I know what you are going through. I had planned my 21st Birthday trip since about March of last year. In April, my Grandfather was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. He underwent surgery to take out his ailing Kidney, and his Ureter. Then, he underwent Chemo. He seemed to be responding to treatments, but only for a little bit. He was in and out of the Hospital a lot. Then the Dr. told us that his first round of Chemo wasn't working. They could try another bout of Chemo, if my Grandfather wanted. My Grandfather did, he still believed that he would pull out of it. No such luck.
After Christmas, everything went down hill. He got progressively worse, and worse. January was the hardest. In a matter of 3 days, his Health declined so rapidly. It was unbelievable. My Mom's a Registered Nurse, and she herself took care of him for his final days. She said that in all her years of Nursing, she had never seen anyone decline that rapidly healthwise. My 21st Birthday was on January 26th, and I was scheduled to leave for WDW on the 22nd. My Father is in the Military, and he was scheduled to go to Iraq. On Jauary 8th, the General pulled him back. The General said he needed to be home with my Grandfather (It was my Dad's Dad.) When my Dad told my Grandfather that he wasn't leaving, my Grandfather broke down crying, clasped his hands, and prayed to God saying 'Thank you for not letting my Son go over there.' When my Dad told my Grandfather that he had to leave - My Grandfather said, I might Die, but I refuse to Die until you get back home safely.
I think he broke down crying when my Dad told him that he wasn't leaving because he knew it was the end for him. One of my Grandfather's Friends in Church went up to him and said 'We need to get together one of these days,' and my Grandma told me that my Grandfather said 'I wish we could, but I know I won't ever be seeing you again after today.' He was right. My Grandfather passed away on January 13th. My family had to get a Visa for my Grandma's Sister to come here for the Funeral, because my Grandfather said that was what he wanted.
Well ... We left for our Disney trip, and my Dad came with my Mom and I. He wasn't supposed to go because he was supposed to be over in Iraq. My Dad said he didn't particularly want to go, but halfway through the trip, he told me 'I'm glad I came.'
Now, a girl from my Dad's unit had to come home on Emergency Leave because her mother wasn't responding well to Chemo Treatments. She wouldn't be back to Iraq. Guess who her replacement is?
You guessed it - My Dad. He got an E-Mail last Wednesday to pack his things, and that he would be on the first flight out to Iraq as soon as his orders were completed, and processed. He's leaving on Wednesday at 3PM.
~ My prayers go out to you and yours. I know what it's like in this situation, trust me, but that doesn't make it any less hard. My thoughts, prayers, and sincere condolences go out to your family in your time of need. ~
