Hello Faerie,
Your dad will undoubtedly go through many downs and ups as he goes through this life event. You and the rest of your family as well as friends will be affected and involved as well.
For me this reality was one of the most wonderful things that ever happened. To realize how we humans are able to come together and face things like this is truly remarkable.
Fr. Mike's closing word is in fact the one thing your dad and you (and all of us need to find):
PEACE.
I went through (and still go through) plenty of non-peace but I also have a clear and growing appreciation of peace in my heart. It takes time and work for this understanding to come to you. The same is true for your dad.
You can tell him that this thing cancer is beatable. It too requires work. It also requires support and he is fortunate to have you to provide some of that support.
You will have opportunities to speak with him in ways you never would have before. Yes it is a matter of life and death but it is also a matter of learning and growing. Before my cancer I worried about how I would cope with my fathers eventual death. He is still quite alive, but old enough at 77 that it could happen. Then I got my diagnosis of cancer and suddenly the table was turned. I had to think about how my death might affect my father. This provided us many moments of discussion that would never have happened otherwise.
I mention these things not to be morbid but to let you in on some of the many soul-expanding side effects of this whole thing.
I have probably gotten a bit too deep here. Just remember to look for the positive in everything you'll be suprised what you see.
Take care and ask for help.
