I'm sorry I haven't been updating lately.
My father-in-law passed away on 19/01/2011 - the week just goes by SO slowly...
His health hasn't been very good for a long time. He leaves behind a wife and a son. I haven't known my father in law very long, only 5 years and a bit. In all the time that i've known him he's been nothing but very kind and thoughtful to me.
Let me give you a bit of background story.
He had his first stroke in 2000 and was left paralysed on his left side. He had renal failure which required him to undergo Dialysis - which he did for the past 8 years. Recently, for a few months now, the pressure sores on his bottom worsened - his GP and his specialist renal Doctor pushed to get him admitted into hospital to get the sores treated.
My son, 5 years of age, was sad to learn that his grandpa had to go into hospital again. We don't know it but somehow kids just know when things are gonna go downhill - they just don't know how to convey it. He was transferred to the wards on Friday afternoon. Saturday came, then Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. My mother in law and my husband didn't leave the hospital until 9pm on Tuesday night, to make sure he was alright. Otherwise, they would've slept there overnight.
The thing I'm saddened by is that my son wanted to sleep in his grandpa's bed just hours before we learned of his death. Had I known that I wouldn't have yelled at him to come and sleep in his own bed. SubhanAllah, kids just know!
Wednesday 19.01.2011 3am: I heard the phone ringing...I was half-asleep until I heard my mother-in-law yelling at my husband to
answer the phone because she knew it was bad news from the hospital. After waking abruptly, my husband answered the phone: "hello.." "...how's my dad?" "...he's passed away.............." "ok." It took us a while to let it sink in. We were all in shock.
Within 12 hours he was washed, prayed upon, and buried. It was a quick process but one of the longest day in my life. Did I mention how long this week felt?
I lost my grandfather in 2008 and it left me feeling down. So down that I failed one of my Uni exams the following day.
I don't know how my husband is feeling exactly at the moment or what he's going through because I haven't lost a parent yet - but I will have to go through the same thing that he's going right now one day.
My job as a wife, his best friend, and soul mate, right now is to help him get through this. Support him. To let him know he isn't going through this alone.
If you're going through the same thing or similar, be there for them....no matter what.
~Peace.
