This is the sweetest photo I've seen for a long time. Tia visits her granda in the hospital. And there, Dad was diagnosed with cancer.
We didn't see that coming. Shocked beyond words, brokenhearted. But no one in the family talking about it. They are private people. Dad is 88, Mum is 85. When I first knew it, the first thing comes to my mind is Mum. How will she feel? And when I saw the tears in her eyes and her shaking hands, I felt those needles pricking my heart. It was really heartbreaking.
But Dad always has this great spirit in him. There's no Cancer will put him to bed not early as half eleven at night and he will still wake up at half seven in the morning. He will still try to get up with his Zimmer no matter what. So if he can get up in the morning we have no reason to have lazy bones and wake up late.
Do you know the hardest part? Those times that he is in pain but me and Mum cannot do anything. The pain in his left shoulder keeps him up most of the night. Painkillers seem not working for he is in so much pain you can see it in his eyes.
Do you know any remedy for pain? Is there any natural way aside from tablets? Please let me know if you know anything that can help.
Too much shake in his hands he can no longer feed himself so it's me and Mum becomes his hand. Also, there are 8 carers coming to the house everyday time to time to help him out in the bath and changing. And they are very nice.
Lots of tablets and nutritional drinks, yoghurt and jelly & ice cream are all part of his day. And he eats really good. Everything seems normal. We are trying. Dad said, oh I had a good life, I'm 88! He said that without a trace of regrets or being sorry. You really gotta play the card you are dealt with. And that's what he is doing!
Let me share some lessons I learned from him:
WORK! WORK! WORK! WHILE YOU STILL CAN. Dad works hard all his life even when he got stroked in his 60's. He got back on his feet and do anything and everything that is productive. He used to work in a shipyard. He told me he used to work hard a week for a fiver just to pay bills but still keeps on working. Work hard to buy their own land and house. You will not see them going to bed not unless it's bedtime. Just last month he was in the garden taking care of the plants, tidying up the greenhouse. Diagnosed with cancer but still gets up every morning with a smile.
WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING. I am so guilty of this. Sometimes I wake up at lunchtime. He usually says I missed half of my day and yes I did! Dad said there's the night to rest so when the sun is up we have to WORK!
HAVE A GOOD EVERY DAY ROUTINE. They wake up at half seven, eat porridge at 9 am, have tea at 12, dinner at 5, tea/milk at 10 pm goes to bed at half twelve. They know what to do. They plan what to do. Never just sit watching tv.
SAVE FOR YOUR FUTURE. They work hard and save money to have the things they have now. Land and house made from their sweat. Money to pay bills. They paid stamps to get a pension. They are always a month ahead of bills. And there always food in the fridge and heater in the house.
AND JUST LIVE LIFE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN. Live. Live life. Control it. Own it. It's yours. Luck may help but your FREE WILL will make you move mountains.
Dad is living his life to the fullest despite struggle. If only I can kiss away the pain for him to feel better, I will. I just love him too much! I humbly ask for your prayers. ♥
