Dad's Final Gift

Beautifully written and insightful article. May God continue to comfort you.

I lost my Dad to Lung Cancer 2 weeks before classes started. I feel your pain and rejoice in your finding his last gift. God Bless you and your family.

Thank you for sharing your very personal story. Your Dad has taught you many lessions. He lives on in your caring and understanding.

Thanks for sharing not only your father's strength but yours as well. I whole heartedly believe that in life everything we go through is meant to be a lesson we should not only learn from but also take from it to grow into a better person. You are proof of this, continued blessings.

I lost my dad the day after orientation and I remember just how difficult the lecture on Death and Dying was. Also learning about the diseases. I try to treat my residents at LTC the same as you did. That's all I can do. My dad is not here to help anymore, I now need to help those who are here now.

Thank you for the beautiful story. My Dad also died last year of lung CA while I have been trying to get a degree in nursing.Guess you have found as I did, writing about it helps. I WISH my Dad had made it home c hospice-he died in hospital after a month of sometimes terrible txs. to try & help him. Me & my brothers have regrets .... but can't go back- must always have faith & try to move forward. Is very hard @ times.What he went through bothers me most. Good luck in nursing & as you recover from your dear Dad's lose. Soozul

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I'm very glad that your father got to see you graduate and pass NCLEX. He knew that you had succeeded and would be OK. That, I'm sure, comforted him. Hospice is an amazing experience for both patient and family. As much as we may try in the hospital to make the patient comfortable, there are restrictions that are not present in hospice. Hospice nurses are truly angels, coping with death and dying daily while allowing the patient the dignity they deserve. I believe that your father is looking down on you with a very proud heart and smile. God bless.

Thank you so much for writing this. I knew I would cry when I read the title. I just started nursing school 5 weeks ago and found out 3 weeks ago that my father has stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. He has been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy and they believe it is working. I'm in A&P right now and it seems that every system of the body that we study has some mention in the chapter about cancer and lung cancer. My classmates just know that I may tear up. My dad is being very stoic, and said he wants to fight so he has more time with all of us, but especially my 3 1/2 year old nephew. I hope that my father will be able to see me graduate and get my license.

Growing up in a big Irish family I learned early that death is a part of life! I'm so glad that I was taught this! I remember going to the funeral home at the age of 2. I have taught my daughter the same. My father had mouth cancer before I started nursing school. i'm soooo glad that i didn't know what was in store, because knowing what i know now i would have been against ANY treatment. Dad lived 20 years after being treated! My daughter sat and held his hand when he died. AFter 26 years of nursing, i still cry with families when loved ones are dying. I will keep all of you and your fathers in my prayers!

Thanks for the wonderful story Mimi. I lost my dad late last year and I'm currently working on my nursing degree. Your story was very inspiring, and reminded me why it's so important for me to keep plugging away at school. I know my dad will be smiling down at me when I FINALLY receive my license and never have to look at a textbook again!!

Thank you for sharing. No doubt, your life experiences are making you an exceptional nurse. Best wishes to you.

Your post really touched a personal note with me. I lost my father very unexpectedly during my finals week of my first semester of nursing school. He had undergone surgery at one of NYC's top hospitals and was recovering on a cardiac step-down unit. He developed a common post op complication but for 3 days they failed to properly diagnose and treat it. He died in the middle of the night before I was able to say goodbye to him. It was extremely hard for me, having some medical training, because I knew his death was completely preventable. I have turned my anger and frustration with this hospital and situation into a strong passion for patient safety initiatives. I can only use this tragedy to become the best nurse that I can be and to make sure I am truly an advocate for my patients. That was his final gift to me.