Saturday, June 11, 2005

An update on my dad...

For the uninitiated, my father is in the last stages of Prostate Cancer. It has moved into his bones. We received this diagnosis in March of this year, though we had suspected it with all his aches and pains a while back. We were able to help grant one last wish back in April with a trip to Washington DC: a bit of background here... Dad went to DC when he was a child with his father. He then took his son, and then took me when I was a child to see our Nation's Capitol. Well, he had hoped to be around long enough to take his grandkids to see Washington, so we made that happen. It was truly a wonderful trip, one that will last for a lifetime.

Lately, Dad has been in a steady decline, physically. He lost the use of his legs this week. It was strange, on Wednesday he could walk, and then by Thursday, he could not. He is managing to get around the house in his wheelchair as though he'd been doing this for years. Evidently, paralysis is common with bone cancer - would have been nice for someone to tell US that this is common. I suppose even the most common events are not common when it is happening to YOU for the first time.

The good news is that his spirits are still up, and he is enjoying each day as it comes. Some days, its harder to do that than others, but I think he still sees the glass as half full. I hope he can continue to see it that way for a while to come...

4 comments:

Rox said...

Your Dad sounds like an amazing man, Samantha.
I'm keeping your family close in thought.
Rox

Terri Milstead said...

Praying for your dad and all of your family. He sounds wonderful and I'm so sorry this is happening.

Bren said...

Sam, I too am praying for your dad and your family. I'm so sorry.

Nancy said...

Your dad left such an impression on me when we met ... a gentleman through and through.