The week before Christmas, Rich, my brother-in-law, drove up from North Carolina and picked them up and started back the next two days. When they arrived, Dad mentioned that he didn't feel well. (Dad had said that often, but could never put his finger on just what was wrong.) Before they left on their trip, Dad had seen both of his doctors that same week for check-ups. Neither of them mentioned that they shouldn't go. He had also had a blood transfusion, which he had been having just about every two weeks.
A couple days before Christmas, Lori said she thought he should go get his blood checked as he wasn't looking very well. As it turned out, his blood was okay, and he didn't need a transfusion.
The day after Christmas, they decided that they better get him to an emergency room to get him checked out. He was experiencing much confusion and still color didn't look good. Come to find out, he had a hematoma on one side of his head. They said it was a fresh wound and could be life-threatening. With that said, they transferred him to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. During this time, they found out his myelio fibrosis had turned into acute leukemia. After doing all they could do for him, with testing and conferences with the doctors, there was nothing more they could do for him.
Lori and Rich knew of the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville and had only heard good things about it. On Dec. 31, there "just happened" to have one bed left. We all made the decision to have him transferred there. The care he received at that place could not ever been any better. The people there were certainly there to serve the patient and the family. Whenever we were there, they left us alone with Dad and never came in or bothered to do various checks or whatever. It wasn't until his final days, they did come in and gave him some medicine to make sure he was comfortable.
One thing we learned about is how God's timing is always perfect. When they left to go down to North Carolina, they left just ahead of a huge snowstorm that dumped several inches of snow in Michigan. They just happened to have ONE bed available at that place. If Mom and Dad would have been in Ludington, there is no way that all the family would have been able to go up and say their final good-byes. All the grandchildren were able to tell him good-bye; Jessica was even able to drive down for a few days and spend time with us. (Thanks Andy!)
The day after Christmas, they decided that they better get him to an emergency room to get him checked out. He was experiencing much confusion and still color didn't look good. Come to find out, he had a hematoma on one side of his head. They said it was a fresh wound and could be life-threatening. With that said, they transferred him to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. During this time, they found out his myelio fibrosis had turned into acute leukemia. After doing all they could do for him, with testing and conferences with the doctors, there was nothing more they could do for him.
Lori and Rich knew of the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville and had only heard good things about it. On Dec. 31, there "just happened" to have one bed left. We all made the decision to have him transferred there. The care he received at that place could not ever been any better. The people there were certainly there to serve the patient and the family. Whenever we were there, they left us alone with Dad and never came in or bothered to do various checks or whatever. It wasn't until his final days, they did come in and gave him some medicine to make sure he was comfortable.
One thing we learned about is how God's timing is always perfect. When they left to go down to North Carolina, they left just ahead of a huge snowstorm that dumped several inches of snow in Michigan. They just happened to have ONE bed available at that place. If Mom and Dad would have been in Ludington, there is no way that all the family would have been able to go up and say their final good-byes. All the grandchildren were able to tell him good-bye; Jessica was even able to drive down for a few days and spend time with us. (Thanks Andy!)
Dad spent four days at the Gordon Hospice House. We had spent the whole day with him, watching him breathe his last breaths. About 5:15 p.m., we all decided it was time to take a break and get some dinner. We all kissed him good-bye and left the room. We had just finished dinner, when a call came from the Gordon House that we needed to come. (Earlier they had explained to us that when someone passes away, they light a candle in a special place in the lobby area. This allows others to know that someone has lost a loved one.). When we arrived, we were walking by the candle and it was lit. At that point, I realized my dad had passed into eternity. As we arrived in the lobby, Gary, the social worker that had done the intake when dad arrived, took Mom's arm and we all proceeded to walk to his room. During that walk, Gary explained to us that sometimes loved ones wait for their family to arrive, and sometimes they wait for them to leave, so the family doesn't have to go through seeing those final breaths. Well, Dad waited for us to leave, as within the few minutes after we left, he passed peacefully said the attending nurse. We were able to spend some final moments together as a family, before the funeral home in NC came.
Presently, a memorial service is being planned for Saturday, April 19, at The Clock Funeral Home on South Washington Avenue in Ludington, Michigan, at 2:00 p.m.
We just want to thank all our family and friends who have continued to pray for Dad and Mom and upholding our family these past months and all through my dad's illness. Continue to keep Mom in your prayers as she adjusts to her life without Dad.
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