my dad passed away last tuesday afternoon.
he was 51.
he was diagnosed with hodgkin disease 15 years ago. he was given only 2 years to live but fought and lived on for another 15 years with family support and good spirits. he was the strongest guy i've ever known, even if he wasn't my father and i knew him, i'd still think he was stronger than anyone who's ever lived. he was admitted into the hospital few days before thanksgiving due to pneumonia. his health then deteriorated and he was put on life support for a week and half. last monday all of us, including the doctor, had a meeting, to talk about the options, whether to keep going with operations, nurse care, a machine breathing for him, etc. with a slim chance of improving or to give it up and die with dignity. he had decided he's had enough and we all agreed to let him go. we believed it was the right choice to end the lengthy suffering he's gone through. he was taken off life support and breathed on his own the next 24 hours. my immediate family, my mom and two sisters, and i were with him when we saw him take his last breath. we were relieved to see him go peacefully.
during his ordeal in the hospital, one night, i had a dream of my dad and myself when i was little and we were at the beach. my dad loved the beach. he would ask me to swim across the ocean to a tidal bank, which was half mile away. i was too afraid. my dad then jumped into the water and swam half a mile to the tidal bank, he had made it. i thought to myself, if he could do it, so can i. so i jumped in, swam half a mile to the tidal bank and made it. he's alway been my guide and helped me to get over my fears. i've alway felt safe with him. now that he's gone, whenever i'm faced with a frightful situation, i'd think of my dad. here's to you, dad. :beer
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