Papa

Its time to take a step back. This was all rolling through the summer of 2005. In the fall of 2004, my Dad was getting sick. His back was hurting a lot and we were not sure why. We found out that November that he had a very rare form of cancer – Multiple Myeloma.

There is no cure for this. They can send it into remission only rarely. Usually people died from it. This cancer attacks the plasma cell. Basically too many abnormal plasma cells are created. They accumulate in the bone marrow (which hurts). Also, they can cause damage in the small blood vessels.

They started treatment for this. My Dad loved everything social. He thrived off friends. Colleagues were just more friends to Dad. For that reason, he did not go away for treatment, but stayed at St. Luke’s. They worked very hard for him.

I am not a person that spends much time with family (just ask Mom), but values them. Uncharacteristically, I was home that day. Dad had an appointment that Saturday morning and I was there to help out. I helped him dress. This was the one and only time I did so. I enjoyed being able to help him.

By this time, he was tiny. He had lost a lot of weight and stooped. He looked like a little old man. While I was helping him get dressed, I looked up at his eyes. They were still the eyes of the strong man I knew growing up. He was still that man to me. I’m glad I remember him like that.

I was working nights at the time, so I had been up since Friday morning. I spent the day there with a break for sleep. Dad grew sicker throughout the day. I went home in the early morning hours only to be called back.

I live 30 minutes away from St. Luke’s. By the time I arrived, he was stable. I went home again and again was called back. The third time I returned, he passed away before I got there.

Mom made sure we all said “goodbye.” I still manage to feel guilty for not being there, but I’m grateful for the time I did get to spend with him.