"When I was a sophomore in college, my dad got sick with colon cancer. It went into remission, but then came back when I was a senior, and this time it had spread to his liver and lungs. I graduated in the spring of 2012 and was all ready to head out into the world, but he had gotten so much worse that I decided to stay home and be his full-time caregiver. I could tell he was terminal. My younger sister was away at college for her freshman year, so it was up to me.
"My dad and I were very close. We talked about everything, about what was happening and about how he knew he was dying. I'd listen and then leave the room and cry. There were times when I couldn't do anything until I found someone I could talk to too. It was the hardest thing I've ever been through. All through that year, I took care of him. I didn't realize how worn out I was until a couple of months before he died when I finally asked for help and some other family members pitched in. I drove him to his doctor's appointments, handled his banking, gave him his medications, checked him into hospice care at the end, and then took care of selling his house after he passed away. My dad would have done anything for my sister and me though, so this was the least I could do for him. Near the end, he thanked me for taking care of him and gave me a bracelet that I treasure. He went into hospice on the 1st of July and died on the 4th. It's been two years ago now. Of course, I wish none of this had happened and I had my dad back, but it was special to be able to walk with him through that time. I think my sister and I both learned not to take people for granted."
"My dad and I were very close. We talked about everything, about what was happening and about how he knew he was dying. I'd listen and then leave the room and cry. There were times when I couldn't do anything until I found someone I could talk to too. It was the hardest thing I've ever been through. All through that year, I took care of him. I didn't realize how worn out I was until a couple of months before he died when I finally asked for help and some other family members pitched in. I drove him to his doctor's appointments, handled his banking, gave him his medications, checked him into hospice care at the end, and then took care of selling his house after he passed away. My dad would have done anything for my sister and me though, so this was the least I could do for him. Near the end, he thanked me for taking care of him and gave me a bracelet that I treasure. He went into hospice on the 1st of July and died on the 4th. It's been two years ago now. Of course, I wish none of this had happened and I had my dad back, but it was special to be able to walk with him through that time. I think my sister and I both learned not to take people for granted."
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