Determination

People have always said I am stubborn - I always said that I was"determined". I now know that my determination comes from my parents. 

For those that do not know my Dad has had a challenging few years.  Many years ago he had angina.  That has largely been handled.  8 years ago though he was diagnosed with colon cancer.  He was 80. A major surgery and a hospital stay resulted in double pneumonia.  We were sure he would not make it.  I was preparing to head to the National Karate Championships and then to Japan for the World Cup so I had heard back home to Newfoundland in case I would not get to see him again.  5 years after that my Dad was at Laura' s and my wedding.  That made my heart soar.

This spring my Dad went to go out and left their apartment and fell down a flight of stairs,. Thankfully he did not break anything but a fall like that takes its toll on a now 88 year old man.  We visited him late in July/early August.  We spent time cooking and eating,  going for a drive and a beer.  We talked and laughed.  Myself and Laura left Newfoundland happy.

A little over a week ago Dad went to go to the kitchen.  He fell.  This time he broke his hip.  This hospital trip was now going to include a trip to surgery.  At 89 years of age I guess it was time that the suspension got updated.  But at 89 any surgery is tough and when you have breathing problems like COPD, even more so.  The doctors were not confident he would make it after the surgery and the frantic calls were made.

The evidence of stubbornness is that I talked to him yesterday and today he is feeling great (his words). Now I am not one to live in a fantasy world.  You can face challenge after challenge but at some point the odds are against you.  In this case the odds are not just the hip and the breathing problems but also a new discovery of cancer in the lungs,  liver and spine.  I do not know if this is a case of "odds against you" being true but as both my Mom and Dad have said - he has lived a good life.  I know I have learned a lot from him - especially about treating people right.

All along my Mom has looked after him.  50 years in.  Putting up with the type of stuff that Laura now puts up with - which astounds me after 3 years let alone 50. She is a rock and so is my sister who is still in Newfoundland with them.

We will wait to see what happens with Dad,   hoping for the best all along, but I will always be proud to call Donald Thomas Moore MY Dad - no matter what happens.