My dad had been in the hospital for a couple days and started not being able to breathe so they put him on life support to save his life. I don't know why I wasn't called before this, but that wasn't important anymore. What was important is that I needed to go down and see my dad!!! I called my sister and asked if her husband, who works for Jet Blue, could get us a flight ASAP. My the hand of the Lord, we were able to get one within a couple hours!
As I was on the phone back and forth with the hospital during this time, I learned how grave my dad was. He had cancer--aggressive cancer. Cancer that would kill him in less than three months if he didn't start chemo right away. But, he wasn't well enough to start chemo yet. He couldn't swallow and eat. He was still on life support. It wasn't looking good. I don't think I have ever prayed so many times in such a short time. Let him be okay. Let him live so I can at least see him one more time. Let him be okay! All of this though was if it was the will of the Lord.
My sister and I made it down there. As we walked in to his room the sight we saw was unbelievable. My dad, who was always talking, laughing, debating, agile, looked dead. His color was awful and the breathing tube in him was doing it all for him. We were stunned and speechless, and very upset. We called our brothers who were arranging to come down and told them to hurry. It was one of the worst nights of my life! My tears soaked my pillow throughout the night as my mind was trying to wrap around this new knowledge.
My brother came early the next morning and my oldest brother would be there by lunch time. But then.....a miracle! My dad woke up!!!! He was able to spell words out and then write things down. The doctors were amazed and decided to try to take the breathing tube out so he could talk. It worked!!!!!!!! My dad was able to tell me how much he loved me and how scared he was!! The first thing he said to me was, "I want to see Emily graduate from high school." We were able to talk about where things were located in his house if I needed them. I was going to be his trustee eventually so we talked about some of these things too. I was able to ask him about some hard truths and he was honest about it.
There was hope. The doctors even started talking about starting chemo the next week. Within 24 hours it went from my dad was going to die to there's a good possibility of success. It was mind boggling.
Now, I don't live in fantasy land. I knew my dad was sick. The doctors couldn't figure out why he couldn't swallow. He was losing a lot of weight. He still needed chemo badly because this kidney cancer was aggressive. But, at least there was hope now! Besides hope, we 4 siblings got to spend some precious time together reminiscing, crying, laughing, and just being together. It felt really nice.
When I went home on Monday, I knew we were not even close to being out of the woods, but there were a lot of positives to take with me. I knew we were in for a fight, but I knew my dad was ready. But, would his body cooperate?
On our way down
The 4 of us
Feeling better after the breathing tube came out
Sending emails to his college telling them of his cancer and also putting some financial things together.
