Uncle in the twilight of his life

[BillyVance 35]

I was just recently informed by my dad that my mom's brother was not doing well. He has bone cancer. We've known since just after Thanksgiving 2006.

In my family, I've only experienced the deaths of my mom's dad, my dad's mom and my dad's uncle. That's it. I had an aunt (dad's sister) die from cancer before I was old enough to remember her. We tend to live long and not die from accidents and whatnot, but from old age or cancer.

Last Thanksgiving, my uncle got to see my baby for the first time and boy was he thrilled. So was his 95 year old mom (my grandmother). He was at the time walking with a limp. I asked him about it then, and he just said he was getting old. He's in his mid 70's. A week later he went to the doctor, who then found the cancer. All indications is that he is not improving at all with the treatments. My mom (his sister) is going up there to visit and help out around the house. It may be the last time she sees him alive.

Sometimes I forget how these things work (deaths in the family or terminal illnesses) since I have not really been exposed to it. I did however, watch my grandmother (dad's mom) waste away of old age and Alzheimer's in the nursing home, and when she died at 96, most of us were relieved.

I'm not terribly close to my uncle but have stayed with him and his wife many times when I was in college. Still, I'll miss him when he's gone, and grateful that my wife and I took the opportunity to visit him for the first time in years last Thanksgiving.

The family will undoubtedly draw a little closer when the time comes. I know my dad doesn't have much time left himself (congestive heart failure), but he's okay for the moment, he estimates he has maybe 5 good years left. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle that. Who does?

Getting old sucks sometimes. It's like skydiving in a way, the longer you spend in it, the more friends you lose.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[ladydyver 0]

I deal with death frequently and it is never easy, let alone when it is a family member that you are close to. My prayers are with you and your family as you go through this. There will be good days and bad days but they will always be with you both in your memories and in your heart.

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

[D22369 0]

The family will undoubtedly draw a little closer when the time comes***

Dont wait, you will kick your self for it forever, take the time now to make great memories.

Roy

They say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it.