My farther just had a Massive Stroke

[Tauni]

Wow. Sorry to hear about that. I'll br praying for you and your family and your father!

[Goat Blower]

Sorry to hear the news Brian. Our prayers are with your father and your family.

[Pushit2.0]

Sorry to hear that. Prayers to you and your family.

~John

[Outlaw1]

Thoughts and prayers.

[CarPsyco84]

I'm sorry to hear about that, I don't know what I'd do if I lost my dad, I'd go crazy, My prayers and thoughts go out to you.

[Onefast99gsx]

Has anyone talked to Brian lately, outside of dsmstyle? I'm wondering how his Dad is?

[howslowcanyougo]

We will continue to pray for your Father and your Family B......:-<

It's a hard part of life to try to make sense of...... stay strong bro.

Howie & Lynne....

[SlowWhite]

Well finally got a chance to give you guys and update. Unfortunetely it didn't end well.

I'll give you guys the full story now that I have time to write.

On Sunday December 11th, My father was installing a TV antenna on the roof at around 6pm,, It was dark, he'd finished mounting it and was in the process of running the wire into the house when he had the stroke. I was the one that had to finish the job and am still trying to figure out what happened. My parents roof is an 8/12 pitch which is steep (8.5/12 and higher and you'd need walking planks) with a 2 foot step down from one roof to the other and I can't figure out if he fell or if he felt it coming but didn't have the strength to stop his fall. He hit his head on the roof hard enough to cause an indentation on his forehead. But he managed to get his body on the peak of the roof so that he wouldn't fall/slide off the roof. That is what I can't figure out? it was dark and did he fall causing the hemerage in his brain, or if he had a stroke and on his way down hit his head?

It was approximately 15 minutes he was on the roof from when he got home till when this happened and till my mother found him via spot light laying on the roof. He was still concious and breathing on his own. and responding to my mothers calls, which is what made is seem like he was going to be ok.

They had him air lifted from Camden South Carolina to Columbia. My brother was able to fly in, but since no-one knew exactly how bad it was and this past week was supposed to be a big week for me at work and seeing as my father had no prior alments or history, etc we figured this was minor and at first I actually thought my brother was joking and I remember thinking if it was april fools. It was almost 3hrs before finally getting the word to come up. We were out the door at like 10pm.

at Midnight I recieved a phone call from my brother (probably the 3rd one since I'd left) with an actual update from the doctors, saying he was finally out of testing his condition was stable but still in critical condition.

at 2pm I got another phone call stating that they tried to put a tube into my dad to see if there was any more blood in his stomach, but when they did his vitals dropped and at 6pm they called my Mom and my brother in saying that he didn't have much longer.

at 6:26am on Dec 12th he was pronounced dead.

But on the bright side of things This was a huge year for my family. Both my brother and I got married, So we all got together for all those receptions, engagement parties, etc.

I got to go hunting with him 1 last time due to hurricane Wilma over Halloween. Was our first hunt in probably 2years, we'd kept planning trips trying to get out to Jakey's farm in IOWA but things kept coming up with work and then moving.

We'd spent Thanksgiving together which also was our Xmas as both my brother and I wouldn't be able to make it for Christmas.

He got to see his grand baby born, and he got to Race with my brother again, at the land speed records.

I'm just really happy that this year was so full of activies that it allowed us to get together so much. Normally it's once a year for X-mas.

It was also funny that my father spend a lot of his time at the local Camden Library (he read a lot) and so we donated most of my fathers books to that library and set up a Fund in his name. Turns out that the head Librarian there is my fathers 2nd cousin. They never met knowing that fact. But when she read the Obituary which listed my fathers mothers maiden name she called to ask about our family history turned out we are related. So she came to the the "Celebration of Life" that we had for my father on Friday.

My fathers sister flew in with my cousin Suzy who I haven't seen since I was 10years old at my grandmothers funeral. My Aunt hasn't changed but my cousin was really nice. It was good to see her.

And my mother just found out that 2 of her high School friends Live with in 20 miles of my mother. 1 - she hadn't talked to in over 30 years. My mothers twin sister found her on classmates.com about 3 weeks ago. The 2nd one called just a few week ago also and said she was planning on moving to South Carolina from Cocoa Beach, Fl. and ended up buying a house 5 minutes from my parents house.

It's just funny how things work out if you want to look on the bright side of things.

Thank you guys so much for your kind words and prayers.
-Brian

[Onefast99gsx]

Aww..Geez Brian! I'm reading this thinking that there was some good in this towards the end of your writing. I'm VERY sorry to hear about your Dad! I know exactly how you feel. I lost my Mom in 1999. She was 49. Diabetes got the best of her. You never get over it. All you do is learn how to cope with it. The odd thing is that it happened the day after my Birthday. Holidays and Mothers day is the worst. It takes awhile for the reality to kick in. Up until then, you always have the thought of knowing that you have the option to visit them. Then all the sudden one day, that's gone. I'm very close to my family. I saw my Mom pretty much on a daily basis. Extremely rough and I don't wish it upon anyone. It's the toughest thing I've ever had to deal with. You just have to be thankful for the time that you were able to spend with your parents while you were with them.

Hang in there and give your Mom all the support you can in which I know you will.

-tim

[SlowWhite]

I'm sorry for your loss tim, My mother was diagnosted with Breast cancer this year. She had surgery already, but is still in the preliminary stages of recovery so they don't know if it's completely gone yet. But I'm not even trying to think about that right now.

[Onefast99gsx]

Yep, don't let things eat on you too much like I did at first. It's a good thing to mourn too. Don't hold it all inside. Let it out wherever you feel the need too. People understand. Spend lots of time with your family and friends. It's a good medicine. None of us was meant to live on this earth forever. Your father has done his job here and now he is needed elsewhere.

Merry Christmas to you & Jen & the little one!

[Jana]

We are so very sorry for your loss Brian. Both your parents where very welcoming to everyone. In the time I did spend around you and your parents, and I think many others will agree, I saw a lot of your father in you. Always helping others when in need and being a great friend.

We are both very sorry for your families loss and will keep you in our prayers.

Allan & Jana

[Nash]

Brain, I'm so sorry to hear about this. I know I'm all the way in Minnesota, but if there is something I can do for you, Jenny, or your family from here let me know.

[MATCHBX]

Brian, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm sure you are very aware of your support network back here. Like Andy said, if there is anything that we can do for you or your family, please don't hesitate to ask. You and your family were always more than accomodating of us. I only met your father one time, but that was enough to know how nice he was. I am so glad to see that you and your family are celebrating his life. Like was said before, it's good to mourn, but you also have to look to what he accomplished and whose lives he touched along the way.

[scheides]

I'm sorry for you loss man, but it sounds like he had a good life. Take care.

[niterydr]

Brian, I am so sorry to hear the outcome with your father. I may be a distance away, but if you need anything, feel free to call. My cell phone is always on, and if you EVER need someone to talk to, call me. I know what it is like to lose a parent, and I understand how hard it is/will be. Like mentioned before, if there is anything I can do, just let me know. (this goes for you too Jenny).
651-216-9721.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[tim]

Definitely sorry to here about your loss. Just reading your post has sent chills up my spine due to the situation I am in and mentioned earlier in the thread. I dont know you any more than SlowWhite or Brian on DSMstyle but I can say that I will be thinking about you and your family throughout this time.

Again, sorry for your loss. Hang in there.

[JET]

I am amazed at how you are looking at this, Brian. It takes an insightful person to look at the bright side in a time like this. Luckily you had spent more time than usual with him this year. Hopefully this will open up the eyes of some people that haven't spent enough time with family and make them realize how precious they are. Along with the others I am willing to help in any way that I can.

[A//// Guy]

Its very good to hear that you got to spend the best times of the year with him and your family, memories last forever. Im sorry for your loss though, and I hope things straighten out for you and your family. Take it all one step at a time, being as postitive as you are, like JET mentioned, takes alot of strength.

[SlowWhite]

Ya my father did a lot in his lifetime.

He was raised in Oklahoma, and Kansas where he worked laying railroad tracks in his teen years, He graduated from M.I.T. went on to due some of the initial studies on the heat shields for the rockets into space, he always like to talk about it.

His greatest passion though was his family and the out doors, I'm glad I was able to share that passion with him on several occassions.