My Dad passed away on Monday.

My dad died on Monday in hospital.  Last week he was really struggling,  he became bedbound as his legs just weren't strong enough (occupational therapist was confident they could get him back on his feet though)  and he was out of breath despite being on long term steroids and oxygen support. .  He decided on Friday to go into the hospice for pain and symptom management.  The ambulance picked him up but en route to the hospice it was decided to take dad to the hospital as they felt he may have an infection.  (Hospice won't treat with IV antibiotics)  

 

I went to see him Sunday and although he was on maximum oxygen support,  he stilll had his sense of humour and was joking around.  (Asked why me and mum were standing by the bed like a pair of undertakers and put in a request to the doctor for a new set of lungs and a new pair of legs!) 

he kept saying he couldn't die on Sunday as it was Mums birthday.  We got a call on Monday to get to the hospital as dad was anxious and struggling.  He really wasn't himself Monday, gasping for breath was actually really distressing to watch him suffer so much.  They put him on a syringe driver around 11am.  Dad didn't want anyone with him,  said "if you don't go,  I will get you all barred" so we (Mum, myself,  sis,  my son and my sisters daughter) sat in the side room around the corner from dad and just popped in throughout the day to make sure he was comfortable.  Around 4.30 I went in to say my final goodbyes,  told dad that it was ok to drift off when he was ready.... we then sat in the relatives room reminiscing,  even laughing at some stories and around 4.45 dad slipped off.  
 

I have a permanent knot in my stomach..,, I can't eat.  I know my dad wouldn't want me to be sad but I can't help keep going over how quickly dad deteriorated.   

 

the coroner rang today to say that the cause of death was 1. Bronchial pneumonia 2.  Metastatic colon cancer 3.  Diabetes. 
 

I am now beating myself up wondering if they had given him different IV antibiotics whether he would have died?  

I'm also struggling with the fact he had so much fight left in him, right until the end but yet he's gone.  
 

I feel so Much for my poor mum  

 

sorry I know so many are going through similar.... I feel for you all. I just want to go to bed,  wake up and it all be a bad dream. 

  • Hello Cockerpoomum

    I'm so very sorry to hear that you lost your Dad earlier this week. It's understandable an incredibly difficult time for you all but I'm glad to hear that you were able able to spend time with your Dad during those last days and that as a family you were able to be there to support each other. I'm sure that both your Dad and your Mum have taken great comfort from that. 

    Grief is a natural process but it can be devastating. It's normal to have questions and to be experiencing the thoughts and feelings that you've described in your post. It's very early days in this journey and it's important to be kind to yourself right now. Take each day at a time, if a day feels too much then hour by hour. 

    I know that some of our members have found bereavement counselling to be helpful and if this is something that you, or any of the other family members, feel this may be something you want to explore in the future then do have a look at the website for an organisation called Cruse

    Posts here again on the forum if it helps to have somewhere to share how you're feeling. I know that the community will offer any support that they can whilst you're dealing with your grief. 

    Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator