Today is the trek to see my dad on this Father’s Day 2014.  He is 86, and each year we face the prospect that ‘this year’ will be the final one.  That is very true today.

My dad has had heart disease since his early 50s.  In spite of changing his diet, walking five miles a day, and maintaining a healthy weight, he has had a few heart attacks and CABG surgery.  He also has congestive heart failure and insulin dependent Type II diabetes.  You could safely say his health isn’t really all that great.  His most recent heart attack was a day or so before Thanksgiving last year.

My dad fell in March and broke his hip.  While in the hospital recovering from the surgery, he developed bed sores on his heels.  They would not heal.  My dad had a total of nine hours of surgery on both legs to open up circulation to assist in the wound healing process. Dad was in the hospital for eleven weeks.

My dad has been a bit cranky since he got back, and, understandably so.  He is still in pain from (now) healing wounds, and he was pretty severely decompensated while mostly in bed for nearly three months.  My mom suffers from really bad dementia.  It will be an interesting day.

Still, my dad was a good provider and  now it is my privilege to let him know that, in spite of significant differences between us, I love him dearly.

I hope everyone has a great day today with your dads.  If yours is no longer with you, I will send up a prayer for his soul.

Peace.