My dad is losing his best friend in an hour

[Tree-Hugger]

My dad's best friend will be taken off of life support in an hour. He had been hospitalized a month ago and was sent into a nursing home to recover. He contracted Covid and was sent back to the hospital and eventually on a vent. He is around 70 and has a host a health problems and it doesn't help that he was in one of the worst Philly hospitals.

My dad and this friend have played cards with one other friend every Wednesday night since the 70's, stopping only for Covid. My mom joked that my dad was so dedicated to Wednesday night cards that if she died on a Wednesday, he'd still go out to play cards. Well, my mom died this year on New Year's Day, which was a Wednesday. My dad played cards that night.

I'm worried about my dad. We just lost my mom. I have taken my kids over weekly for over a decade, but we stopped due to Covid. My dad is a Vietnam Vet who still holds into that trauma and doesn't realky express a lot of emotion.

Fuck Covid. Fuck Covid.

Can I get some prayers and good thoughts sent to my dad's friend, his family, and my dad plesse?

[demtenjeep]

1. you have it

All the prayers, all the love, all the comfort we can give

[bobbieinok]

9. Agree. What a difficult period for you all

[Initech]

2. Fuck COVID!

The sooner it's gone from our lives the better!

[lunasun]

3. Peace to all

[irisblue]

4. 🕯️

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. My deepest sympathies for your dad's friend, his family, and your dad

and for you, too.

:

[CentralMass]

6. :-(

[woodsprite]

7. Sending prayers of support and virtual hugs to your dad, his friend and friend's family. nt

[Different Drummer]

8. Prayers and good thoughts from me.

[peggysue2]

10. Peace for you and your family

It's been a tough year made all the worse by Covid-19. Sending good vibes in the direction of Philly.

[niyad]

11. I(((((((((Tree-Hugger)))))))). Prayers for peace and comfort for alll of you in this sad time.

Light and love. Your DU family is here for you.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

12. Prayers to a fellow vet...

If your Dad is in the VA system they have wonderful tools for grief consultations among other programs. Even if he isn’t they will help. These people know what and how to say to those who have a hard time opening up. He’ll probably refuse, if he’s like the guys I know, but trying is free you never know..

https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/families/programs.asp

[MissB]

13. I'm so sorry

Both to you for the loss of your mom and to your dad for the loss of his friend.

[MLAA]

14. Sending 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

Thinking of your dad, you and your entire family Tree-Hugger.

[wendyb-NC]

15. I'm sending prayers, and thoughts of well being

for your dad, his friend and you. I will keep offering pleas to keep you and your dad well and strong.

[stillcool]

16. hugs, thoughts, prayers..

for Dad, his friend and family...and you.

[ancianita]

17. Please tell him we support him. Peace to him and you.

[cilla4progress]

18. Sending good thoughts

and love.

[cp]

19. Sending love

[FM123]

20. Sending your dad and his friend (and you too ) much love today!

[gademocrat7]

21. Sending prayers for your dad's friend, his family and your dad.

Take care. We are here for you

[crickets]

22. I am so sorry. All the strength and love to you and your dad.

[dlk]

23. Very sorry for the situation and the loss

[Maeve]

24. May light surround you all

[Karadeniz]

28. I want to ditto this wish.

[democrank]

25. So sorry

Sending love~

[bearssoapbox]

26. My condolences, good thoughts and prayers to all of you.

[TygrBright]

27. Holding you and your Dad in my heart... it's a terrible time. Stay strong for each other. n/t

[bronxiteforever]

29. Sending love, sympathy and peace.

[bluboid]

30. sending love & well wishes for all of you!

I've never met a tree hugger I didn't love on first sight! take care & stay well.

[LaMouffette]

31. So much sympathy for you and your dad, Tree-Hugger!

It was a long time ago, but when my dad died of a heart attack at an early age, one of the most heartbreaking moments was witnessing my grandfather hear the news that his son, who was his best friend, had passed. The shock and bewilderment on his face is an image that will haunt me forever. So I can well relate to the poignancy and devastation of your dad losing his best friend.

I'm very sorry for the loss of your mom as well! Prayers to you and your family!

[SayItLoud]

32. You have mine, and thanks for sharing with us, it helps us too! nt.

[Niagara]

33. Sending strength, prayers and good thoughts to you and yours.

[live love laugh]

34. Prayers for your dad, his friend and you 🙏🏽 nt

[orleans]

35. that's so sad. i'm so very sorry.

[pazzyanne]

36. Blessings and prayers for your dad, his friend, you and your families.

Take care of you, my friend. May we all move on to better days ahead.

[helpisontheway]

37. I'm so sorry. Covid sucks! 🙏🏽Nt

[SideStep]

38. Prayers to all of them. Prayers to you as their front-line support.

Sorry for the loss of your mother.

Watch for and be open to your dad opening up more. It happens to many after they lose their wife and gain in years.

[barbtries]

39. yes, yes you can.

I am so sorry.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

40. This boomer expresses love and kindness for your dad.

Boomers get a lot of shit today. Covid is just another hit to the children of the "greatest" generation. Your dad's life is basically bookended by racial injustice and protests. He is a double Vet. Hats off to him. I hope you have Wednesdays free to sit down for a card game.

[H2O Man]

41. Yes, certainly.

Recommended.

[kag]

42. Warmest wishes to you and your dad.

Sending strength and healing your way.

Also...

Fuck Covid. And fuck Trump for making Covid way worse than it ever had to be.

[sinkingfeeling]

43. I am very sorry.

[GentryDixon]

44. Loving thoughts for you, your dad & his best friend.

[DownriverDem]

45. So young

RIP.

[masmdu]

46. Peace...

[SheltieLover]

47. Healing vibes on the way!

May he feel peace in his friend's transition to Spirit.

[majdrfrtim]

48. Prayers, of course, Tree!

Blessings upon you, as well.

Grief is not a mental illness, but it certainly can *feel* like one -- probably because every new grief brings up every old grief.

While I was in the military, I attempted to help military personnel re-frame their experience, despite what the culture told them: Tears are the mark of the *courage* it takes to assault into an ambush of grief. Tears are not the enemy. Tears denote the refusal to "turn tail and run away from" a reality that is unimaginably painful, awful, wrong, unfair, etc.

I pray that all the people affected by your dad's friend's death allow themselves the gift of tears -- including you, Tree-Hugger.

As much as you love your dad, I pray that you have in your life a power greater than yourself which loves him even more, and even better.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us here at DU.

[Heartstrings]

49. Good vibes sent to all, Tree-Hugger!

[femmedem]

50. I'm so sorry for your father's loss and for the pain you both feel.

Hoping your dad and his friend's family come through this with as much ease as possible, and that your father finds ways to fill the holes in his life and heart.

[qwlauren35]

51. None of my business but...

maybe he can move in with you?

Please get tested, get your father tested, get everyone you love tested, and then GET TOGETHER.

Some hugs are needed, and the virtual ones aren't going to cut it.

You have my deepest sympathies; I feel for your father. Watching your friends and family die before you do is the pain of getting old, and it sucks every time.

Cherish the time you have with him, and accept when his time comes.

[diva77]

52. so very very sorry, Tree-Hugger -- am sending good thoughts

to you, your Dad, his friend & family



I think post #51 from qwlauren has excellent suggestions if that is a possibility for you

[smirkymonkey]

53. So sorry to hear Tree-Hugger.

Sending good vibes and healing thoughts to your family and your dad's friend. So sorry to hear about your mom. My sincere condolences.

[demigoddess]

54. Lot of love and comfort (we hope)

One thing I know there is life after life. I have been visited by almost everyone that I have lost in this life. They go on and watch over us.

[hamsterjill]

55. Sending prayers for a peaceful passing for your dad's friend

Sending prayers of strength and comfort to your dad.

These are just damn hard times.

I am so sorry.

[Ligyron]

56. Atheist here but prayed anyway.

cause you can never know for sure

[Wawannabe]

57. You bet!

Feel for you and your Dad (and friend). I am a Vietnam Vet daughter. My dad passed in 2012 at age 63. Lots of problems related to war and only there one year. 1969

[Hotler]

58. ...

[denbot]

59. My best thoughts for your popps.

And all those that love him.
Peace.

[Rhiannon12866]

60. I am so sorry that your Dad is facing yet another devastating loss

Sending all the powerful DU vibes I've got to your Dad, your Dad's friend and to you and your family.

[Tommymac]

61. Good Thoughts Godspeeding their way.

From a devout agnostic. May they find peace and comfort in an increasingly confusing world.