Those of you who follow me may have noticed a that I've been somewhat offline for the past week. The reason is that my father had a cardiac arrest overnight on Saturday/Sunday, 12/13 December, just over a week ago. Since then he's been in the Cardiac Care Unit at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. I flew out from Colorado the next day, arriving the Tuesday, to see him. For the past week, I and my sister have been taking turns at looking after my mother and driving her to and from the hospital (it's over 90 minutes away). There's not been much time for being online, besides which I have to borrow a neighbor's broadband with which to do it.
Yesterday, Dad seemed to be doing OK -- he'd been up and down all week, with the best day being Saturday -- so I decided that it was safe enough to fly back home to the US for Christmas. I drove down to London to stay at a little hotel in Eton that we like, ready for getting up early in the morning to make the quick trip to Heathrow and my flight to Chicago. I'd no sooner arrived after a 6 hour drive than my sister phoned to say that Dad had had another cardiac arrest and was now in ICU and that they were driving over to the hospital straightaway.
Last night, at quarter to 11, he died. He'd been sedated and so never recovered consciousness after the second attack. The last time I saw him was on Sunday when he was admonishing me for having brought Mum over despite some of the crappiest freezing icy weather England's been suffering this past week. Despite the admonishment, I think he was really pleased to see us and thank heavens I did do the journey. I'd be even more devastated than I am now if I hadn't.
So, bye, Dad. Thank you for being the best Dad ever.
Posted via email from Julian's posterous
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15 Responses
#1 Andrew Denton said...
22-Dec-09 2:37 AMI'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I had a load of other stuff I had write but it all seemed a bit trite and pointless when I read it back. My sincere condolences.
#2 Rachel Hawley said...
22-Dec-09 3:34 AMI'm so sorry to hear your news Julian. Your message has brought a number of tears to my eyes. I'm sending all my thoughts to you and your family.
#3 Terri Morton said...
22-Dec-09 5:52 AMWishing you and your family strength during this difficult time. I am sorry for your loss, Julian.
#4 Eric Holton said...
22-Dec-09 7:57 AMI am sorry for your lost. May your family find strength in each other in this difficult time.
#5 John Topley said...
22-Dec-09 8:53 AMMy condolences, Julian. I'm glad you're drawing some small consolation from having seen your Dad in person towards the end. I know that it helped me when I was in a similar situation a few years ago.
My thoughts and best wishes are with you.
#6 Glen Germaine said...
22-Dec-09 9:10 AMJulian, from my family to yours, our deepest condolences.
#7 Scott Bussinger said...
22-Dec-09 9:54 AMI'm so very sorry Julian! Our thoughts are with you and your family.
#8 Ben Alabaster said...
22-Dec-09 10:02 AMJulian, my thoughts are with you and your family at this time. I'm sorry for your loss.
#9 julian m bucknall said...
22-Dec-09 10:24 AMAll: thank you each and everyone for your kind comments. They are much appreciated at this difficult time.
Cheeers, Julian
#10 Mehul Harry said...
23-Dec-09 2:25 PMMy condolences to you and your family on your loss.
#11 Martin Hart Turner said...
24-Dec-09 9:30 AMI'm so sorry for your loss. Several years ago I lost my dad on the 10th of December: Christmas will be difficult.
Just reflect on the good times you and your family had with him.
#12 Brian Simmons said...
28-Dec-09 11:03 AMVery sorry to hear this Julian. My condolences.
#13 Aaron Smith said...
29-Dec-09 8:24 AMJulian, I am deeply sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Aaron
#14 Wil said...
05-Jan-10 9:34 AMSorry for your loss Julian. I wish you and your family well. I'm sure your dad was very proud of you am glad you got to see him before his new journey.
#15 Bye, Mum said...
01-Apr-10 11:11 AMTo say that the last three to four months have been grim is to understate it somewhat. On 13 December last year, in the middle of the night, Dad had a cardiac arrest and, being Dad, didn’t nothing about it until the next morning when finally he was rushed
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