Longest Night of the Year
Today will be the longest night of the year. From here on, we will be going toward the light.
I wonder if this will mark the turning point in the #Me Too movement. Hopefully, we will now go toward healing, but I am not optimistic yet. Other than one PMO staffer, Canada has been largely unscathed by allegations against our politicians. The dynamics of power and control are also present in Canada so I think more allegations will be forthcoming.
My father was hospitalized in October, 1992 and passed at St. Boniface Hospital on December 23, 1992. However, December 21, 1992 was also a significant day in our family's life. After spending a short time in Dauphin hospital, my father spent the rest of his life at St. Boniface Hospital except for December 21.
His stay in hospital gave me so much hope in humanity.
All staff were excellent to all of us and they cared for our family as much as they cared for my dad. His primary physician was experienced and close to retirement yet he did not display any signs of cynicism. He was so respectful and compassionate and always had time to talk. The physician that we saw the most often, though, was Tom. He was completing his last year of residency specializing in internal medicine. He asked for all of us to call him Tom. For whatever reason, my dad and him just clicked and he always seemed to be there visiting. It was quite evident that my father's time was coming to a close so we all were there quite a bit. I remember Tom telling me how jealous he was of me. He said that he watched how my dad looked at me with such deep pride and love. He said that he didn't think his own father had ever looked at him that way. Because he was always there, we just got used to him and didn't notice when he came in wearing his winter jacket. He told us that it was his day off and he was coming as a visitor and not as a doctor.
After the first week, we knew my dad would never be returning to Dauphin to live so my mother rented a furnished apartment to stay with him. My dad was just so proud of my mom for doing this by herself, he just kept asking her over and over all about the apartment and he really wanted to see this apartment. He kept asking the staff when he would be discharged to this apartment. He said he wanted to have just one night with his wife so he could all night holding her and telling her how much he loved her.
I guess the staff really wanted to have his final wish. He was discharged on December 21. He only lasted one night and was rushed back by ambulance the next day and went to heaven the following day. I am certain his health care team knew that this would happen, yet wanted him to have his night and they wanted him to have the maximum time possible, so they chose the longest day of the year.
I can never do justice to all the staff that cared for my dad, but their names and their compassionate care will be in my heart forever. I have thanked them all in person and wish I could not be filled with tears at this moment to write about them. Maybe I will next year on the longest night of the year.
I wonder if this will mark the turning point in the #Me Too movement. Hopefully, we will now go toward healing, but I am not optimistic yet. Other than one PMO staffer, Canada has been largely unscathed by allegations against our politicians. The dynamics of power and control are also present in Canada so I think more allegations will be forthcoming.
My father was hospitalized in October, 1992 and passed at St. Boniface Hospital on December 23, 1992. However, December 21, 1992 was also a significant day in our family's life. After spending a short time in Dauphin hospital, my father spent the rest of his life at St. Boniface Hospital except for December 21.
His stay in hospital gave me so much hope in humanity.
All staff were excellent to all of us and they cared for our family as much as they cared for my dad. His primary physician was experienced and close to retirement yet he did not display any signs of cynicism. He was so respectful and compassionate and always had time to talk. The physician that we saw the most often, though, was Tom. He was completing his last year of residency specializing in internal medicine. He asked for all of us to call him Tom. For whatever reason, my dad and him just clicked and he always seemed to be there visiting. It was quite evident that my father's time was coming to a close so we all were there quite a bit. I remember Tom telling me how jealous he was of me. He said that he watched how my dad looked at me with such deep pride and love. He said that he didn't think his own father had ever looked at him that way. Because he was always there, we just got used to him and didn't notice when he came in wearing his winter jacket. He told us that it was his day off and he was coming as a visitor and not as a doctor.
After the first week, we knew my dad would never be returning to Dauphin to live so my mother rented a furnished apartment to stay with him. My dad was just so proud of my mom for doing this by herself, he just kept asking her over and over all about the apartment and he really wanted to see this apartment. He kept asking the staff when he would be discharged to this apartment. He said he wanted to have just one night with his wife so he could all night holding her and telling her how much he loved her.
I guess the staff really wanted to have his final wish. He was discharged on December 21. He only lasted one night and was rushed back by ambulance the next day and went to heaven the following day. I am certain his health care team knew that this would happen, yet wanted him to have his night and they wanted him to have the maximum time possible, so they chose the longest day of the year.
I can never do justice to all the staff that cared for my dad, but their names and their compassionate care will be in my heart forever. I have thanked them all in person and wish I could not be filled with tears at this moment to write about them. Maybe I will next year on the longest night of the year.
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