Honoring My Dad's Final Wishes!
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Honoring My Dad’s Final Wishes!
Anyone who knew my Dad (Jack Roberts) knows of his generosity, his laugh and most of all, his smile. If you did not know me or my dad I am grateful you are reading this and feel free to friend request me on Face book and look through our posts to see what we were able to share regarding how we chose to handle finding out my Dad had terminal, end stage, small cell lung cancer and how to fill the remaining time we had together.
Before I get too far I want everyone to know how blessed I feel. My dad was my best friend and a true and loyal friend to so many others. Not everyone is blessed enough to know the kind of father son relationship we had. Even people who do have very tight connections with their fathers, sometimes due to kids, careers and mortgages among other things can’t stop the world from turning and are unable to care for their parent in their final times. However somehow, though it was not easy, I was able to.
My Dad was diagnosed with cancer just seven months ago shortly after I found out that my wife was pregnant with my first son. I asked God at that time to please just let my dad meet my son. My son’s due date is September 5th 2016 but he made his arrival August 8th 2016 a month early. We believe in our hearts he came early in order meet my dad. My dad had two weeks with my son before he returned home to the lord.
We only had seven months once dad was diagnosed but we lived in those seven months. I stopped working to take care of him and we spent literally every moment together. We took a cruise to Hawaii, ate at restaurants, rode motorcycles, went boating, spent time at the park with my dog Bella who Dad adored and visited with family which he cherished most of all.
The last month of his life we were so happy to have my nephew Jayden every Tuesday and enjoyed swimming and searching for Pokémon’s together.
With my sister Danah, we had drive-in movie nights filled with lots of popcorn and my dad’s favorite treats. Closer to the end of my dad’s life when my dad didn’t feel up to going to church Danah brought church to us. Her faith is so strong that when we were all together it made our faith that much stronger.
Even though my parents are no longer together their love for one another endured. My mom was at his side before he passed. She remarried but cherished the time with my dad and the family they created together. In fact it was my dad and his mother’s enduring faith that planted the seed in my mom’s heart to follow Christ.
During his short time after diagnosis we were able to visit his many siblings spread out across California and as far as Florida. I indulged his wants and wouldn’t have had it any other way. By doing this our savings that we are living on has been greatly impacted. My Dad did not have life insurance in place and all I was able to secure with my dad’s preexisting condition was a small nominal policy that required he survived 2 years after policy was instated. Sadly this did not take place and the seven $50 payments made will be returned.
I have worked since I was 16 years old and have never asked for financial help from anyone. I don’t ask for anything I didn’t work hard to earn. I have no regrets for quitting work to spend time with my father but things are tight and I would like to honor all of Dad’s final wishes. For this I will need help. His wish is to be cremated and be buried in the same plot as his mom and sister at Folsom’s Lakeside Cemetery. Any additional funds raised beyond this will be used to help us get by while I look to return to work.
If you were lucky enough to know my dad and can share a fond memory of him I would appreciate it. He was such a light in my life and I know he lit up other lives too. If you are in a position to help financially any amount is appreciated. There is no way to express how grateful I am for your love and support. I am amazed that I can feel at ease on the day I lost my best friend. I’m happy to have had him in my life but moreover I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many who love him as much as I did.
Anyone who knew my Dad (Jack Roberts) knows of his generosity, his laugh and most of all, his smile. If you did not know me or my dad I am grateful you are reading this and feel free to friend request me on Face book and look through our posts to see what we were able to share regarding how we chose to handle finding out my Dad had terminal, end stage, small cell lung cancer and how to fill the remaining time we had together.
Before I get too far I want everyone to know how blessed I feel. My dad was my best friend and a true and loyal friend to so many others. Not everyone is blessed enough to know the kind of father son relationship we had. Even people who do have very tight connections with their fathers, sometimes due to kids, careers and mortgages among other things can’t stop the world from turning and are unable to care for their parent in their final times. However somehow, though it was not easy, I was able to.
My Dad was diagnosed with cancer just seven months ago shortly after I found out that my wife was pregnant with my first son. I asked God at that time to please just let my dad meet my son. My son’s due date is September 5th 2016 but he made his arrival August 8th 2016 a month early. We believe in our hearts he came early in order meet my dad. My dad had two weeks with my son before he returned home to the lord.
We only had seven months once dad was diagnosed but we lived in those seven months. I stopped working to take care of him and we spent literally every moment together. We took a cruise to Hawaii, ate at restaurants, rode motorcycles, went boating, spent time at the park with my dog Bella who Dad adored and visited with family which he cherished most of all.
The last month of his life we were so happy to have my nephew Jayden every Tuesday and enjoyed swimming and searching for Pokémon’s together.
With my sister Danah, we had drive-in movie nights filled with lots of popcorn and my dad’s favorite treats. Closer to the end of my dad’s life when my dad didn’t feel up to going to church Danah brought church to us. Her faith is so strong that when we were all together it made our faith that much stronger.
Even though my parents are no longer together their love for one another endured. My mom was at his side before he passed. She remarried but cherished the time with my dad and the family they created together. In fact it was my dad and his mother’s enduring faith that planted the seed in my mom’s heart to follow Christ.
During his short time after diagnosis we were able to visit his many siblings spread out across California and as far as Florida. I indulged his wants and wouldn’t have had it any other way. By doing this our savings that we are living on has been greatly impacted. My Dad did not have life insurance in place and all I was able to secure with my dad’s preexisting condition was a small nominal policy that required he survived 2 years after policy was instated. Sadly this did not take place and the seven $50 payments made will be returned.
I have worked since I was 16 years old and have never asked for financial help from anyone. I don’t ask for anything I didn’t work hard to earn. I have no regrets for quitting work to spend time with my father but things are tight and I would like to honor all of Dad’s final wishes. For this I will need help. His wish is to be cremated and be buried in the same plot as his mom and sister at Folsom’s Lakeside Cemetery. Any additional funds raised beyond this will be used to help us get by while I look to return to work.
If you were lucky enough to know my dad and can share a fond memory of him I would appreciate it. He was such a light in my life and I know he lit up other lives too. If you are in a position to help financially any amount is appreciated. There is no way to express how grateful I am for your love and support. I am amazed that I can feel at ease on the day I lost my best friend. I’m happy to have had him in my life but moreover I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many who love him as much as I did.
Organizer
Jake Roberts
Organizer
Rancho Cordova, CA