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My Dad has just died

(69 Posts)
Mishap Mon 05-Aug-13 14:09:13

Some of you may remember the saga of my poor 93 year old Dad and all the trials and tribulations he endured in hospital and with hopeless care at home over the last 6 months - and I was very grateful for all your very supportive posts.

I just thought I would let you know that he died at 11.30 this morning - thankfully he was in the residential home where he was cared for so well and with such love and kindness.

For the last few weeks he has had some non-specific infection and has been on two courses of antibiotics. He has been reluctant to eat or to be fed, but has been taking fluid. He has been asleep most of the time and had lost interest in anything. I spoke to him on the phone the day before yesterday and he said he did not feel well and just wanted to sleep.

I went out to a friend's this morning and asked my OH to ring me there if there were any calls from the home - I had a premonition that he would die today - strange isn't it?

As soon as I heard that he was worse, I rang the home to ask that they should not let him be taken into hospital - he had just died when I got through.

In many ways it is a huge relief, although niggling away at the back of my mind is the fact of his unnecessary fall in hospital and the subsequent anaesthetic that was the start of his real decline. It is no good wondering how things might have been if he had not had that fall - we cannot dwell on this and have to hang on to the fact that eventually we managed to organise some good care and he was in a homely and comfortable setting when he died.

harrigran Tue 06-Aug-13 23:28:02

Just returned home and learned of your sad loss Mishap May you find comfort in the happy memories you have of your dear father flowers

Galen Tue 06-Aug-13 21:43:55

Our love and thoughts!

Mishap Tue 06-Aug-13 21:29:20

Thank you all again for your many kind thoughts and for the lovely poem. They are hugely appreciated and have proved to be a wonderful support to me.

Busy day today with lots of GC around - and trying to help organise the funeral at the same time. I was reduced to hiding in the utility room with the phone as this was the only place that I could get a moment's quiet.

But the children were a tonic, albeit a tiring one.

Challenge today has been finding a humanist celebrant in the right area - but I found one in the end and she sounds very nice. I know this is what Dad would have wanted.

Many thanks to all you kind gransnet family.

yogagran Tue 06-Aug-13 13:58:32

Just come back to GN after a lapse of a few days to read your sad news mishap. What a difficult time for you. Thoughts and hugs for you xx

kittylester Tue 06-Aug-13 13:48:34

Hope you are feeling ok today mishap. flowers

Nonu Tue 06-Aug-13 10:18:53

My thoughts you Mishap , always sad when lose a darling parent .x

Grannyeggs Tue 06-Aug-13 09:51:10

Just back on Gransnet after long absence. Condolences mishap, you have been a good and caring daughter. flowers

HUNTERF Tue 06-Aug-13 09:35:52

Mishap

I hope you have now settled a bit.
I must say my father's death did not really hit me for about 2 weeks.
I was busy getting the death registered, organising the funeral, phoning relatives etc.
I know it is a hard thing to say but make sure you inform the banks of his death. A personal visit is usually required with the Death Certificate.
Don't forget to eat properly and have a bit of time to yourself while doing this, make a visit to a friend, go to the pub but don't drink excessively or go your club.
I am sure there will be other relatives which will be upset. Beside my daughters / son in laws and granddaughters one of the most upset people was my father's sister.
Also don't forget your pet if you have one. Andie somehow seemed to know what had happened. He had lost one of his owners.

Frank

Deedaa Mon 05-Aug-13 23:54:09

So sorry to hear your sad news Mishap It's a comfort to know he was cared for at the end. flowers

Oldgreymare Mon 05-Aug-13 23:37:16

Mishap sad news always brings back memories of parents no longer alive. Think of the good times tho' and plan a little 'me time' for yourself.
flowers

Sook Mon 05-Aug-13 23:04:23

I am so sorry for your sad loss Mishap

Grannyknot what a beautiful poem.

Grannyknot Mon 05-Aug-13 22:01:58

Mishap flowers. I don't know where your dad's musical talents lay, but your description reminded me of the D.H. Lawrence poem ...

Piano

Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me;
Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see
A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings
And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings.

In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song
Betrays me back, till the heart of me weeps to belong
To the old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside
And hymns in the cozy parlor, the tinkling piano our guide.

NfkDumpling Mon 05-Aug-13 21:51:58

Just settled for a Gransnet fix and read your bad news. I'm so terribly sorry for your loss, I fear he's going to leave a big hole in your family. It's all been said already so I can only send more flowers to you and your sister flowers flowers

Faye Mon 05-Aug-13 21:49:44

I am so sorry to hear the news of your father Mishap. It is never easy to lose a loved parent. It will comfort you later to know you did your best to ensure he was well looked after. flowers

bikergran Mon 05-Aug-13 21:16:56

thnking of you Mishap take care

whenim64 Mon 05-Aug-13 21:14:00

I hope you find that you can enjoy choosing special music for your dad, Mishap. Tears are expected, but there's something satisfying about deciding on music, poems and eulogies that mean so much to you and the people that will share it with you. flowers

Butty Mon 05-Aug-13 21:00:38

Mishap I felt sure, having read your posts over the months, that you'd had a legacy of music. How wonderful to have had that given to you by your Dad. Thinking of you. x

absent Mon 05-Aug-13 20:34:17

May we all have a quiet and peaceful end to a long life and may we all also have such loving children. Sympathy and affection Mishap because no matter how much we expect a death, it is sad to say goodbye when the time comes.

Gorki Mon 05-Aug-13 20:30:58

Thinking of you Mishap flowers

baubles Mon 05-Aug-13 20:22:11

Mishap I'm sorry for your loss. A quiet, peaceful end is what we all wish for, and for the people we love. Be kind to yourself flowers

moomin Mon 05-Aug-13 19:58:00

Just come in Mishap and read your sad news. So sorry for your loss, it is so tough when a parent dies and I'm thinking of you flowers

Mishap Mon 05-Aug-13 19:31:42

Thank you all so much for your very kind and supportive messages and thoughts.

One of my DDs has come round for the night with her two delightful and irresistible boys and they are lifting my spirits and reminding me that the family goes on.

I had a bad few moments this afternoon when I was thinking about my Dad's wonderful musical skills and how thay might be represented at the funeral. There are so many memories I have of the beautiful sounds of his playing drifting up to my bedroom as I was getting off to sleep as a child. Needless to say this set off the tears.

But you are all right - he drifted off peacefully whilst asleep and we must be thankful for that - they got him out of bed and dressed him and then could see that he was not right and lay him back down on his bed where he fell straight to sleep and did not wake. As with my mother (who also died in this excellent family run home) staff stayed by his side even though he was asleep so that somone would be there if he woke.

The last few moinths have been a huge battle for him and for all of us and it is good to know that he is now at peace.

Thank you all for your kindness.

shysal Mon 05-Aug-13 19:30:06

So sorry to read your news, mishap. Look after yourself. flowers

Thistledoo Mon 05-Aug-13 19:12:15

So sad to read your post Mishap, you sound as if you were a very loving daughter and your Dad sounds as if he was a great dad. Take very good care of yourself, and try to keep the good memories to the fore. You did everything you could, be proud of yourself. Sending you healing thoughts and a huge hug. flowers xxx

LizG Mon 05-Aug-13 18:13:52

So sorry to read your news Mishap (((hugs))) flowers