Status on GPa Scott Day 8, Wednesday, 4-23-08

Seems like dad will continue on for quite some time based on what we have witnessed for the last few days. Today he is once again awake and alert, but there are appearances that he is slowing slightly. The doctor who will be at the Hospice facility stopped by again this morning. We met him briefly yesterday. When he stopped in yesterday he wanted to get to know dad a little. One of the things he asked dad was what was important to him. His first response was his faith in Jesus Christ. His second response was his family. The doctor then asked him what else was important to him that they could help him with. He said that he wanted to be clean and that he wanted to be comfortable. Pretty simple request from a pretty simple man. He's my dad.
They moved him to Hospice about noon today. A very nice facility that is only about 6 months old. The staff here has been very nice. This is a different kind of place, where people come to die. With that in mind, it might seem very depressing, but to me it seems a pretty nice way to finish up mortality with your dignity in tact. Dad took us up on an offer for a popsicle and then chased that with an orange creamsicle. This was the first thing he has eaten in over a week. He said that he never knew a popsicle could taste so good! He doesn't have an appetite, he said it was just refreshing. He has been drinking water regularly for the last few days and has appreciated Greg's chapstick to keep his lips moistened. They shaved him early today and combed his hair before the ambulance came to transport him. Looking good, and still has great color. He gave the slightest complaint tonight of some lower back pain. We asked if he wanted something for it. For the first time, he was agreeable. There just hasn't been enough pain for him up to this point. They came and gave him some morphine about 530 this evening. It's now a little after 10 and he is still sleeping. He said this morning that he didn't sleep at all last night. He's catching up now!