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15 Sep 2008 03:45 PM My FatherIts been three days since my Dad died of cancer. I had been preparing for it for the last three weeks, ever since the time we put him into the hospital for the upteenth time on the 23rd of August. But I was still unprepared. When he had liver failure 18 years ago, I helped my Mom prepare for our loss. But, miraculously, a donor was found and my Dad survived. For the next 17 years, my Dad soldiered on, never once complaining about the pain, the weariness, or the medications. He endured numerous other maladies - heart issues, arthritis, nausea, weakness, and then cancer. It was the cancer that finally overcame him. He was undeniably the most courageous, unwavering, unselfish, strong and supportive person I have ever know in my 47 years here on earth. We talked 2 -3 times a week. That was, whenever Mom would let go of the phone so he could chat for a few. He was so great. One of the Greatest people I have ever known personally. Not because of his accomplishments, but because of who he was. He was unselfish in that he never really thought of himself. He wanted to make sure he did for others before himself. A character trait, that you cannot learn, but must be given by God. We laughed together, he made up storied that, to this day, I remember and have passed along to my children. He made up dumb songs like: "Little indians, live in the wilderness, with their bows and arrows, tomahawks and spears." And then we would all laugh. He taught me how to bat. He taught me how to swing on a swing set really high, high enough to make the swing set jump up on one set of legs - something we can't do anymore. We once flew a kite out the window of my bedroom, and ran out of string, so he raced to the store and bought us tons more so we could continue to tie them together until we could no longer see the kite, it was so high. He encouraged me. He encouraged others. He would rave about you and make you sound so wonderful. He loved my Mom so much. They were best friends. They were goof balls together. They yelled, they cried, but mostly - they lived. They traveled, they enjoyed each other. And when the time finally came to say goodbye, it was the hardest thing anyone in our family has ever had to do. I am grateful. Grateful to God, grateful to my Dad. To have had the honor to have known this great man was truly a gift. To have also been given the honor of allowing my children and wife to know him, was pure joy. We are all grieving now in our different ways. I am sure that time will heal, but it will never allow us to forget the wonderful memories of the man we called Papa. No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags cancer, family, loss Discuss this article
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