The past year has been a rough one . Each year I seem to go into the next one thinking that the previous has been so tough that the upcoming just has to be better … lol … what a joke . This year has definitely surpassed my previous . I lost my dad to stage 4 colon cancer this year .
My dad was a very proud , hardworking and caring man . He hadn ’ t always been active in my life as a child but as an adult he more than made up for his past indiscretions . He went over and beyond to take care of me and be there for anything I needed when I went through a divorce and was working hard to take care of myself and two children . He came into my life and was just the blessing that I needed . I could not have made it through those dark days without him .
Lessons from Daddy
By : Christy attempt to address it now but you can look for more of my opinions on this later .
For several years ( about 5 ) my dad had been feeling a decline in his health . He was tired , blurred vision , achy , etc … I would often try to push him to go to the Dr . but he always refused and wanted me to find a home remedy to get him over it . He ’ d feel a little better for a short period and then feel the continual decline a little harder .
This cycle went on for years until he eventually landed in the emergency room . Dad had continued to work and do his daily activities including cutting several family members grass weekly with little to no complaints . This left most everyone around him unaware of the true pain he was in .
Sharing my experience is emotional , but I do think that the message is important , so please bear with me while I try to get it out on paper to share with you .
I don ’ t think there are many people out there who actually enjoy having to make a trip to the physician ’ s office . I know I sure don ’ t and it was the same for my dad . Unfortunately for my dad it wasn ’ t just the dislike of the visit but the pride and the stress of the financial burden that many feel when making a visit to the Dr . He had insurance but as with many the stress of deductibles and co-pays was an added deterrent to him making the visit .
The healthcare system is certainly flawed , often leaving those who work and pay for healthcare being the very ones who can ’ t actually afford to receive care and treatment . This subject is so lengthy that I won ’ t even
During the visit to the emergency room ( in which they kept my dad for testing ect …) is when I received the news that my dad had very advanced stage 4 colon cancer . The physician informed me at that time ( which was April 2015 ) that he didn ’ t expect my dad to make it to see Christmas that year . My head was reeling , I didn ’ t know what to do or think . I didn ’ t want to tell my dad because I was afraid that he would give up and I wanted to believe that it was all a bad dream and couldn ’ t possibly be true .
Eventually I did tell my dad of the physician ’ s prognosis and much to my surprise he didn ’ t give up ! He didn ’ t have any thoughts of giving up , just fighting ! I was so glad . We ended up making a couple trips to different specialist but neither would take my dad on as a patient because of the advanced stage of the cancer . We were basically told it was hopeless . Dad , being