The Unexpected Departure
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” Life is full of uncertainties and unpredictable events. My life has been filled with different unexpected experiences, both painful and uplifting. Throughout these events my father has been my support system and my teacher. He has taught me so much about life. For instance, he would tell me the road to success is bitter, but the results are sweet. He has taught me determination and hard work by his own example. My father had a way of teaching me things and providing the necessary such as food, shelter, love and so much more. Until, that is, he got extremely ill before his final departure.
I received a phone call late one night that my father was in the hospital he had been complaining of sharp stabbing pains throughout his body. It was no secret that my father was not in the best of health. In fact, he was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago and a chronic kidney condition early 2011, which depleted the protein from his body each time he urinated following exhaustion. However, I never imagined it would require a visit to the hospital. I packed my bags late that night and began to tell myself, my father will be fine.
He was strong like an ox and sharp as a razor. The next morning while driving to Miami I was bombarded with thoughts of fear that I would no longer have him around. My thoughts got the best of me and after a few minutes of crying I began to pray and ask God to cure my father of all diseases. I recited with authority Mathew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened”. I found myself pleading for God’s help, banging on his door, and seeking for a miracle just like the hemorrhaging woman in the Bible. I was expecting God to show me a sign.
When all of a sudden I heard a voice; I was not sure what I heard, so I quietly waited to hear that voice again. The voice came back very distinctly and said, “You have arrived to your destination.” I sighed and looked around and after five hours of driving I had reached my destination without notice. I entered the hospital and each step I took I could not help, but notice the strong smell of disfenctant and the hallways plain as vanilla as I approached the room where my father lay. Upon entering the room I saw a man with a white lab coat looking at my father with great sympathy. I immediately interrogated this man and demanded he tell me what was wrong with my father. The man in the white lab coat said, “Your father is “all right”.
His words were not convincing and felt that his words were a distortion of the truth. As the doctor walked passed me, he whispered, “Can I see you outside?” I followed him into the hallway, he grabbed my hand and said; “Your father is dying.” I tried to compose myself, but I couldn’t. Tears ran down my face, my body began to tremble and my heart began to race. I stood there just staring into the doctor’s eyes with a blank look. I could not fathom the words that were coming out of his mouth. I saw his lips moving, but there was no sound.
When I finally realized I was just standing there I proceeded to ask him why my father was dying. I learned then that the strongest man I had ever known was infected with a disease that produces an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells, a disease called cancer. This cancer had grown and spread throughout his bones and there was nothing the doctor could do for my father. The doctor continued to elaborate on my dad’s condition and stated, “He has had cancer for several years and did not seek treatment.” Therefore, dry your eyes and be strong for him; do not let him see you cry. I will be discharging him in two days with no restrictions.
It was clear what I had to do. I walked out of