I've been meaning to blog for a week. Sorry it has been so long.
We moved Dad to a hospice center on Monday. It's a 7 bed facility that's more like a 5 star hotel than anything else. The nurses are the best at helping people in the last weeks of their lives, with pain management and rest.
It wasn't easy but it went ok. He has been in his wheelchair 24/7 for the past year. Yesterday they moved him in a gurney on an ambulance and put him in a big comfy hospital air bed at the center. No option of his wheelchair anymore. The nurses are managing his meds, and he's sleeping finally. Dad has not slept a real nights sleep in 2 plus months. The fear of not waking up kept him awake and kept him from resting fully. But even he can't resist the medication from the hospice nurses.
Hopefully his peace will be our peace. I already feel a big relief, knowing his needs are being taken care of without us needing to be there. He isn't eating any more, since this weekend. He will probably sleep more than anything now. Since he can't use his computer anymore, that's what he needs to do anyway.
It's only been 2 days, not even 2 full days, so we'll see how it goes. But there's no doubt we are near the end. He still has a lot of body mass and his vitals are good, even though he's down to 1/3 of one lung functioning, so he will be with us a while longer, they think.
The half marathon is Sunday. I've not trained properly but I have increased my miles the past few weeks. And with cooler temps it's much easier to run longer distances. I don't plan to finish faster than 2:45, maybe 3 hours. It's going to be a gorgeous day Sunday, so I'm just planning to enjoy the journey of 13.1 miles.
We're all healthy, so that's helpful.
The year is flying to a close, isn't it? Luke will be 5 in a month. It's hard to believe.
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6 comments:
I am trying to think of how old he was (just a few months maybe?) when we all started blogging.
time flies
my oldest is going to be 21 in a few months. my baby is going to be 13 (this is the year where they will be 21, 17, 13)
good for you in just going ahead and running it - even if training has not been perfect.
very glad about your dad - which is an odd thing to say - I know - but the man has suffered enough and you all need to be able to move forward. it would be different if he was a child or if there was hope. But when it is such a terrible prognosis (sp?), then the end is actually a very positive thing for all.
I am not in his circumstances of course, but can soooooo identify with wanting to stay in the current day, being afraid of what the next day might bring.
glad all are healthy.
And what a good job you are doing to keeping one foot in the door when I say Yoohoo. I wish I had thought to do that the first time around - you were gone for a very long time and I do think "staying here" does help awareness. if nothing else, it gives you a record/time line of what was happening when, otherwise, it just slips away
I'm with vicki, you are doing so well dear L and glad you are getting some time for you to run. xx
Just enjoy the run for what it is - a chance to be outside, running because you can.
I think of you a lot and I hope you can feel my virtual hugs. :)
So glad to hear about your dad's move. I can feel the peacefulness for both of you coming through.
And I'm glad you are going to do the half-marathon. Just doing it will mean so much to you I think.
All my love. And prayers.
I agree with the rest and am so happy you are going ahead with your run. You deserve it!
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