The Last Mile

Thanks mattam....Yes he knows and if he hasn't felt up to reading or posting I still check in daily to let him know how everyone's doing. I have been an avid creeper and silent support to all of you over the last (3) years. My brother is very clinical so in order to be able to have conversations with him about PC I've spent numerous hours reading everyone's stories. You are all amazing and have been there from the beginning sharing the victories and defeats of PC. We are grateful to all of you. The clinical trials introduced to him from current and past posters gave us more time and that's all we could have asked for from the onset. Best wishes for a cure...Beth

Beth, thank you so much for keeping us up to date on Rocky's situation. Please let him know that he is loved and admired by members of this forum and he is in our thoughts and prayers as are you and the rest of his family.

Jim

bethiestuff said...
....Most importantly he knows he is loved. How incredibly brave he is. Beth

That, Beth, is IMO, the most important aspect of his journey. Honest with himself, brave, without self pity, and enjoying the love of those close to him.

Most of the men on Healing Well either have advanced cases of PCa, or mild cases of PCa but with serious concerns with their mortality. Where we fit on that scale regularly changes. Upwards of 15% of PCa patients die from it. We might never know how many here do, since they either stop posting or only lurked in the first place.

May I, and the rest of us, take a lesson from the selfless courage and integrity Rocky has displayed throughout his journey. God keep and bless all of you.

“May I, and the rest of us, take a lesson from the selfless courage and integrity Rocky has displayed throughout his journey.“

👍👍👍

I have to go to a funeral tomorrow for a good friend that lost his battle with a blood cancer younger then me It's gonna be really really hard to go. Like Rocky he put up a great fight and then when the time came went home with hospice. I only hope that if my life journey goes the same as these guys in many many years is that I can portray some of the courage and dignity that these gentlemen have shown! They are true heroes!!

Larry

I never thought when I got on here tonight I would be crying before I signed off.

I know this story from my dad's journey with bladder cancer. Hospice was a Godsend for him and my mom. Your post reminded me of how he passed away. His head up all the way being gracious and thinking of others.

Thank you for a post that is both enlightening for others and also a great reminder of my own past.

I wish you and your family peace and favor during this time.

Larry

That's a wonderful idea, Beth. You certainly have my permission and blessing and I'm confident everyone else will feel the same way.

I wish your brother peace, and you the comfort of knowing that he led a good life and was a hero to the end.

David

Beth in this time of sadness may you find love and comfort from family and friends and may the courage that your brother has shown be passed on to family.

Larry

Beth, I agree with Prato...there is nothing in our rules that would prohibit you from sharing posts at the service. In fact, I think it's an honor to our members that you would even consider it.

God bless you and your family at this difficult time.

Jim

Been reading some prior post from Rockyfords. He summed up my thoughts exactly when he replied about John M passing one year ago.

"Peace and comfort now I hope for a life lived in love. Whatever the stage of the journey, I know that love makes it better. In each day, it is the sacred gift, it is everything to a husband, father, son, brother, or friend who walks this path. "

May Rocky have the peace that goes beyond understanding, may Love abound around his loved ones, for surely he is loved boundlessly. We love you brother Rockyfords. Knowing you has blazed a path in my journey for a life well lived. You have shown me a pathway to acceptance and strengthened my Faith,
You are a blessing and may your family continue to be blessed by your legacy. With all my love and respect,
Dan aka Wings of Eagles

Dear Rockyfords
Thank you for your sharing your thoughts. We all are touched by you situation. I feel that you words were spot on. I am glad that you are not alone in this final mile on earth. It is obvious from your words that there are those who have walked many steps and many miles with you. My prayer for you, your wife and family and friends is that these times will be almost celebratory in nature, that together there will be peace, comfort and laughter. I am a person of faith. I hope that I have the opportunity to meet you in the miles that will be ahead! Blessings.

2/3/54 - 11/27/19 - My brother
So it is over and he is resting...He is not finished working, though, as he has requested his body be donated to science. He told his wife that it will be his last "lecture". As a molecular biologist, PHD he loved standing in front of his students "splitting atoms". My brother-in-law" would tease him by saying "he should be splitting firewood". That was only because his intellect was so far above the rational mind that his Texas family possesses.

We can all say " he's in a better place or he's no longer in pain or he's at peace". All the things people say when they lose someone. Myself, I am too sad right now but know all of the above is true. My comfort is reading the shared posts of "his brothers and sisters" on the forum and the incredible impact you made in his life these last 3 years. I kept telling myself over these last weeks of Hospice that it was taking so long because he was waiting for a clinical trial to open up " wherever he was going. " We all have different beliefs and they should all be respected. One thing I am absolutely sure of is that he is working hard for you as he always did.

You will all be with me at his memorial as I share your posts of love and admiration for my brother. A tribute to him and to you. I will probably continue to engage in the forum on a limited basis as I am so in the habit of checking in on everyone and researching trials etc...In closing, May you all be well and feel loved. Beth

Sorry but my days are mixed up and it matters....He left us 11/28/19...