Two weeks ago was my dad’s death anniversary. Unfortunately, I was so busy that day that I forgot about the anniversary. Strange enough, during that particular day his image would popup in my mind several times. I only realized the following day that it was probably his way of trying to remind me of him.

Today, I visited two patients in two separate hospitals. The first patient is our family friend who was in the  ICU ward after having a hip surgery and post operative infection.  I decided once I got there that I was not going to enter the ward . I requested my mom to enter the ICU ward without me while I waited outside with some of the relatives of the patient. The second patient is my cousin who was admitted in another hospital where my dad was hospitalized several times in the course of his illness.

As I entered the 2^nd hospital, I recalled the many times I entered those doors and the many times I had hoped it was the last. In the two years that my dad was diagnosed of having renal cancer, it was the most mentally, physically and financially draining for the whole family.

I remembered going to classes(1st year of my masters) and feeling a little dizzy from lack of sleep the previous nights. Yes, there were many sleepless nights because the private nurses did not have the strengths to handle  my dad so they would wake me up several times to ask for my assistance. His position in bed had to be changed every four hours to prevent bedsores as the result of his being bedridden for so long.

One time my sister was left in the evening to look after my dad and all of a sudden he went into cardiac arrest. Because the suite was located on the top floor of the hospital, only the interns were on that floor during that time. Unfortunately, they were still new to hospital work and did not know how to handle that situation. My sister decided to take the lead in resuscitating my dad. She was crying while she was trying to bring life back to my dad. After a long evening of people working together, eventually my dad was able to recover from that ordeal. My sister later confessed to us that she has resuscitated many sick children in the past, but never as draining emotionally and physically as that moment.

Even now I still can’t stand certain food that I ate in the hospital during the time I was looking after my dad, or even the smell of lemon air freshener still bothers me a lot. I guess the smell and  the food reminds me of my father in his lowest moments of his life. Those are the kind of memories we all try to forget.   

Despite the last two years of his life, I salute my dad for living a full life. I’m proud of him for being the first doctor to deliver the first siamese twins in our region (Southeastern Cape, South Africa) , and for doing a tremendous job in helping the survivors of the James Jones Massacre in Guyana, South America. I guess I am most proud of his accomplishment as a great father to all of us.  

Thank you dad for giving me many opportunities in life but most of all, thank you for giving me life.

jers, it's very touching what u wrote about ur dad! gives me goose bumps. he is smiling up there knowing you are proud of him. keep up the good job. ur blogs are very interesting. :)

hello sir, it's really an inspiring message to all of us. This site is very interesting.

hi sir,of what i have read about the life of your late father,its really an inspiring one.your so lucky for having such father.But the good thing is, he is more lucky for having a son like you.keep it up sir and goodluck

Greetings I am around the neighbourhood and greeting my fellow bravejournal friends. Wishing you a wonderful evening dearheart



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