As most of you are well aware, my father passed away just close to 10 days ago from a quick 6 week battle with pancreatic cancer. Since that time I have been in overdrive mode to make sure my mother is okay, I maintain my level of work and expertise, and to continue to impact as many patients as possible. At least that was my excuse to stay busy and not have to sit down, take...
Imagine a loved one going into the doctors office and learning that he or she has colo-rectal cancer. Now imagine that they are told it has already spread to other areas inside of their body. Can you imagine the scene, the conversation? Can you even fathom understanding or remembering the rest of the conversation after you heard the words, "You have metastatic cool-rectal cancer." I know I can't, and I work in this crazy world of...
Today happens to be Veterans Day and it reminds me of my father, his ceremony, and this previous weekend...
Yesterday, Saturday, November 9th, was the funeral services and visitation for my father. Between the hours of 11-1 many people from the various chapters of my father's life stopped to pay their respect, share their stories, and to say their final good-byes to my father. Then at 1pm, everyone congregated, and the ceremony started. We proceeded up to the front of the church. My father was placed front and center of the alter, baptismal candle lit,...
I awake this morning and begin it as any other day. I turn the clock on my phone off and set it to silent. I begin to get ready. I check the news, twitter, and what my calendar looks like for the day. I go back to check my phone and notice that I have a missed call. It is from my mother. Time stamp: 6:35 am. I call my mother and she answers. Her voice is...
Today I received a call around 8:55am from my mother. I was driving on my way to work. I had just finished saying my morning Rosary for my father. I could feel my heart begin to race. I answer the phone. My mother says, "How are you?" I answer, "Fine. How's dad?" My mother responds, "After you left last night dad stopped being restless. He slept the entire night. He was calm. He's been calm all morning long....
I spent half of Monday at work and then I spent the rest of the day working from my parents home. My mother was able to leave the home, go to a few appointments, and run and errand or two. I stayed and worked remotely, taking calls, emails, and working on a few ideas for an up coming meeting. As 3:30pm approached I went into the kitchen and open the cabinet where all of my fathers medication...
This past weekend I spent parts of Saturday and Sunday with my mother and father. My mother had specifically asked me to come over on Saturday due to a few of my fathers relatives coming to visit. She just needed the additional emotional support. During the visit, my mothers sister, husband, and her four children and their significant others all stopped over as well. As soon as my Godmother (mom's sister) entered the house she was...
I got out of the shower in my process of getting ready to go over to see my father for his Birthday. I noticed my phone had gone off, so I checked it, and there was a text from my mother at 11:35 am, it read: DAD JUST TOOK A SHOWER & IT WORE HIM OUT. HE SAID NO COMPANY BUT I THINK HE NEEDS SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT FOR AWHILE. HE SAID HE JUST...