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Sigh. We're so sorry, Jack.

By The Armorer on December 27, 2005 | | Comments (10)

Castle Contrarian Jack has had to face that hardest of all decisions.

Go, share with Jack.

Read of a man...

Jack's father.

And what you can do, if you wish.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.

If you don't have RealPLayer, click here for the MP3.


Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when the Armorer knows fear. Bladder cancer stalks in the Armorer's family this year.

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10 Comments

By ry on December 27, 2005 6:31 PM
'He who believeth in Me...' It ain't forever, and that's about all I ever found that makes it bearable. I just hope Jack takes care of himself thru-out all this. Life continues, and there still are people who depend on Ol' Jack.
 
By cw4(ret)billt on December 27, 2005 6:51 PM
This year appears fairly determined to make itself memorable, right up to the last few days. I'll remember you, 2005. But not favorably...
 
By V29 on December 27, 2005 7:21 PM
Made that same decision once, a long time ago. I watched my wife pass slowly and painfully from melanoma. It was the the worst decision I have been called on to make. Modern medicine can prolong a life but has not yet been able to stop the suffering with a scintilla of dignity. I determined the Lord should be consulted. Still hate that decision, but I don't regret it. Take heart, Jack, you made the right and best decision!
 
By Barb on December 27, 2005 10:32 PM
My sister and I made the same decision, after our Dad's heart attack / surgery and subsequent coma. I agree with you completely V29 - hate the decision, hate that we had to make it and tell our brother (in another state) that it needed to be made, but don't regret it ... it was the only choice. John - I'm sorry to hear that a new battle is brewing for your family.
 
By FbL on December 28, 2005 12:27 AM
Fortunately my mother was spared the burden of making a life-and-death decision for my comatose father (the doctor had mentioned it to her, but he passed on before the decision could be made). But my mother and her sister made the decision to let my grandfather go. Though he'd been in a nursing home they had been deeply involved in his day-to-day life and care while he was in the last stages of Alzheimers--increasingly frail, remembering nothing and recognizing no one, frightened, confused, uncomprehending of his surroundings, out of his mind. When he developed complications, they told the Doc to make him comfortable and let nature take its course. That's what happened. They haven't talked about it much since, but I admired them so much for allowing him to escape his suffering, instead of hanging onto the physical manifestation of a man who by then existed only in our hearts and memories. I think that sometimes there comes a point where relatives who have the power of attorney for their loved one can cross the line from caring for that loved to perpetuating a life that is already over--because of their grief or fears or inability to cope with the loss. If the relative is truly looking out for the patient's best interest, sometimes that means saying goodbye. My heart is with you, Jack: in sympathy and empathy. My deepest condolences to you and your family
 
By ry on December 28, 2005 2:16 AM
And the Grim Reaper known as cancer has struck again. I'm gonna be incommunicado for a while. An uncle of Jess's just succumed(7pm PST) after a lengthy bout of cancer gained thru being a fireman for 20 years. I'm driving out to CA tomorrow with The Wife for a few weeks to get everything arranged and taken care of since they had expected him to turn the corner and haven't done anything. You still have my best wishes Jack. Your father was a hero, a real salt of the Earth type. We're all diminished by his passing. See you all when I get a computer set up at my Mothers.
 
By MCart on December 28, 2005 11:10 AM
Not that I’m trying to compete or anything, but you ain't just whistling Dixie, BillT. Looks like 2 funerals in 3 weeks for me. A childhood friend and mentor to Alcoholism/Suicide, and walking in this morning I find a good friend and a co-worker also succumbed to Cancer on the 19th. Just found out about it, but I understand the family being otherwise occupied.. BOTH gone before their time. Here's hoping '06 is a little more pleasant. The tail end of '05 is really starting to suck for a lot of families close to me.
 
By Jon The Mechanic on December 28, 2005 11:20 AM
My condolences to the family. I had the honor of living in the shadow of my grandfather (who walked on water and parted the seas when he needed to rest for a moment) for over 30 years. He was the father figure in my life and if I live to be one half the man he was, I will be happy. He taught me everything that I needed to know in life and impressed on my the importance of God, Family, and country. When my grandmother passed, I had the honor of standing next to my grandfather and when my grandfather passed, I took the responsibility of watching the great grandchildren (ages 5,4,3,2,2, and 1) as so that his memorial would be a solumn affair. I also didn't want to be seen crying like a baby, because I am his first male heir (he had 4 daughters) in the family and I had to be the pillar of stregnth for the family. (At least this was my excuse for not going. I knew I would deplete the supply of tissues in 3 states if I showed and I really couldn't deal with the grief at the time.) And now the flag at the Castle's Northern OP is at half mast for those who have passed on before us.
 
By cw4(ret)billt on December 28, 2005 11:21 AM
Yeah. My crappy year started in January, with a DNR-signing. And got steadily worse...
 
By Cassandra on December 28, 2005 4:47 PM
The winter wind seems to have started whistling so early this year. I am so sorry. There is no way around what is coming - the only way is through it. I wish you, though, happy memories of your loved ones when time finally dulls the pain of losing them. Because it does, eventually :) Godspeed.
 
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