My Dad died two days ago

My dad passed away two days ago. It was around 8 weeks since he first started to fall and 19 days since we were told he had brain cancer with 8 weeks left. They were wrong. He fell asleep last Saturday and never woke up again. I feel bad that the day they told him I dropped him back at hospital afterwards, on his own, I will never forgive myself for it. Why didn't I stay with him, to comfort him? I was selfish as I was so upset and didn't want him to see me crying .... I sobbed all the way back and struggled to cope. He went downhill very quickly. I would give anything to go back, to have him back, to tell him I loved him so much because I never did say it. I hope he knew. I feel like a changed person, I will never be the same without my little stories about him. I didn't realise how much I loved him until.he's gone. 

How on earth will I go when the silliest things keeps reminding me of him? 

  • Hello Chapman300, 

    I am so sorry for your loss and wanted to send you my sincere condolences on behalf of the Cancer Chat team. It all happened so quickly it must have been incredibly traumatic for you. 

    It's completely normal to be replaying what happened in your mind because you feel you want to go back in time and stay with him but the truth is you could never have guessed this was going to happen, that he would go downhill so quickly. Even his medical team didn't expect it by the looks of it. So you were definitely not selfish - these guilt feelings are only symptomatic of your intense grief and this is something that members of our forum will be able to relate to. Our page on Coping with Grief  highlights the range of overwhelming feelings you may experience and I am sure you will be able to identify with some of them. 

    I am sure your dad knew how much you loved him and you didn't need to say it for him to know it without a doubt. It is all still so raw for you at the moment and I am thinking of you this Easter and of all who have lost a loved one. 

    I am sure members of our community will be deeply moved to read your story and will come and share their own grief journeys and experiences. 

    We're thinking of you during this difficult time and wanted you to know that you are not alone, that many here will understand what you are going through at the moment. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator