Today was very sad - we buried my dad today after fighting very hard for over a year now. He passed peacefully and painlessly and that was a comfort, though still a shock.
I had spent Saturday at his house with him and just talking about next summer and his plans for the kids and such... small talk as usual. We talked on the phone Sunday as he was trying to clean out his garage before winter... usual stuff. He called me monday, found something else of mine floating around the house... always happy to talk with me. He passed early Tuesday afternoon - no one saw it coming.
I'm sure no matter how hard anyone plans for it, it's just not something that is ever expected. He was 54.
So so so so many factors play into cancer. I certainly don't want anyone to get discouraged by this post and immediately think the worst for themselves or a loved one. My dad lived a musicians life - smoking, drinking, eating poorly, internalizing pain - he was true to himself and highly respected. There's also a genetic component to this - his younger brother has been fighting various cancers... his pops up in small spots unexpectedly for years now. Each case is so unique it's unfathomable.
I was hopeful for my dad, he was positive in everything he did, and in the end he thanked the doctors for giving him one more year.