The following is from Locke. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and Meg.
Hey all,
Dad passed away last night around 10:30 pm. Mom and I were with him at the end, and it was peaceful and good.
As I've told so many of you, Short dreaded a lingering, helpless illness, and being a 'burden.' And while he worked so bravely the past year to do the chemo and hang around to spend more time with us and his grandchildren, in his heart he had been ready to go for a long time. If he'd had his choice, he would have gone two weeks ago when he got really sick.
He was still able to react to visitors and his grandson Warren all weekend, but yesterday he was less responsive, unable to eat or drink much, and they started him on morphine. So we were very thankful that this happened now, at the right time, rather than drag out in that state or worse for even another day.
Everything about this process has made it feel, for me at least, very natural and right. We had a year to spend with him still doing the stuff he loved--fishing, watching the Cubs, playing with Warren and our dog Ruthie -- and had him home here with us the past two weeks. Last night after the hospice nurse left, we simply moved him into the next room and I helped embalm him. As weird and morbid as that might seem, it too really seemed to help make it feel like a natural, good thing.
(The only hitch in the process was when the hospice nurse took the Vicodin and morphine and flushed them down the toilet. I was like "Nooooooooooo!!!")
Visitation will be Wed afternoon and all day Thursday. Services will be Friday, 10:30 am at the United Methodist Church here in Kalona, Iowa.
Thank you all again for your support this past week and past year. And believe me when I say that while it's been a tough year, it's had many wonderful moments. I know there will be some sad times ahead this week, but right now everything feels very right, very full of peace and grace. And I'm looking forward to what I'm sure will be a week full of stories and laughter about Short.
Locke
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