Dedication to Dad

My father passed away on December 1, 2007. The weeks surrounding this day I will never forget nor ever regret. Call it a sixth sense but I predicted the day he would pass.

My eldest daughter, my niece and I gave my Dad a pedicure and foot massage the day after Thanksgiving. His feet were so swollen and we just wanted to ease his pain. It was probably one of the last times he talked in sentences.

I spent the final three weeks of his life doing what I can for him. Helping out my mother as best as possible. Just spending time with my dad was fabulous. Sometimes we didn't speak, sometimes we just watched the food network. The last movie we watched together was, "The Pursuit of Happiness."

When I realized the end was near and I couldn't help him any longer I called the ambulance. That was November 29, 2007. He was on his way to meet God. I knew it and I was sickened.

That evening in the hospital relatives visited to say their goodbyes and I couldn't leave. But I knew I had to go home to my family.

Not until after my dad said, "Go home Donna," I agreed, because I knew we still had tomorrow.

My father was in and out of consciousness the next day and we brought our children to say goodbye to the man that forever will be their Papa. We tried to comfort them as best as possible.

The next morning I arose early for I knew it was time. I arrived at the hospital at 9:00 a.m. to assess the situation and to let my siblings know.

I held his hand, I told him everyone was coming. I told him mommy would be ok. I told him as soon as my brother and sister came it would be time to go home. He was so thin that he didn't even look like my dad. But I saw his spirit. I continued to talk to him.

My siblings arrived and I assured them that daddy waited for them and it was time for them to let him go.

We watched our father breathe. My sister counted the seconds between each breath. She started at 8, then 10, then 20, then 29 and lastly stopped counting at 30. Thirty seconds between a breath and my father of 42 1/2 years was gone. Just like that.

My mother and I stayed at the hospital to make sure he was handled properly and taken to the funeral home. His services would be in a few days.

The next morning reality set in and the spinning began.

My family was preparing breakfast when our littlest daughter who was eating a yogurt with cookie crumbs on top called out to us, "Hey, mom and dad, look at this!"

We all went to her to see what she looking at. There in her spoon was the last drop of yogurt with a perfect smiley face made of crumbs staring up at us. How wonderful, my dad made it. He is looking down on us.

That evening after a very hard day of picking photos for the video memorial, I retired to my bedroom. I put cold compresses on my swollen face and put my pajamas on. I went downstairs to my family. All the photo albums were laid out on the coffee table. When I touched the picture of my father the movie, The Pursuit of Happiness started on the TV. Ironic? No, I KNEW it was my dad again. I cried out of sadness and comfort and said out loud, "I would love to watch this movie with you again, Dad."

The last sign I received to prove to me that my father was happy and in heaven was the next day. It was a Monday.

My husband and I were out that afternoon. Upon arriving home I went to check my emails. On my desktop computer screen staring at me was all his pictures, wedding ones and army ones. I called to my children, "Who put these photos on my computer?" They had no idea what I was talking about.

Coincidence? Nope! I truly believe in my heart of hearts that he is safe, happy and watching over us from heaven above for as long as we need him.

God Bless!