A few weeks ago, we were really starting to come out of the slump that was 2020. Yes, we had a few boat issues, but looking forward felt good. There was light at the end of the tunnel. I was excited to write about some new upgrades to the boat, (I still am) and there was still the plan of starting our cruising in the spring.
Well, 2020 had different plans. Almost within a span of hours I get two phone calls. The first was from my mother. My 91 year old grandfather was starting to fail and he was in some pain so they were trying to take him to the hospital. Due to the massive amount of COVID-19 patients in Rapid City, there were no beds available. There was talk of having to take him, in pain, on a road trip to Denver just to get him seen at a hospital. Fortunately, he began to feel better so moving him to a better nursing care facility became the mission. Well, again due to COVID, nursing facilities are severely locked down and they are quite full as well. My mother then gets a last minute flight to SD to help her brother find arrangements.
Well, then the second call came. This time it was my father. He is calling from the hospital. Apparently two days before he had fallen at the store, and was taken to the emergency room. There they had diagnosed liver failures and massive malnutrition and weakness due to that. He had been in fairly intensive care for a few days. He cannot walk, can barely speak, and there was no plan on when he could leave the hospital. Several minutes of debate with Shannon later, I had a one-way ticket to Salt Lake to see him. I had no idea if the hospital would let me in, but I knew I had to be there to help take care of the house and any other things he needed while he was in the hospital.
I arrive in Salt Lake and get an Uber to Park City. I’m told that his truck is still at the store, and that his coworkers at his office have the keys and other things from the hospital. Once I pick up the Truck (and scrape snow/ice for the first time in years) I head back downs he canyon to the hospital to see if I can see him. To my surprise they let me in. What I find hurts. Its like every movie hospital scene. Beeps, whirs, tubes, pumps, lights and a frail old man that somewhat looks like my father. He is barely able to say hi to me, but seems happy I’m there. I let him know I’m here for whatever he needs and have everything at the house and his work taken care of. He is so tired and weak, that I arrange that I will see him tomorrow and I let him rest. Once I’m back in the house in Park City have spend an hour doing the most cathartic driveway shoveling of my life.
Next morning its a chill 17 degrees and I head out for a head clearing run. While on the run I get another call from my mother. Grandpa Wallace “Bud” Pond had died. Only a few hours after the facility had let both my mother and uncle in see him for the first and last time. I don’t really have a whole lot of spare emotion to properly deal with that at the time as I’m still trying to process my fathers illness. The next week is pretty much a blur of hospital visits, insurance calls, and I think some work in between.
Brian, my brother, came down to see him as well, and help around the house for a week. That timing worked out great becasue they allowed him to see dad in the hospital and we were able to talk though some of the next steps a bit. The City has announced his Retirement. What do we do next? He was already afraid of retirement even reasonable healthy, now what?
That was almost 3 weeks ago now. 2020 is still in full swing. Dad is still in the hospital, and will be for some time as they try and get some recovery going. He is still too weak to walk unassisted. I can no longer see him anymore due to COVID restrictions, and now insurance (which he has great insurance) is becoming a pain to deal with. Shannon has come to Park City to join and help me leaving Nymeria shutdown and cold until we can get back.
I don’t know what the next few months holds, but for now I’m shoveling snow and trying to stay warm as we take things one day at a time.
Justin & Shannon – you have been in my thoughts for the last couple weeks. I’ve talked to your mom a couple times and my heart breaks for all of you. The imposed distance we are all feeling is hard to handle under normal circumstances, but just unimaginable when you need that support so much. I’m glad that you are both able to work remotely, so you can multitask as much as possible. Lots of love, Laurie
Wow. So you are in PC for the duration? Let us know how we can help (although I can’t think how). Let your Dad know we are thinking of him.
I hope you all are well and your dad soon recovers his energy and strength. Condolences for your grandfather. I have a longtime friend in PC. If you need a reference or anything, I can connect you. Stay warm.
Justin – any update on your dad?
Recovering, but slowly. It’s talking a long time to get his strength back.