A story about a nurse, her father, and a deeply significant loss.
On June 30, 2014 I flew from Raleigh-Durham airport to visit my family in Alexandria, Lousiana for a 3-day weekend.
I walked into my parent’s house at 11:30 am and promptly kissed my father on my special spot on his right cheek (my brother’s spot was my father’s forehead). Everyone was excited to see one another. My dad had been ill for many months and had often asked my mom “When is ‘Dollbaby’ coming home?”
An hour later my dad’s breathing became labored, his skins was clammy, and we had to call the EMS to take him to the hospital. My brother and I followed and waited with my father to be examined. He was talkative, his usual kind, patient self. He told me that he was so proud that my brother had received his master’s degree the month before.
The doctor came in and told us that my dad had pneumonia and would be admitted. Later that night he took a turn for the worse and was placed in ICU for sepsis. This started a month-long process of up and downs, and my father never really spoke with words again. He would look at me and I could understand what he was saying.
Four times a day my mother and I would visit him in ICU. Finally, the decision was made to move him to a respite floor in the hospital. I would spend every night with my dad, crying, praying, and hoping. On July 24 his nurse pulled me outside of the room and said you probably should call the rest of the family because with the way he is breathing he will not live past tonight. Even as a nurse my heart and my mind were in denial. My favorite guy in the whole wide world couldn’t be leaving me!
Sure enough, as the day progressed the breath sounds became shallower; my best friend, confidante, Western-loving dad’s time on earth was drawing to an end. Around 7:00 p.m. my mother, brother, and I stood flanked around his hospital bed and watched as he slowly and tenderly took his last breath on earth.
For many this may seem to be a sad and morbid story, but for me, there is no place I would have rather been to watch my beloved father pass from labor to eternal reward.
Every day I yearn to kiss his right cheek one last time, but I am certain that we will meet again on the other side.
My beloved Ricky you were an amazing man who touched many lives. I am honored to call you my father.