I don't know how to say this or who I'm even saying this to. Yesterday my father passed away. I was by his side and I have truly never felt more useless in my life as there was nothing I nor anyone else could do for him as his lung cancer slowly robbed him of his ability to breathe.
I still don't know how to process everything. I've known that this day was coming for a year and I've held on to that knowledge while quietly grieving, wishing that it could somehow go away. Nothing in life prepares you for this moment even if you know it's coming. It's easy to forget that while you live your life, time passes by and your parents are still ageing. Then one day you get that phone call and everything changes forever.
If your folks are getting old, get them regularly checked up. Make that doctor's appointment that you've been putting off. Take yours and their health seriously. I didn't get a chance to save my dad because by the time we knew anything was wrong it was already a stage 4 diagnosis. This is a reminder to tell your parents you love them, and if you're from NZ or Aus, give your dad an extra big hug for me this weekend on Father's day. Let him know how much he means to you.
Beyond all that, I don't really know what to feel right now. I don't want to pity or feel sorry for myself but it's been a pretty shitty year where it's felt like everything in my life has been in decline. I just want to work hard on something that matters but everything keeps slipping through my fingers. Losing my father unfortunately added a very shitty cherry on a massive shit cake. I don't really know what I'm supposed to do anymore. At least writing this out has given me a bit of catharsis.
Love you dad.
Fuck cancer.