Ronald McBrearty - April 23, 2014

"Somehow I know we'll meet again. Not sure quite where and I don't know just when. You're in my heart, so until then it's time for saying goodbye."
       -The Muppets in The Muppets Take Manhatten

 

Saturday April 19th, Kevin's Aunt Eva (Ron's sister) died from a chronic form leukemia at 87 years old. She was a lovely and lively lady and she will be missed.

 

 

 

 

March 23, 2014

 

Kevin's dad, Ron, was diagnosed with cancer the 3rd of March. In my blog post about March break I simply said that Ron (Grandpa) had spent a few days in the hospital; at Ron's request we kept the news off the internet. The cancer diagnosis was acute myelogenous leukemia and there is no cure. The only treatment that is available is blood transfusions as needed to help keep up the red blood cell and platelet counts. For more information about this form of leukmia, you can look here.

 

On April 3rd Ron had a bad spell and was transported to the hospital where he was put into ICU for over a week. He received transfusions as needed and antibiotics for a lung infection. Darcy, Cameron, Kevin and I visited as often as could. For most of that time I was sick and wasn't allowed in the room, but could wave from the window. Cecile spent all day everyday by her husband's side, she is a very strong woman. Then after spending a few days in a regular room Ron made the decision to stop all the tranfusions and was tranfered to a palliative care centre, Sercan, on April 17. We went every day to see Ron and witnessed his condition deteriorate astonishingly fast. On April 23rd his short, but very courageous battle with cancer ended. He was 72 years old.

 

 

In the dark immensity of night
I stood upon a hill and watched the light
Of a star,
Soundless and beautiful and far.

A scientist standing there with me
Said, "It is not the star you see,
But a glow
That left the star light years ago."
...
People are like stars in a timeless sky;
The light of a good person's life shines high,
Golden and splendid
Long after his brief earth years are ended."
-Grace V. Watkins.

Shine on in the timeless sky, "Grandpie" Ron, shine on.

 

 

Sercan is largely run by volunteers and employs fully trained nurses and staff. It was a lovely place and the staff and volunteers were professional and very kind.

 

Canadian Cancer Society

 

 

Kevin with the portrait for Ron's service.

In case you missed it.