Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Taking a leave of absence

I will not be posting on my blog until next week. My dear father-in-law passed away yesterday and we're heading out of town for the rest of the week. I knew John for almost 20 years and he treated me as his own daughter, so it's like losing my own father, not just a father-in-law. It's been a rough year - he was diagnosed in February with lung cancer, fought it with chemo and test medication, went into remission, only to be plagued all summer by the devastation caused from his treatment. We watched him go from ICU to a specialty hospital to a nursing home back to the hospital into an extremely risky surgery back to ICU stepped down to a progressive care unit where he seemed to be holding his own. He finally took a turn Sunday night and was gone by the evening on Monday. He was a strong (and sometimes stubborn) man which is why he put up such a big fight battling everything thrown at him. It's a comfort to know that he's no longer in pain and in a better place. But for those of us left here without him, it's devastating. And my mother-in-law just lost her mother only a month ago. I can't imagine the sadness that she feels. If you're the praying type, please keep my family in your thoughts.

Last August, when John retired, he used part of his retirement package to take us all on a 12-day vacation through California, from San Francisco where we visited the military base he was stationed at as a young man and Muir Woods to visit his sister in Nipomo and then to Los Angeles where we treated my son to a day at Legoland and a day at Disneyland. Little did we know that would be the last trip we would take together. Here's a picture of him and my mother-in-law among the beautiful redwoods:


May you rest in peace John Granville Goodrich.

6 comments:

Marie said...

Marilyn, your family will be in my prayers and I hope that the fond memories you have of your FIL and the friends and family that surround you now will be able to comfort you and those who loved him at this time.

Marilyn said...

Marilyn, I'm so sorry to hear about losing your FIL - cancer is such a thief of those whom we love. I'm glad you have such wonderful memories of time spent with him. He sounds like a very special man. I'll be praying for you and for the family. Take care, and we'll be here when you get back.

Kathy W said...

Marilyn, so sorry for your loss. I know there was so much going on with you right now. Keep you in my prayers.

Jaime said...

I'm so sorry for your loss Marilyn, You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Lesley said...

my thought are with you all - my mum died July 31st this year and it's devastating - your MIL my heart goes out to her - Lesley x

Anonymous said...

So sorry for your loss. Cancer is such a horrible disease. I just lost my brother-in-law to pancreatic cancer, which he fought for about 15 months. Thoughts & prayers to your family.

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