08/08/2026
Today my Dad was admitted into hospice care. We aren’t telling him that it’s “Hospice care”, but rather saying, home nursing.
At 88, he has good days and bad,there are far more bad than good, as of the past 6 months! His once competent and strong frame has grown frail and weak and his brilliant mind often stumbles and fails to make sense of the simplest of tasks. His general health has deteriorated, he cannot live without oxygen and is dependent on a litany of pills to survive each day. He often cries and asks why he is here…still here? His eyesight has been taken over by macular degeneration and his hearing, long-gone. He calls me Marian, instead of Tina and I try to not correct him.
This stage of life is very difficult and sad. The reality is that it is truly a gift to make it to the “golden years”. He has lived almost a century and has experienced everything from war and famine to the distinct privilege of being honored by The Carneige Museum of Art, for his work featuring a perfect masonry arch! His mind and hands were gifted, he worked hard and took pride in his craft. Truly, he taught me to be the businesswoman that I am and credit much of my success to my father.
Our next days are uncertain, they do not know how long he has, only God holds that information. For tonight, his pain is better managed and he’s watching one of his westerns.
I want to thank the beautiful women on his care team for treating him with such dignity and grace. I have always had the utmost respect for nurses and this experience has reaffirmed that.
I’m also so appreciative for my son’s lovely girlfriend, Bryn for always helping with Benny and for assisting in getting him hospice care. She is going to make a remarkable nurse when she graduates UPMC School of this Winter.
Please keep Benny in your prayers!
Much appreciated!
