Boy.  Daddy is finally at peace......  He quit dialysis approx. 8 weeks ago which is practically unheard of based upon what I've been told by professionals in the medical field.   Last Sunday afternoon he had slipped into a coma after taking a fall in the bedroom earlier that morning on his way to the restroom.  He got pretty banged up with lots of bruises on his arms and hands, but no broken bones that we were aware of (Thank the Good Lord!).....I called hospice to report the fall and the fact that he had been complaining of constipation and was told to increase the morphine and lorazepam to once every two hours.  At some point later that afternoon he fell into a coma.  I don't recall when exactly as it appeared he was sleeping due to the increase of meds.  When the nurse arrived, she mentioned that "the end was near" and put him on a 1-2 hour watch, fully expecting that he would not last through the night.  On Monday dad was still with us, and nurse was due to visit that afternoon at 1:30pm.  My brother was flying in from Florida to Kansas and we were thinking that dad was holding on to see him.  This may have been  why he was "hanging on by a thread", although he continued in this same condition up until Thanksgiving morning when we woke up and noticed his breathing had slowed wayyyyyyyyy down.  I administered the meds at 5am and we took turns checking on him up until about 5:45 when my brother reported that our dad no longer seemed to be breathing.  He was officially pronounced dead at 7:10am.

I just want to take the time to thank all of you for the many well wishes, prayers and encouragement.  My 82 year old daddy went peacefully on a holiday in which we celebrate and give thanks for our many blessings.  What an appropriate time for such a special man, one that showed his appreciation and love in every life he had touched to depart from his life on earth to be with his Maker.  I miss and love him greatly as you all know...........He was indeed the most important man in my life..........my daddy...

Before I end this post, I'd like to pass on a little tidbit from dad.  He mentioned this not long ago during one of his "clear moments" when Alzheimer's wasn't interferring with his thoughts.  This is what he told me----

"Quit being so serious about everything.  Life is too short and you need to learn to let your hair down and enjoy it once in awhile, dam_it."

He sure had a way with words and a zest for life.

Love and hugs to all of you:)

[Rerun]

Rhonda, I'm sorry for your loss, but happy for your father's final peace.  I think he was waiting for Thanksgiving to thumb his nose at all the food that he couldn't have if he were on dialysis.  He must have still been passing urine to have lived that long.  I don't pass any, so my time would have to be shorter!  GOD I hope so! 

Thank you for letting us know.  I wish you the best.  I'm sure he will be missed.

Rerun~

[okarol]

Hi Rhonda,
Your dad sounds like a great guy. I am sorry he's gone.
He's right... let your hair down and enjoy yourself. He
will know you took his advice!
Best wishes,
Karol

[Sara]

   Thank you for letting us know. 

[kitkatz]

I hope you will take your Dad's advice and live a little.  My prayers go for him and for your family.

[goofynina]

I think we should ALL take your Dad's advice and live a little.  God Bless you and your family. 

[Jill D.]

Sending you warm hugs. You were so lucky to have such a wonderful father, and he was so lucky to have family who loved and cared for him until the end of his earthly life. 

[Black]

Rhonda, Thank you so much for sharing with us at this difficult time.  I am at a loss for words, but know that my thoughts are with you and your family.

[MattyBoy100]

Rhonda,

I too am at a loss for words having just read your post.  I hope you are able to put into practice those fine words of your Dad's about taking life too seriously.  Thinking of you at this time.

Matty.

[Fighter]

This is terrible if not surprising news.

Thanks for sharing this on the internet, it must have been hard for you to write that post. Your life will go on now without your father's kidney disease to worry about but I hope you never forget about our community!

[Sluff]

Condolences on your loss.

[jedimaster]

I send you a warm hugh....sorry for your loss

[anja]

My sincere sympathy, Rhonda, on the loss of your dear father.

[Joe Paul]

My sympathies to you Rhonda and your family. 

[angela515]

So sorry for your loss... can I ask how is it he stayed for 8 weeks? Seems like a long time for not doing dialysis... I am suprised. I missed dialysis for 4 days once because of access issues and I felt horrible.. I can't imagine going 8 weeks... Was he on lots of pain meds? Sorry for the questions... I just always wondered because eventually someday I will have to make that choice too (maybe).

[Nan]

Rhonda, I read your note with tears stinging my eyes.  I am so very sorry for your loss.  There is a book that I read that helped me the most after the loss my dear mother, the title is "Final Gifts", it is a book I wish I had read " before" losing her, there are gifts given by our loved ones, that sometimes go unnoticed, and this book which is written by hospice nurses, explains some of them.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, again...I am so very sorry. Most sincerely, Nan

[jbeany]

I wish you peace in his passing.   

[RhondaQ]

Everyone is surprised at how long my dad lasted without dialysis, but he always told me that he was still passing a little bit of urine, although it was very slow and tedious.  Could this have been why?  Hospice nurses were amazed as well as doctors that he was hanging on so long.  We thought at first that it was his strong will to live and then assumed he was waiting for my brother to fly out from Florida.....?  All of the above may have had something to do with it, but in all honesty we are just grasping at straws.  It just wasn't his time I suppose......?  Dad was indeed a fighter with a strong heart and good set of lungs.  His only downfall was the kidneys.

I hope this helps in some way to answer your questions.
Thanks for responding:)

[Amanda From OZ]

Your dad seemed like a wonderful wise man. My condolences to you and your family.

i also believe your father could of lasted that bit longer because he passed urine, i pass A lot of urine and my doctors said thats why i can have a lot of extra potassium and phosphate, and especially salt.

My sympathies to you and your family.

[paris]

I am so sorry for your loss.  It is a sad time in life when we have to say goodbye to our parents, even though we know it is the best for them, it is still hard to let them go.

[angela515]

Everyone is surprised at how long my dad lasted without dialysis, but he always told me that he was still passing a little bit of urine, although it was very slow and tedious.  Could this have been why?  Hospice nurses were amazed as well as doctors that he was hanging on so long.  We thought at first that it was his strong will to live and then assumed he was waiting for my brother to fly out from Florida.....?  All of the above may have had something to do with it, but in all honesty we are just grasping at straws.  It just wasn't his time I suppose......?  Dad was indeed a fighter with a strong heart and good set of lungs.  His only downfall was the kidneys.

I hope this helps in some way to answer your questions.
Thanks for responding:)

Thanks hun. I believe people hang on for all kinds of reasons, and none may even be medical. I like the thought of him hanging on to see your brother.. my aunt held on to see her son, I believe it to be true. 

[Bajanne]

Thank you for letting us be a part of this tremendous life.  I feel so close to you as I too had a larger-than-life father who was taken by kidney failure.  But we have our wonderful memories, don't we? - those we will never lose.  May you continue to experience comfort day by day as your dad rests in peace.