Dear OCF Family,

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers and support over the past 14 months. What a bumpy road that was. I've learned so much from each of you which has helped me be able to hold on to my sanity during this ride. Things I learned out here helped so much in making educated decisions regarding dad's treatment.

Dad is at peace now and for that I am grateful. I was honored that he allowed me to be with him as he took his final breath and left us. That moment will be with me for the rest of my life.

It wasn't until I saw the slide show of him at the viewing that I realized the dad that I missed so much had been gone for over a year. Dad never stopped fighting. We never told him that he was dying so every day he spent living until he just couldn't get up anymore. Two days before he died it got to the point he couldn't move on his own. Mom finally told him that he was really sick and she was going to do everything possible to keep him comfortable. We prayed that his passing would be swift and peaceful. It was.

Mom is doing very well. We are back to our pre-cancer routine of talking in the morning and in the evening. She's going to let me take her to some appointments later this month. It's nice that she is so willing to accept help now. This is something that she could do on her own, but I think she just wants me there with her. I'm glad she does.

Thank you all again so much for your kind expressions of sympathy. They mean so much.

Love and Hugs,

Joy