Father's last birthday
From that moment on, my father not only changed his diet, his daily routine, but also his way of seeing his surroundings. My mother accompanied him three days a week to the dialysis center and kept him on a diet according to his situation. Also, since my father was retired by that time, he dedicated himself to sharing with the family, especially with his grandchildren, whom he took for ice cream, to the movies or picked them up from school. For 12 years my father was an exemplary patient who kept his kidney disease under control and seemed to be calm, despite the situation he was going through. But it was in 2016 that the change began.
One day, my father gathered us all together and told us that he wanted to celebrate his birthday. That seemed strange to us because since he had been sick he had asked, demanded and ordered, that no parties or pictures be taken of him. We respected his decision, although sometimes his grandchildren took some pictures of him when he was not paying attention, but they were very few. Perhaps because of that and for fear that he would regret it, we did not ask him why he had changed his mind. It was January 2016 and his birthday was not long away, so from that very moment we started with the preparations.
The crisis was already starting in Venezuela, but we managed to do everything he wanted: piñatas, food, music, drinks and that he had all his family. I remember that I was in charge of the snacks and some drinks. Others were in charge of the cake, others of the decorations and the grandchildren were in charge of the entertainment. My father wanted all his friends to be there, who he had not been with for a long time, so we tried to find everyone and invite them.
The day of the party my father woke up happy, making jokes and while we were all busy with the celebration, he was happy answering calls to congratulate him and listening to music. I remember that while I was cooking, he would go and ask me to dance. After dancing with me for a while, he would take out another daughter or a granddaughter, and dance with them. That day he danced with all of them, without exception.
In the evening, when the guests began to arrive, my father greeted them with real affection and joy. The meeting with his friends was really very touching, because not only he had words of gratitude for them, but his friends arranged a song that they sang that day. Also the grandchildren dedicated poems to him and even one of them told him a story that moved us to our bones. We had some games and competitions, and each game had prizes. My father handed them out as if he were a naughty little boy or St. Nicholas at Christmas. The birthday was a roulette of emotions and feelings: joy, nostalgia, surprises, hope. We went from laughing to crying, from astonishment to triumph and the satisfaction that everything had turned out beautifully and my father was happy with his party.
In July of that year, my father underwent several operations due to the contamination of one of his arteriovenous fistulas. The great wall that was my father began to collapse. His spirits declined to the bottom rung of the subsoil and no one could do anything about it. Like a little bird, he stopped singing and became completely silent. One day he was taken to intensive care and never opened his eyes again. In 2016 my father turned 70 and it was his last birthday with us.
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In his illness, your father seems to have undergone a series of changes, which altered him in a variety of ways over the years. We learn so much about him and what mattered to him in this story, which highlights a cherished memory vividly. Your descriptions of the celebration weave in wonderfully with the photos you've selected, making us feel as if were also at the party. Thank you for sharing your father's memory with us, and for your engagement with other members of the community.
Thank you for your comments! It was really nice to remember it as I was writing. A writing tribute to his memory. Regards
Even in the midst of sickness, he adjusted his life and allowed love & bonding with family and friends to play out.
Having that beautiful and emotional birthday will surely gladden is heart always even when at heaven
Ibelieve so. Wherever he is, he must be smiling. Thank you for your comment
Birthday 🎂🎉 Blessings Sir Age Gracefully 🙏
Thank you for commenting
Thank you for sharing this with us..
Thank you for commenting
This made me to remember my father. We all planned on giving him the best Christmas celebration. That was 5 years ago. There was lots of parties and enough fun throughout the Christmas celebration. He passed on four months later.
I am sure your dad received all the love he can get from friends and family.
Parents should be celebrated, loved in life! Let them feel how happy and honored we are to have them. Thank you for commenting.
Wow I appreciate your father’s energy and he is indeed a strong man
He was a very strong man, but he was also loving, gentlemanly and polite. Thank you for commenting
Congratulations, @nancybriti1!
Your story has been chosen as one of the best of the week and is part of the 103th featured author magazine.
https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-highlights-magazine-103
Yuuupi!!!!! What a thrill. Grateful and honored to be part of this community. May the success and good work continue
Tu relato me conmovio y me hizo recordar a mi padre. el era el alma de las fiestas de la familia. Tu padre de alguna manera presentio su partida y quizo estar con las personas que amaba y celebrar con ellos. Tu historia es un hermoso homenaje a su vida.
Saludos @nancybritti1
Touching story. Well told. That assumption of the end of life is a lucidity that seems to be revealed to a few special beings, as surely was your father.