My 85 year old father has decided to stop the dialysis treatments he has been receiving since January 2. This means he will die sometime in the next few weeks according to his doctors. I am leaving for Ft. Myers, Florida at 6am tomorrow to have our last time together.
When his kidneys failed, he did not want to undergo dialysis based on the suffering he saw his identical twin brother endure a few years earlier with his dialysis. Our family, his doctors and even his priest encouraged him to give it a shot and he consented. I still can't believe he lasted this long. He has only left the hospital and rehab facility for an occasional day trip to his condo (to play music on his piano) or feast (against his doctors wishes) at a local restaurant when he felt up to it. He is now in hospice care and is too weak to play but still taps a mean toe according to my step-mom.
My father is the reason I started music (as his father was his) in late '67. One night as he played his Wurlitzer organ, he asked me what I wanted to play and I told him I thought second base for the NY Yankees would be OK. He said that's not going to happen and said to pick an instrument. I started music on an upright and have him all to blame. That was tough love, but the finest love there is. Truly a love supreme. I switched to guitar in the 70's until finding my way back here and now play both with reckless abandon whenever I get the chance. I also play with my older son and his friends when asked which really brings it home full-circle for me.
I ask those of you who will pray for him, please do. For those that don't pray, play something hot and tasty when you get the chance. He would dig it. He has been suffering terribly and although I will miss him soon, I will always have his music.
Regards -----------------------
When his kidneys failed, he did not want to undergo dialysis based on the suffering he saw his identical twin brother endure a few years earlier with his dialysis. Our family, his doctors and even his priest encouraged him to give it a shot and he consented. I still can't believe he lasted this long. He has only left the hospital and rehab facility for an occasional day trip to his condo (to play music on his piano) or feast (against his doctors wishes) at a local restaurant when he felt up to it. He is now in hospice care and is too weak to play but still taps a mean toe according to my step-mom.
My father is the reason I started music (as his father was his) in late '67. One night as he played his Wurlitzer organ, he asked me what I wanted to play and I told him I thought second base for the NY Yankees would be OK. He said that's not going to happen and said to pick an instrument. I started music on an upright and have him all to blame. That was tough love, but the finest love there is. Truly a love supreme. I switched to guitar in the 70's until finding my way back here and now play both with reckless abandon whenever I get the chance. I also play with my older son and his friends when asked which really brings it home full-circle for me.
I ask those of you who will pray for him, please do. For those that don't pray, play something hot and tasty when you get the chance. He would dig it. He has been suffering terribly and although I will miss him soon, I will always have his music.
Regards -----------------------
