My Father's Death and Funeral
My father passed away on August 16th. Today we buried him at Elm Creek Community Cemetery which is about 8 to 10 miles outside of Seguin in the country. I am relieved that my Dad's suffering has ended, but I am sad. Even though he was 70 years old, he never really seemed that old. To me, he was always in his late 40s or early 50s. I wish that cancer had not killed him. I wish that he had lived till he was a 120.
The funeral was officiated by Jeremy Roy, the hospital chaplain at Guadalupe Valley Regional Hospital. My Dad knew his father. Jeremy's father was also my drafting teacher in high school. Jeremy did an excellent job with the service and Nicole Bennet sang beautifully.
The older I get, the younger that 70 appears to be.
The outpouring of support from family, friends and neighbors has been tremendous. I don't think we realized how many people really loved my Dad. Goodbye Dad.
Obituary/Memorial for my father.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Death
The doctor and hospice nurse say Dad will pass away within 24 hours. Considering how much pain and distress his body has suffered, I wish it would come sooner rather than later. He has fought the good fight, but now he needs to go home to rest with Jesus where he will have peace for all eternity.
I'm sad for my family and especially for my Mom, but since there is no cure for prostate cancer and he's in the final stages, I wish his death would come quickly.
Somewhat ironic is that Merv Griffin has died today of prostate cancer.
The doctor and hospice nurse say Dad will pass away within 24 hours. Considering how much pain and distress his body has suffered, I wish it would come sooner rather than later. He has fought the good fight, but now he needs to go home to rest with Jesus where he will have peace for all eternity.
I'm sad for my family and especially for my Mom, but since there is no cure for prostate cancer and he's in the final stages, I wish his death would come quickly.
Somewhat ironic is that Merv Griffin has died today of prostate cancer.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Healthcare & the Future
My Dad went to the hospital by ambulance on Monday. Now it is all about easing his pain as the cancer consumes him. It has spread from his prostate to his liver and bones. He is in a lot of pain and can no longer communicate with us. This is a very difficult time for me and my family.
My mother, sister and I take turns staying with him through the days and nights. Right now I have just spent the night with him and I'm posting this from his bedside while he sleeps.
The nurses have been good, although it is easy to see they are understaffed. I've seen this when my wife was in the hospital. I'm sure it is a difficult job and they are probably criticized more than praised. Caring for a stranger is an act of God's grace in my opinion.
In the future, I can foresee that robots will become caregivers. I'm sure we will see this in Japan first. I predict that this will happen within 5 to 10 years. The robots will do simple tasks that are not life and death matters. Over time, more responsibility will be given to them. At some point, they will have a bot that will look like a human, but perform with the efficiency of a machine. The bot will have a gentle, but firm touch and the care will be consistent from patient to patient. Definitely for lower risk patients, this will become the standard of care. I wouldn't be surprised if at some point, almost every bed will have its own bot. Will this be good or bad? I think the answer will be both. Sometimes the bot will provide better care than a human nurse could provide, but at other times, the bot will be unable to approximate the emotional feedback provided by a good, kind hearted, caring human nurse.
I also see that caregiving bots will be in the home to help with chronically ill patients. I expect that DME companies will rent such bots instead of people buying a bot. The rich, however, will probably purchase their own caregiving bots, just as one would buy a car.
For single people, having a bot that takes care of them will really improve the quality of their life. This is especially important for people that are widowed after the lost of their spouse.
What do you think?
My Dad went to the hospital by ambulance on Monday. Now it is all about easing his pain as the cancer consumes him. It has spread from his prostate to his liver and bones. He is in a lot of pain and can no longer communicate with us. This is a very difficult time for me and my family.
My mother, sister and I take turns staying with him through the days and nights. Right now I have just spent the night with him and I'm posting this from his bedside while he sleeps.
The nurses have been good, although it is easy to see they are understaffed. I've seen this when my wife was in the hospital. I'm sure it is a difficult job and they are probably criticized more than praised. Caring for a stranger is an act of God's grace in my opinion.
In the future, I can foresee that robots will become caregivers. I'm sure we will see this in Japan first. I predict that this will happen within 5 to 10 years. The robots will do simple tasks that are not life and death matters. Over time, more responsibility will be given to them. At some point, they will have a bot that will look like a human, but perform with the efficiency of a machine. The bot will have a gentle, but firm touch and the care will be consistent from patient to patient. Definitely for lower risk patients, this will become the standard of care. I wouldn't be surprised if at some point, almost every bed will have its own bot. Will this be good or bad? I think the answer will be both. Sometimes the bot will provide better care than a human nurse could provide, but at other times, the bot will be unable to approximate the emotional feedback provided by a good, kind hearted, caring human nurse.
I also see that caregiving bots will be in the home to help with chronically ill patients. I expect that DME companies will rent such bots instead of people buying a bot. The rich, however, will probably purchase their own caregiving bots, just as one would buy a car.
For single people, having a bot that takes care of them will really improve the quality of their life. This is especially important for people that are widowed after the lost of their spouse.
What do you think?
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Happy 70th Birthday, Dad!
Today my Dad is 70 years old. Unfortunately, he's not in the best of health. This morning at about 6:30, he was sitting on the edge of the bed and fell hard onto the floor. Not a nice way to start your birthday. He scraped his knee and banged his head. God it sucks to get old. He is stubbornly independent and he won't ask for help. I was here in the next room when I heard him fall. Now I'm staying in the same room with him to make sure he doesn't try to move without some help.
Today my Dad is 70 years old. Unfortunately, he's not in the best of health. This morning at about 6:30, he was sitting on the edge of the bed and fell hard onto the floor. Not a nice way to start your birthday. He scraped his knee and banged his head. God it sucks to get old. He is stubbornly independent and he won't ask for help. I was here in the next room when I heard him fall. Now I'm staying in the same room with him to make sure he doesn't try to move without some help.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Prostate Cancer
My father is dying of prostate cancer. He turns 70 on August 5th. He was diagnosed about 6 years ago and chose not to have prostate surgery. I think he realizes now that it was a mistake not to do the surgery.
A warning to any man who is diagnosed -- in my opinion, getting the surgery is the lesser of two evils. If you take the course of inaction known as "Watchful Waiting", then you will suffer a slow, agonizing, painful decline to inevitable death. I don't know if doctors make this clear as they tend not to advocate one way or another since none of the choices are ideal, and they'd rather not be held accountable if the advice turns out to be bad.
Really, only you, the paitent, can make the decision. If I'm ever diagnosed with prostate cancer, I will not wait. I will get the surgery rather than wait for fate.
You just don't know how bad this disease can get until you see it happen to someone you love and care about.
My father is dying of prostate cancer. He turns 70 on August 5th. He was diagnosed about 6 years ago and chose not to have prostate surgery. I think he realizes now that it was a mistake not to do the surgery.
A warning to any man who is diagnosed -- in my opinion, getting the surgery is the lesser of two evils. If you take the course of inaction known as "Watchful Waiting", then you will suffer a slow, agonizing, painful decline to inevitable death. I don't know if doctors make this clear as they tend not to advocate one way or another since none of the choices are ideal, and they'd rather not be held accountable if the advice turns out to be bad.
Really, only you, the paitent, can make the decision. If I'm ever diagnosed with prostate cancer, I will not wait. I will get the surgery rather than wait for fate.
You just don't know how bad this disease can get until you see it happen to someone you love and care about.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Setting Your Thermostat
Cooling - Cost of keeping room temperatures above and below 78 degrees F
80 degrees - 15% less
79 degrees - 8% less
78 degrees - Typical Setting
77 degrees - 8% more
76 degrees - 16% more
75 degrees - 24% more
74 degrees - 32% more
73 degrees - 40% more
72 degrees - 48% more
Heating - Cost of keeping room temperatures above and below 70 degrees F
75 degrees - 29% more
74 degrees - 23% more
73 degrees - 17% more
72 degrees - 11% more
71 degrees - 6% more
70 degrees - Typical Setting
69 degrees - 6% less
68 degrees - 11% less
67 degrees - 17% less
66 degrees - 22% less
65 degrees - 26% less
* Please note: Percentages of change are approximate and are for air conditioning and heating costs only, not total energy bill.
Source: TXU Energy pamphlet
Cooling - Cost of keeping room temperatures above and below 78 degrees F
80 degrees - 15% less
79 degrees - 8% less
78 degrees - Typical Setting
77 degrees - 8% more
76 degrees - 16% more
75 degrees - 24% more
74 degrees - 32% more
73 degrees - 40% more
72 degrees - 48% more
Heating - Cost of keeping room temperatures above and below 70 degrees F
75 degrees - 29% more
74 degrees - 23% more
73 degrees - 17% more
72 degrees - 11% more
71 degrees - 6% more
70 degrees - Typical Setting
69 degrees - 6% less
68 degrees - 11% less
67 degrees - 17% less
66 degrees - 22% less
65 degrees - 26% less
* Please note: Percentages of change are approximate and are for air conditioning and heating costs only, not total energy bill.
Source: TXU Energy pamphlet
Saturday, July 21, 2007
My Space
Why would anyone want to use My Space? It sucks! It is ugly. It isn't refined. It is garish. Now don't get me wrong. I'm blogging about the style, not the people. I have no problem with people posting on the web, but of all the places to do it, why do it on My Space. Instead, this tool, Blogger, is the way to go. It is so powerful. I haven't been a consistent blogger, but yesterday while I was pulling an all-nighter at work, I rediscovered how cool this tool is.
Why would anyone want to use My Space? It sucks! It is ugly. It isn't refined. It is garish. Now don't get me wrong. I'm blogging about the style, not the people. I have no problem with people posting on the web, but of all the places to do it, why do it on My Space. Instead, this tool, Blogger, is the way to go. It is so powerful. I haven't been a consistent blogger, but yesterday while I was pulling an all-nighter at work, I rediscovered how cool this tool is.
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