Sad times...

Tim Kirkwood · January 16, 2005

a few of you I have told, most I have not. But my grandpa, who I am VERY close to, has been told that he has cancer. His doctor said it could be weeks it could be months. This is hitting us very hard. Grandpa has just retired as the pastor of the Franklin Baptist Church. He started the church 46 years ago in his own home. There are now over 400 members. He is also the chairman of the World Baptist Fellowship, sending missionaries all over the world!

He has touched lives all over this earth and they are coming out of the wood work to say there goodbyes and prayers.

To look at him you would not know he is sick at all. He has a slight cough but thats it. He is still up and well and spoiling grandma like crazy. They plan to take a new type of treatment and keep him at home. He knows that it is all in Gods hands. We are praying for Gods will not ours.

But to my point.....

Its hard to get smiles anymore but I managed to get some today.

This is Grandpa in his chair with his two daughters (my aunt donna far left, My mom far right) and Grandma.

We are trying to enjoy the times we have left. This is one of those times.

Enjoy(time with love ones) Photograohy!

GraphyFotoz · January 16, 2005

Great Pic Tim!
My thoughts and prayers are with you as I'm going threw a similar thing with my Mom.

Only one thing I can say.........

CHIN UP!!!

David_S85 · January 16, 2005

Tim,

Very sorry to hear about this. My thoughts and prayers.

wxwax · January 16, 2005

Tim, that photo is going to be be a treasured one, it's wonderful. I'm so sorry to hear about your granfather's illness, and I wish him and your family the best.

Michiel de Brieder · January 16, 2005

Tim,

I wish you and yours strength in the time to come and hope you can enjoy many a good time yet...

ginger_55 · January 16, 2005

Tim, that is a wonderful family portrait.
Your father can be very proud, good looking daughters,
you..... a very nice family he has.

God Bless,
ginger

lynnma · January 16, 2005

Tim thats a wonderful picture to be treasured. I wish you strength and peace for the times to come. I'm so sorry.

Lynn

Nir · January 16, 2005

Tim,

That's a great family picture!
I'm sorry to hear about the hard time you're going through.
Hang in there!

Tim Kirkwood · January 16, 2005

Thank you everyone.

We are doing our best to keep our spirits up. He is a great man of God and God has a plan.

He told me last night that he has a peace about it and he is willing to accept what comes, and that he has no regrets and has had a wonderful time serving the Lord.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. I will do my best to keep you all informed, I feel though as we are a family here at smugmug.

Tim

luckyrwe · January 22, 2005

My stepfather knew his time was coming, and we had a few weeks to talk with him, learn his stories and thigs about him that we wanted to be able to pass down to the next generation. He gave me his dad's pocketwatch. As his health diminished he felt he was a burden on us. Nothing could be further from the truth. The only alternative option is to get a phone call letting you know that someone has passed unexpectedly. I think that would be worse for me.

You have a very close family there. Grandpa did a good job and he deserves to be proud of every one of you.

TristanP · January 23, 2005

Great pic, Tim - it's a keeper. Best of luck to him.

Tim Kirkwood · January 23, 2005

luckyrwe wrote:

My stepfather knew his time was coming, and we had a few weeks to talk with him, learn his stories and thigs about him that we wanted to be able to pass down to the next generation. He gave me his dad's pocketwatch. As his health diminished he felt he was a burden on us. Nothing could be further from the truth. The only alternative option is to get a phone call letting you know that someone has passed unexpectedly. I think that would be worse for me.

You have a very close family there. Grandpa did a good job and he deserves to be proud of every one of you.

Thanks Lucky,

We are spending as much time as we can with him. These are the days we will remeber the most.

Dr. says that when he does get worse he will slip into a comma and he has signed a living will saying he does not want life support. So it wont be unexpectedly but it will be fast.

Thanks for your support.

Tim Kirkwood · January 23, 2005

TristanP wrote:

Great pic, Tim - it's a keeper. Best of luck to him.

Tristan, thank you so much. It was not a planned shot but I managed to get some smiles so it had to be taken. Kinda hard to get smiles these days, esp. with my mom, she is taking it the worse.

Thanks for your reply.

Sheye · January 25, 2005

While I don't know you, I feel very sad for your family at this hard time. One thing I always regret when my mother in law was dying with a brain tumor in 2000 was not taking the opportunity to video record her. I had the idea to sit down with her over a cuppa and ask all the questions I could think of - "what was your wedding day like?" "what are your best memories?" "what do you hope for our family" etc etc...I always intended to do it and sadly never got the chance. I would encourage you to do something appropriate for your family to record those sacred memories, whether it be writing, audio or video recording. You will always treasure it.

Warm wishes
Sheye

Tim Kirkwood · January 25, 2005

Thank You Sheye, We are doing better now the the orig. shock of it is past. He has had his first two treatments. After the forth treatment they will do another catscan to see if the treatments are affecting the cancer at all. I have been doing my best to shoot the smiles when I see them.

Thanks for you concern.

Sheye wrote:

record those sacred memories, whether it be writing, audio or video recording. You will always treasure it.

I too have had this idea. I have already thought to buy a stack of audio tapes and give them to him with a recorder and have him make a seperate tape for everyone in the family. I would then copy them to cd. I can only imagine how good it will feel to be able to hear his voice years down the road.

Tim

Sad times...

Comments