Dad is gone

After a decade long fight, Dad has moved on. He passed away last evening at 6:00p. He was peaceful in passing due to the meds he had been given and once again taught me the value of making good decisions. He had fought long and hard and when it was time, left mom in charge to make sure that his passing was as painless as possible.

He was moved just in time from Little Rock at UAMS to the Phil and Flo Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Frank David rode with Mom from Little Rock to Jonesboro early Thursday morning. At 1:00p I went to lunch and went to sit with Mom and visit Dad. Dad had already had Ativan for the trip and was spitting up sputum. No Kleenex in the room. They were out. I made a dash to the Super V Drug store and bought Kleenex and came back. Dr. Owens was in his room gathering information and getting his orders together. The nurses came in and administered pain meds: Morphine 2 mg, Atropine drops to reduce the secretions and two 25mg Fentanyl patches. While Mom was trying to answer Dr. Owens questions and fill out admission papers, I kept up with the secretions. The nurses came back with more morphine and Dad finally began resting easier. I went to get lunch for the two of us. Jerrie was there when I came back. We ate lunch about 3:00p and sat back to visit. Dad's gums and tongue looked more gray to me and by 6:00p he was breathing fewer breaths until he opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for quite some time. Mom said that had not been happening and within a few breaths he was gone. The nurse was called and pronounced him. Family members were notified. Emerson was called and a few necessary arrangements were made. The rest will be done this morning.