A personal message

[gareth]

Hi all,

I may not be able to spend as much time on line in the near future - due to a crisis in our family. My dad (he is 85) has recently been struggling with his health - and last week he was admitted to hospital. Yesterday he was put into intensive care and at one stage hospital staff started reanimation procedures, as his heart had virtually stopped beating.

They succeeded in pulling him back from the edge - and today his condition improved markedly. But I am not sure how long this will last. He had a similar experience 5 weeks ago - and then too, the medical staff did a marvellous job.

He himself admitted that this time he had been on the edge of eternity (he does draw strength from his faith).

These experiences are emotionally draining though - so if I am a bit less frequently on line, you'll understand why!

All the best, and God's blessings.

(Sorry to those of you who aren't that way inclined - but I myself too derive strength from my faith.)

Gerrit

[roger]

Hi Gerrit,

I am sure we are all sorry to hear your news. Thank you for letting us know. I hope there will some improvement in the days to come. Meanwhile, our thoughts are with you.

Best wishes,
Roger

[kcuteus1]

I am storry to hear that your dad is un well I know how that feels.

[Dave]

Hi Gerrit, I'm sorry to hear that your dad's in such poor health at the moment, let us hope that things can and do improve.

If you are unable to capture anything "Katherine" etc., that you'd like to have, just let me know and I'll do the necessary (I did get The Culture show, which was very interesting, but I see you got that one )

Dave

[Raymond]

Our thoughts are with you Gerrit.

Raymond

[Joe]

Hello, Gerritt. I'm sorry to hear that your father is in poor health. Hopefully he will continue to improve. Please find comfort in our prayers.

It is your and your father's strong faith that will get you through all this. God's blessings to both of you. I also derive strength from my faith and proud to say so.

Take care then,
Joe

[daddytom]

Hi Gerrit.

Your faith will sustain you both. If the Lord should call your father home his faith will be more valuable than gold. I have been in your position several times over the last few years and my heart goes out to you.

My prayers will include your father and his family.

God bless you -- Tom

[Richard]

Hello Gerrit.

I'm sorry to hear your news, and I hope your father gets better soon. My thoughts are with both of you.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[alien]

HI Gerrit,

Sorry to hear about the news, my thoughts are with your dad and your family. Hope he gets well soon.

Allen

[chrisw]

Hi Gerrit,

My thoughts are with your and your father at this time

Regards,
Chris

[gareth]

Hi All,

Thank you all for your encouraging messages - meanwhile, my dad has been through another critical point, an internal bleeding of the liver - yet hospital staff have managed to pull him through that one as well - and are now saying that his condition is stable.

We have had a bedside vigil since last week Thursday, but hospital staff are saying that (for the time being) the worst may have passed.

Gerrit

[roger]

That is encouraging news, Gerrit. May your father's condition continue to improve. Our thoughts remain with you both.

Roger

[Belinda]

Hi Gerrit,
I to am thinking of you both and for the continued improvement in you dad's health

Belinda

[gareth]

Hmm,

Since my last post in this thread, 4 weeks have past .... and my Dad has been in hospital until a few days ago, when he was allowed to return home. - it's been a medical miracle, as on a number of occasions, hospital staff had given him up as well.

Yet, despite numerous setbacks (gall bladder infection, three internal bleedings, liver poisoning - by otherwise beneficial antiiotics - and pneumonia), he has beaten that all (at 85 years of age !)

In my experience, this has contrasted all the more sharply with what happened to Keith - just so young and then not being given a second lease of life .... whereas my Dad has probably had 4 new leases of life right now.

I really find it difficult to come to terms with that at the moment ...

Gerrit

[fusilier23]

Dear Gerrit,

I'm not quite sure what to say. Though I am certain we are all glad your father is still with you, I can see why his experience of beating several problems contrasted with Keith's tragically sudden passing at far too young an age might trigger the question of why. I asked the same question when 24 people I knew perished with the other victims of September 11th when I was spared by a chance telephone call.

I can only answer that no creature, from the most powerful of men down to the smallest of birds, dies but at the hour appointed for it by He who ordains the way of all things in this world and all others. For whatever the reason, your father is not yet finished here, while Keith was, and there was some reason I was allowed to go on living when I might not have.

It's tough to accept, I know, and you might even feel angry or that this is unfair. That's a normal part of the grieving process, and I'm sure you're grieving for Keith, or at least for his loss, as he has already passed to a better place. The best way to deal with it is to keep talking with those who will listen and try to get on with life as best you can. Eventually time will heal the wound, but it does take a while. Do try to avoid getting angry or obsessive, though, on the grounds that isn't going to help you or anyone else.