Papa yesterday...in the hospital, wiping his hands after eating.
Papa yesterday....AT HOME playing cards with my cousins.
Papa talked his way out of the hospital yesterday morning. We were all totally caught off guard and unprepared. The night before the cardiologist had told us he would probably be a couple more days. My aunt put the poor staff through the ringer. My Mama called the doctors to get the scoop....confirm meds....and schedule home care.
Papa thinks he is escaping...they think they are letting him go home to die. Truth be told....he thinks that too. He has refused all the necessary tests cause he has decided he is NOT gonna have an angioplasty. He'll take the drugs...try and eat right...get some exercise...but he sees no need to be having the procedure.
So....the prognosis is not good. His heart is failing. But his mind is still very sharp and he is very stubborn (family trait.) My Papa knows what he wants. Even if it makes us all scared and very sad, our family has chosen to respect his decision.
In some ways I think I would like to be 93 years old...and be able to say "enough already...I've had a good life....I'm ready to go"
In many ways...that is a blessing.
16 comments:
You just have to respect his decision no matter how tough or sad it is. Bless you all. Big hug. :)
I wish that my grandfather had made it to 93 to make that decision but he was barely in retirement when leukemia claimed his life in 1972. However, he never once complained about it but instead said he'd had a good life and he was ready to go meet the Lord. That kind of faith amazes me, it really does.
I hope that your Papa beats the odds and is able to live out his life the way HE wants to rather than the way others think he should because in the end, it should be our choice.
Best wishes to you and the rest of your family as well as to your Papa - he sounds like the kind of guy I would most definitely like!
Good for him!! Life and death should both be confronted with eyes wide open... in my humble opinion.
Best wishes C:)
I'm sorry. But at least he's still in control and can make the decisions that are right for him.
Hang in there.
Ha. Good for your Dad. My Mom was kinda like that in her later years.
I remember at her 80th birthday party someone said, "Here's to 80 more."
My mom replied, "Dear God, I hope not!!" Cheers Kat!!
I'm so glad you went to see him. It's got to be tough to be in his position, where his mind is still sharp, but the realization that his body is worn out.
It's also cool to see and hear about your family rallying around him.
Somehow I want to applaud him. (Even though I know how hard this must be on the rest of the family.)
Awww - look at him playing cards and having fun - it warms the heart though, really it does.
Big hugs to you and your family Katherine - I pray he gets to play cards and beat the odds for many years to come!
*sigh* Kinda hard not to have jumbled feelings about the decision--bless you all for knowing it's between him and his G-d.
((((((((((katherine))))))))))))
Love him like crazy.
And know you're being loved like crazy, too, eh?
Wow, a 93 year old man who loves to play poker and still has a sharp mind. :) What a guy. I agree that it's hard to agree sometimes with their decisions, but we must realize that if that's what they want then we have to respect it and enjoy our time with them! :)
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family that there are lots more good times with this wonderful man.
Hugs!
Your mixed feelings are perfectly normal. Your papa's decision to base his healthcare decisions on his terms is quite admirable and encouraging.
I hope I'll be able to do that when the time comes.
hey....you know where my thoughts are prayers are....
me
I wish the best for you and your family.
And no matter how it goes --at least he got to live the rest of his life as he wanted--the duration doesn't really make a difference in that quality of life.
These are precious photos. It takes courage to be that in control of your life and not let someone else dictate your future. He has learned to live day-by-day in his own way by his own rules.
I hope the rest of us don't wait until we get to 93 to learn that lesson. But I suspect he has always had a fiesty side? Yes?
Sending prayers and comfort for you and your family.
*thinkin' of you*
And sayin' prayers, of course.....
I agree it is a blessing that he has chosen how he wants to live his life.
I hope I am as brave when I get to his age.
He is now with his family and in his home...no place better than that to be.
Prayers and hugs to all of you.
He's a feisty one huh? You're blessed that you've had him around for so long....I hope he has a great rest of his life!!!!
Peace
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