RIP Sandy Parkinson.

[Mum sent me a text tonight. "Dad not so good today. His breathing is shallower today and although he did eat and drink everything I gave him, he was not so eager".

I decided to go up to the Hospital myself. When I got there he was breathing in short sharp breaths, asleep. He is a little chesty and had a liquidy edge to his breathing - perhaps]

Well. That was the post I was starting to write when the phone rang. I went to the hospital this evening and Dad was breathing very badly. When I got there the breathing was weak but clear.

I had a suspicion that it wasn't going to be long so I told him how much loved him, that he should go now and be at peace. He would be remembered fondly and with much love by me, my sister and mum and all his other relatives and friends. "Godspeed Dad", I remember saying.

About nine o'clock he started to breathe as if he had phlegm in his throat. I called a nurse over and she agreed that it wasn't a good sign. She took his heartbeat and blood/oxygen and although the heartbeat was okay speed-wise it wasn't terribly strong and the blood/oxygen level was very poor.

It turns out that this is the so-called death rattle.

I got home from the hospital at about 9:45 or so after a drive to clear my head. I had a bite to eat and made a coffee - the remnants are in front of me as I type. The phone went about 10:15 and it was the hospital saying that he was getting much worse and could I bring mum in with me? I called her, explained the situation and went there. We picked up sister on the way and we were about 3 minutes from the hospital when my mobile went off.

It's a very strange feeling knowing what a caller is going to tell you even before you pick up the phone - let alone answer it. "I'm sorry Mr. Parkinson but your father has just passed away". Very gently, very sweetly, you hear the bad news. Your father has passed away. Your father has passed away.

As I've blogged before, those that pass quickly leave behind people who have had no chance to accept a loved one is dead but the passing is better for them. Those that pass slowly make it easier on those left behind to come to terms with their leaving but it is usally more difficult for them.

Dad has been asleep for most of today and he was almost certainly asleep when he died. He looked very very peaceful when we saw him. He was still warm and it was almost like he was asleep still. The only difference was the lack of snoring. The lack of everything really.

Now we have to move on. Tomorrow I will go to the hospital and collect his stuff. On Monday Mum and I are going to the Bereavement Office to collect his Death Certificate and then we have to go to the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths to notify the Authorities. The Registrar of Hatches, Matches and Dispatches is the lighter name for it.

Talking of funny - and it is funny whichever way you look at it - is the fact that dad was visited by and treated by the hospital chirpodist today. It's taken them 8 weeks to get their stuff together but at least he'll be walking up to the Pearly Gates with the Best Looking Feet in Heaven!

Godspeed Dad - God Bless You - we will always love you....

Paul.

...tears...