my very impatient Dad

[bobAlike]

Thoughts with you and the family

[mondatoo]

Thoughts with you and the family mate!!

[tikay]

Hello David.

Not really sure what to say or think. Dad's are so, so, precious.

I know you'll be a good son just when he most needs you to be.

 

[KarmaDope]

Thoughts with you and the family mate!!

[david3103]

Thanks to all for their thoughts. I really do appreciate them.

I've steered clear of updating here over the last few days because posting what I wanted to say using my phone was difficult.

So...

the consultant confirmed what we already knew and dad repeated his antipathy toward treatment. consultant said there isn't much chance of any treatment having value in curative terms but he also
mentioned referral to a Palliative Care Consultant. It seemed likely that the referral would mean waiting for a letter giving an appointment date and then obviously a wait for the appointment itself and could see another two or three weeks passing us by. So....

i mentioned that my sister was arriving next Tuesday for a visit from Canada and that they had planned a trip to the IoW and he swang into action to get us seen straight away. By which I mean that he spoke to the Palliative Care Consultant himself and the delightful Prof Sara Cox has taken over... meds reviewed and altered. steroids and Fortisip drinks prescribed
they've taken some blood and if dad's anemic she'll fix for him to get a transfusion.
she was, utterly, brilliant and spent a lot of time with us and will follow up next week.

It's early days yet but at least now Dad has a plan in terms of making his days more comfortable and allowing him to enjoy them for a while.

My plans have changed over the last few days. I arrived on Wednesday with three pairs of socks and two pairs of pants and the intention to go home on Thursday evening. I'm still in London and will be here now until sis arrives on Tuesday. I can't do much for Dad but he is finding my presence of comfort I believe and I get to feel useful.

I've bought new socks pants and a couple of shirts today. A bus trip to Asda Clapham and a mix of train and bus back made me feel like a Londoner today as I used my Oyster card confidently at all stages. The transport system is pretty good it seems to me. Buses are regular, clean, and predictable and I've probably made more bus journeys on the last few days than in the last five years.

I'll hand over to Big Sis on Tuesday and go back to Teesside although I'm back again in just over two weeks for Founders Day. It will be Dad's first, and probably his last, of these occasions and sadly he'll be seated rather than marching for it, but it will be a moment for us to celebrate.

[flushthemout]

Flounders Day will be epic for your dad, Keep chin up David.

[david3103]

Flounders Day will be epic for your dad, Keep chin up David.

thanks Mike.

Cod willing, he'll take his plaice that day ;-)

[flushthemout]

Lol Dave, my spelling was never the best, but you know what I meant 

[celtic]

Just read this thread, on the back of you post in the Tikay burning everyones money thread.

Sorry to hear, David. Hope the coming weeks and months are as comfortable as possible.

[david3103]

i wrote, when dad was first diagnosed, that his impatience didn't extend to wishing for a speedy end.

i was wrong.

from a point, just over a week ago when we had hopes of his making a trip to the Isle of Right with my sister and taking part in Founder's Day, to now he has deteriorated very fast. He's decided that this is his time.
He's unconscious with Wendy by his side and me 270 miles away waiting for the call to say that he's gone.

His Christian faith has sustained him and the local Methodist Minister visited yesterday to give him Communion. He'll pass peacefully and leave a hole in many lives, but he has enriched so many lives over theyears through his work in local football, his church and the Boys' Brigade.

This thread isn't  over yet, but it is close.

[Eso Kral]

Will be thinking of you and the family David!

[bookiebasher]

Will be thinking of you and the family David!

[Karabiner]

Thoughts are with you all David.

[mulhuzz]

Will be thinking of you and the family David!

[technolog]

It's got to be better than a lingering end. Our thoughts are with you.