update on my date-today is a special day

LivingFaith
LivingFaith Member Posts: 74
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
I posted about a week ago about what to do for my dad. Tonight he is being honored with a special surprise lifetime achievement award from the city for his 40 years of volunteerism. Thankfully he is going to be able to attend! I'm worried the surprise from over 100 family and friends showing up is going to give him a heart attack.

Saturday some friends are putting on a Life Celebration party with a band and over 400 people expected. We will continue to pray he can be alive and well enough to enjoy it. Actually, it means way more to my mom and his friends then it will to him.

Dad is slipping fast. He is getting a little confused,sleeps a lot,losing tons of weight, maybe drinks 2-3 ensures a day. It is very hard, especially on my mom, as he is getting crabby and starting to withdraw. We know it is all part of the dying process but it sucks having to live it.

For my fellow Christians here, I have a neat story. Last week a friend gave my mom some Holy Water and oil she brought back from Lourdes France. It is a place where people believe medical miracles happen. I'm not Catholic so I had to look it up on the internet(a really amazing site and you can email prayer requests) My dad was so so ill that night and my mom blessed him with the oil and then accidently spilled the Holy Water all over his shirt. It had a horrible smell. Instead of taking off the shirt right away she had my dad hold it close to him and pray and pray some more.

The next day when my mom talked to my dad on the phone he sounded like his old self and she instantly was scared thinking this was his rally right before his death. He went on to tell her he ate oatmeal, had no chest pain, and felt better than he had in 3 months. It wasn't until late that afternoon did my mom remember about the Holy Water and how it spilled all over his chest. He worked the whole day came home and wanted to go to the hardware store, and did without napping or having to stop and rest. My dad even had a doctor appt. that day and he couldn't explain why my dad was having such a great day.

It only lasted for that day and then he went sliding back fast and hard, but he had ONE WHOLE DAY with no pain and was alert and happy. We can't ever prove it was the water and prayer but we have faith. That is what faith is to me, knowing God is with us even if we can't see him. I think this was God's way of showing us He is there and my dad is going to be okay in heaven. This was just a little gift from God telling us he is hearing our prayers.

I found some peace in this "roller coaster from hell" journey. It is what I pray for and will for all of you. Please keep dad in your prayers as well.

Blessings,
Deb

Comments

  • sal314
    sal314 Member Posts: 599 Member
    LOVE Your Story Deb!!
    Wow....ok...this is too weird! The friends name wasn't Frank Labedz was it?? I'm just wondering because he is a business associate of my dad and when my dad got diagnosed he sent him Holy Water too! LOL. I'm a Christian, but my mom and dad aren't...they believe in God, but are missing the whole relationship with Jesus piece (kinda the MAJOR point!:)) Anyway, my mom said that as they were in the car, getting ready to go into is first chemo treatment (this is back in April) he put the Holy Water on his forhead before he went in for treatment. He's been doing that every time before he goes to have chemo!

    I find it so interesting. My father is doing really well and kinda has the doctor's dumbfounded. He's 8 months out since his diagnosis and still can eat, work and carry on with life pretty much like he always has. He's lost some weight, but it's pretty steady now. He's just losing muscle mass and thus, can't play his beloved golf like he use to. But, he played 6 holes the other day!

    ANyway, I was just thinking how amazing that would be if your dad's friend was the same guy as my father's friend/client!! I know he lives/works in Omaha.

    I will continue to pray for your dad and that he is well enough to go to the party and enjoy it! He's come this far, I'm praying God will let him have another chance to be will friends and family that he loves!!

    Take care! I'm glad you are finding some piece. I TOTALLY understand how hard it is to watch this disease destroy the ones you love. My mom is really having a hard time with all of this too. :(

    Blessings,
    Sally
  • dsh
    dsh Member Posts: 8
    sal314 said:

    LOVE Your Story Deb!!
    Wow....ok...this is too weird! The friends name wasn't Frank Labedz was it?? I'm just wondering because he is a business associate of my dad and when my dad got diagnosed he sent him Holy Water too! LOL. I'm a Christian, but my mom and dad aren't...they believe in God, but are missing the whole relationship with Jesus piece (kinda the MAJOR point!:)) Anyway, my mom said that as they were in the car, getting ready to go into is first chemo treatment (this is back in April) he put the Holy Water on his forhead before he went in for treatment. He's been doing that every time before he goes to have chemo!

    I find it so interesting. My father is doing really well and kinda has the doctor's dumbfounded. He's 8 months out since his diagnosis and still can eat, work and carry on with life pretty much like he always has. He's lost some weight, but it's pretty steady now. He's just losing muscle mass and thus, can't play his beloved golf like he use to. But, he played 6 holes the other day!

    ANyway, I was just thinking how amazing that would be if your dad's friend was the same guy as my father's friend/client!! I know he lives/works in Omaha.

    I will continue to pray for your dad and that he is well enough to go to the party and enjoy it! He's come this far, I'm praying God will let him have another chance to be will friends and family that he loves!!

    Take care! I'm glad you are finding some piece. I TOTALLY understand how hard it is to watch this disease destroy the ones you love. My mom is really having a hard time with all of this too. :(

    Blessings,
    Sally

    Great News
    So pleased to hear your Dad made it. I will continue to pray that your Dad makes it to the 14th as I remember you saying that will be another party then too.

    It's very tough watching a loved one go through the dying process - especially when it's from EC. My Dad also got very confused towards the end and a bit nasty to those around him but we knew that was not the real him - it was just a combination of his body shutting down, lack of hydration and the fear of dying.

    S
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • oriontj
    oriontj Member Posts: 375
    Your family are in my prayers
    I am Catholic and believe in the power of prayer as do the other Christians on the Board. My husband's oncologist does also. My orthopedic surgeon is deeply spiritual and prays before he does his surgeries and speaks freely about it.....they are both awesome.

    I hope that your Father can go to his Life Celebration....things like that are memories you want to treasure...and say what you want to your Father while you can. Mine died of a heart attack on his favorite golf course...we weren't prepared and so much was left unsaid.
    So say it now.

    I put my ec board friends on our Parish prayer list...and light a votive for all of you each week...

    orion
  • oriontj
    oriontj Member Posts: 375
    Your family are in my prayers
    I am Catholic and believe in the power of prayer as do the other Christians on the Board. My husband's oncologist does also. My orthopedic surgeon is deeply spiritual and prays before he does his surgeries and speaks freely about it.....they are both awesome.

    I hope that your Father can go to his Life Celebration....things like that are memories you want to treasure...and say what you want to your Father while you can. Mine died of a heart attack on his favorite golf course...we weren't prepared and so much was left unsaid.
    So say it now.

    I put my ec board friends on our Parish prayer list...and light a votive for all of you each week...

    orion
  • oriontj
    oriontj Member Posts: 375
    Your family are in my prayers
    I am Catholic and believe in the power of prayer as do the other Christians on the Board. My husband's oncologist does also. My orthopedic surgeon is deeply spiritual and prays before he does his surgeries and speaks freely about it.....they are both awesome.

    I hope that your Father can go to his Life Celebration....things like that are memories you want to treasure...and say what you want to your Father while you can. Mine died of a heart attack on his favorite golf course...we weren't prepared and so much was left unsaid.
    So say it now.

    I put my ec board friends on our Parish prayer list...and light a votive for all of you each week...

    orion
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    Hello, I beleive in the
    Hello, I beleive in the power of prayer. Sometimes God shows us He's listening by showing us He still loves us. This was God's way of showing your parents that He hasn't left them.How wonderful that your dad was given this good day. When I went thru treatment, it amazed me the times when I would be in my darkest hour, God would put His arms around me and I would feel the love and peace that only He can give. I rest in the assurance ,without a doubt , His healing grace is with me, whether in this life or heaven.
    Praying the " roller coaster" will be more up hill than down.

    Sandra
  • LivingFaith
    LivingFaith Member Posts: 74
    sandy1943 said:

    Hello, I beleive in the
    Hello, I beleive in the power of prayer. Sometimes God shows us He's listening by showing us He still loves us. This was God's way of showing your parents that He hasn't left them.How wonderful that your dad was given this good day. When I went thru treatment, it amazed me the times when I would be in my darkest hour, God would put His arms around me and I would feel the love and peace that only He can give. I rest in the assurance ,without a doubt , His healing grace is with me, whether in this life or heaven.
    Praying the " roller coaster" will be more up hill than down.

    Sandra

    Thanks
    Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.

    He made it and it was very special, but sad. Saturday is the big party. I'm praying it goes smoothly so we can relax a little. It is a lot of pressure on him and our whole family to have these events planned around someone who is so ill. We are very grateful for the love and support of his friends and community. We are ready to spend our time together more in private, as a family, so dad can relax and be more comfortable.

    Deb
  • sal314
    sal314 Member Posts: 599 Member

    Thanks
    Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.

    He made it and it was very special, but sad. Saturday is the big party. I'm praying it goes smoothly so we can relax a little. It is a lot of pressure on him and our whole family to have these events planned around someone who is so ill. We are very grateful for the love and support of his friends and community. We are ready to spend our time together more in private, as a family, so dad can relax and be more comfortable.

    Deb

    Will Continue to Pray
    for all of you. May God bless your time both at the big party as well as your private family time. I know God will be there in your midst!

    Blessings,

    Sally