The Family.

Only my brother missing as he had to work :-(

We went out for my dad's 71st Birthday to a local Chinese, made me realise we should do it more often. Whilst we all may be different characters and different personalities with different opinions, we are all one....we are family.

On the 19th February 2013, my dad having suffered a heart attack a week or so before, had to undergo surgery and have a triple heart bypass. On the morning of the 20th February 2013 at about 4am, he got into some significant trouble and had to be operated on there and then in Intensive Care, where without doubt, the wonderful doctors and nurses saved his life.

That very day, I spent 3 hours sat with him holding his hand, not knowing what the outcome was going to be, but knowing he had already faced a massive fight 9 years previous and he had to do another now. I sat and watched his chest rise and fall as instructed by the machine, remembering how 7 years previous I was sat watching this all with my baby boy, never knowing the outcome! I watched the machines, the heartbeat, the sats, fearful of the alarm.

The alarm goes off and I remembered what I was told by a wonderful nurse 7 years ago, DO NOT look at the machine look at the person first, which I did and I gave a squeeze.

I understood the 'lingo' sometimes I wish I didn't, I knew every second what was happening, sometimes I would rather not know, I asked the questions...still unable to ask 'the' question, as I knew from 7 years ago, how they word the answer.

5 days later, Dad showed no signs of waking up easily, he always had to be difficult, but he did wake up asking for Jelly and Ice Cream!

I am not a religious person as such, but both times I prayed, I prayed for one more day, I prayed for strength and I prayed for time. I am very grateful my prayers were heard on both occasions.

I am now fortunate to be part of this family and to have my own family, who have fought for their lives just to be here and that I cherish every day.
Recovery has been slow and steady, but he is getting there slowly.

My family have been through many hardships throughout the years and we have faced many battles like other families do and mostly we have come through them and for that I am eternally grateful.

Our family has grown in both numbers and age and we have probably grown apart a little more than I would like, but that is life. We all have paths to follow and routes to take, but it is on night's like tonight I realise, I love my family, each and every one of them more than they will ever know.

Happy birthday Dad, you are an amazing man and a true inspiration to me.
Love you x x x x