My Dad died yesterday after battling cancer for 4 years...

[SeptemberGirl]

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom this Friday, the 21st. My DD is only 8, but I too worry about her.

How are you all doing today?

[PrincessHeather'sMom]

Originally Posted by SeptemberGirl

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom this Friday, the 21st. My DD is only 8, but I too worry about her.

How are you all doing today?

My heart goes out to you. I truly understand how you and yours are feeling right now.
My Mother and I are back to work today, and DD is back to school. I haven't heard anything from her or the school, so hopefully all is going well. Monday night was the hardest, as it was the funeral. DD cried all evening and almost all night. I held her in her bed and let her cry. She is/was "Papa's Girl" so she's taking it pretty hard. I know with time it won't hurt so much, but right now it is really hard. We have decided to go ahead and go on our trip next week. We feel he would have wanted us to go. He took us on our first trip ever to Disney World. It will be hard and fun at the same time.
Again, I'm sorry for your loss. Just hang on to those good memories. It's good to know there are so many caring people out there too.

[ToddyLu]

One of two best friends lost her Mom yesterday to Alzheimer's. She was only 66.

In 2005 DH and I lost the contents of our home in Katrina, his parents lost their home and his father lost a 2 year battle the Cancer 5 weeks later. DH is a fireman for our city and Lord knows what that was like for him after that Hurricane. We had planned a trip to Disney and had insurance. Katrina was 8/29, Pop passed 10/4, our 11th anniversary was the day of his funeral, and Disney was 12/5.

We went to Disney...just the two of us. I needed it but he really needed the break from reality. That will always be one of my all time favorite trips. It just seemed that people were nicer (Christmas Spirit maybe). We were both more quiet and reflective on that trip but the consistency and familiarity of Disney was a big plus. We met people on the buses who had volunteered in our communities and we had a chance to tell them how much that meant. I was still feeling pretty low, so we went to see Osborne Lights for the first time.

For some reason we got there early and waited for about 45 minutes, watching the crowd gather....when they turned on those lights...I mean I knew it was going to be a lotta lights...but it was fantastic...I lost it and poor DH just had to stand there and hug me for a while. So it was a healing moment for me (I think DH enjoyed seeing me enjoying it) and we came back from the trip a little lighter and refreshed so we could get to work on getting back to normal.

I wish that for you and your family. That being in a place of Happiness will bring you peace.

[SeptemberGirl]

Originally Posted by PrincessHeather'sMom

My heart goes out to you. I truly understand how you and yours are feeling right now.
My Mother and I are back to work today, and DD is back to school. I haven't heard anything from her or the school, so hopefully all is going well. Monday night was the hardest, as it was the funeral. DD cried all evening and almost all night. I held her in her bed and let her cry. She is/was "Papa's Girl" so she's taking it pretty hard. I know with time it won't hurt so much, but right now it is really hard. We have decided to go ahead and go on our trip next week. We feel he would have wanted us to go. He took us on our first trip ever to Disney World. It will be hard and fun at the same time.
Again, I'm sorry for your loss. Just hang on to those good memories. It's good to know there are so many caring people out there too.

Our funeral was Monday, too. I hid at home the last two days. A friend flew in from Texas to be here with me, so I stayed home. Tuesday was bad. Today was better. I went to a restaurant that my parents liked and ate my mom's favorite soup and as it was coming out, her and my dad's "song" came on. A song you never hear! It felt good.

I definitely think you should go. Disney is healing. Really.

My mom always said that when you lose a parent, you should go on a trip and buy yourself a piece of jewelry. I coincidentally have a trip planned to Universal (first time there) in 2 weeks - I see it as a blessing. The jewelry - well, I think that will be on hold for a while - I'll just wear a piece of hers.

It's really good that your daughter is expressing her emotions. I worry about my little 8 yr old, so much harder to say it at that age, in a way.

Kind people help A LOT.

Originally Posted by ToddyLu

One of two best friends lost her Mom yesterday to Alzheimer's. She was only 66.

In 2005 DH and I lost the contents of our home in Katrina, his parents lost their home and his father lost a 2 year battle the Cancer 5 weeks later. DH is a fireman for our city and Lord knows what that was like for him after that Hurricane. We had planned a trip to Disney and had insurance. Katrina was 8/29, Pop passed 10/4, our 11th anniversary was the day of his funeral, and Disney was 12/5.

We went to Disney...just the two of us. I needed it but he really needed the break from reality. That will always be one of my all time favorite trips. It just seemed that people were nicer (Christmas Spirit maybe). We were both more quiet and reflective on that trip but the consistency and familiarity of Disney was a big plus. We met people on the buses who had volunteered in our communities and we had a chance to tell them how much that meant. I was still feeling pretty low, so we went to see Osborne Lights for the first time.

For some reason we got there early and waited for about 45 minutes, watching the crowd gather....when they turned on those lights...I mean I knew it was going to be a lotta lights...but it was fantastic...I lost it and poor DH just had to stand there and hug me for a while. So it was a healing moment for me (I think DH enjoyed seeing me enjoying it) and we came back from the trip a little lighter and refreshed so we could get to work on getting back to normal.

I wish that for you and your family. That being in a place of Happiness will bring you peace.

I cannot imagine living through Katrina. And then the rest. So much loss for you then. Oh, my heart aches. I'm So glad you went on your trip that year and that it was good. I really truly think we bond over huge things like that - I live in NJ and my town was very affected by 9/11. 9 months later I found myself in an airport telling my story and crying and praying with a woman from Ohio. I've never forgotten her or her heart for my town, area, people.

There is goodness out there. Even in painful times.

[mommasita]

Just wondering how you are doing, and thinking of everyone in this thread.

[PrincessHeather'sMom]

Originally Posted by mommasita

Just wondering how you are doing, and thinking of everyone in this thread.

Yesterday was another 'rough' day. The funeral home delivered my Dad's ashes to my Mom. I arrived at her house just after they left. She was crying, which started me and DD crying. I know this will take a long time for all of us. DD spent the day with my Mom yesterday. They were going to make cookies and go through things in the house. I went to visit friends for the day. And I cried there too. DD spent the night at Mom's. I'm sitting here catching up on emails and DIS and drinking coffee. I will go over to Mom's in a little bit and take her to the grocery store, etc. She lives an hour away and cannot drive. Dad always took care of her and everything else. Now it is up to me. DH and I (and Mom) have decided to move her closer to us so I/we can take care of her. She's only 62, but like I said she doesn't drive, and there are no grocery stores within walking distance for her. And there's no one out where she lives to keep her company. She'd be all by herself. I think she will enjoy being closer to her Granddaughter too. Again, thank you, all of you, for your thoughtfulness and compassion. The DIS has always been a great source of happiness and fun for me, and all of us I think, but it also has been wonderful support for us too. There are a great group of people on here that really support each other.
This afternoon I plan on coming home and getting out our suitcases and start some packing for our trip. We leave Thursday morning. Again, bitter sweet emotions, but we're looking forward to it.

[mommasita]

I hope you have a REALLY good trip.. It will be bittersweet, but hoping you have some smiles in there too...

[Deesknee]

So sorry for your loss op. prayers you have a wonderful trip.

To all of you who have posted of losses. Prayers. Each story hit my heart. I pray you all find healing & find comfort in warm memories of your loved ones, and home.

[chipdale74]

I am so sorry about losing your dad.

[rpbert1]

Sorry to hear about your Dad, brings back memories when my dad past away many years ago, and i hope you are all coping well. as it does takes time.
I hope you all have a great trip, as i am sure this is what your Dad would have wanted, for you all to be happy and enjoying yourselves as life is to short to be sitting about depressed.

I have told all my friends and family when i go[which hopefully will not be for a while yet] that they can be sad for a few days but when everything [funeral]is over, i want them to get on with their lives and enjoy it, and smile when they think of me
i know there will be hard days, but thinking of the good times you had will hopefully help you all