Update on dad

[Kevin Mienke]

Most of you already know that my dad has been very ill this year. Also, most of you are aware that I am quite close to him and that he has been very instrumental in the rebuild of Fenway. He is an old school mechanic and has been invaluable to me in that respect. He has been invaluable to me in many respects. I think it is time that I give an update on his health.

Early this spring his prognosis was not good and we were living day to day, not knowing if he would have a tomorrow. Since then he has had open-heart surgery and another complex procedure that was meant to alleviate pressure in his thoracic cavity. This was all done to improve his breathing effort.

He continues to struggle with his emphysema but he is living. When I say living, I don’t mean just breathing.

Now I will come to the meat of my post. With my dad’s health condition, I have been putting off several projects around home and in the garage in order to spend time where I was needed most. One of these forgotten projects was the knuckle rebuild and disc brake project for Fenway.

To make a long story short, I went to run some errands the other day and returned home to find dad in my garage. He had started the teardown of the drum brakes! Keep in mind he has to tow a portable oxygen tank around and he can only walk about 20 ft. before his breathing becomes labored to the point of requiring rest. He was on his knees in my garage, turning wrenches like the old times. It was a picture I don’t think I will ever forget.

I would like to thank you all for your prayers. Each minute with him is one I will store up.

[pwdave]

Dad

Kevin, relish every second, god bless. P.S. let him help all he can, it will do him a great deal of good. Dave.

[Kevin Mienke]

Thank you Dave. I don't think I could have pried the wrench from his hand.

My immediate response when I saw him kneeling and working was that he shouldn’t be. When I told him so, he stopped, sat back and began to talk. He would say a few words, stop to catch his breath and then say a few more. It took him all of ten minutes to say what he wanted to say.

He started with, "Sometimes I need to get out of my comfort zone. It doesn’t matter whether or not I lose the battle to emphysema, it’s the battle itself that matters. I’ve got to engage in the battle. That's all that matters."

His wit and wisdom still capture my imagination, even during the greatest struggle of his life.

[W_A_Watson_II]

WOW, God bless you both, and let him tinker, it's the best medication.

[Gordon Maney]

Yesssssssss!

Great stuff.

Imagine being in his situation; he wants to.......... do.

I am out of words for this, and just smiling and admiring the spirit.

[OLD DODGE]

Its great to hear that he is doing well. You can't keep a good man down.

[74w300uteline]

bring the truck into the living room

how many bikes and toys has he assembled for you in the living room over the years?
I hope this comes across in the spirit it was intended.

[Bob Thompson]

Kevin,
It's good to see you back here and to hear that your Dad is doing so well. It sounds to me that he has taken the perfectly logical position of not going without a fight. He seems like a man of fortitude and sound judgement.
I wish him and you all the best.

[Kevin Mienke]

how many bikes and toys has he assembled for you in the living room over the years?
I hope this comes across in the spirit it was intended.

Your thoughts came across very well and I appreciate that you took the time to post them.

I remember getting my first real bike on my 6th birthday. It was a stringray with a banana seat. Before he put it together, he customized it with a 3 foot sissy bar and a Captain America paint job. I parked it next to his panhead Harley in the garage and pretended to "work on it" like he worked on the Harley.

[NNICKB]

My Dad is 81. He has a lot of trouble walking, and has had a lot of other problems over the past few years. Last week he flew out and back to California to see my brother and his children. I picked him up at the airport Sunday night. We used a wheelchair and had to lift him in and out of the car. He was tired and in pain, but happy.

Today of course he got up and drove his car to work. Himself.

My father has always lived for his kids, his wife, and now his grandkids. I always knew it, but didn't really understand it, until my first son was born.

My brothers and I have many, many stories about our Dad and all he has done and continues to do for us. These days he is resigned to the limitations that old age has placed upon him, and will gracefully accept our help when he needs it. But he doesn't complain, and doesn't stop giving. And, he still runs the show.

Having grown up with the example of my Dad, uncles, and some other fine men, it seems very normal to me to hear of an elderly father putting on his oxygen tank and going out to fix the brakes on his son's Dodge. But it also reminds me of how fortunate I am, and the example I need to live up to.

[Warren Watt]

May God bless him.

When the inevitable and sad ending arrives I doubt that it will be overshadowed by any regret. You and he are doing the right things.
I, on the other hand, have some regret (since 1994). Miss you Dad !!

[Hobcobble]

Glad to hear your dad's condition has improved.
John