My husbands father had returned very unwell from a vacation in Europe. He became sicker rapidly and after a few tests metastatic cancer was confirmed.
In only three weeks since his wonderful holiday he was now bed bound and needing fulltime care. My husband was very close to his dad. He was the only son and had worked with him in the family business all his life. He found it heart breaking to watch his father dying. We had a small weekender to escape the city, and I wasn't a all surprised when my husband decided to "escape" literally. I knew what he was doing, but it was his choice. I however, wanted to say goodbye and was sad that I would miss out.
Early the next morning I had my chance. My father in law lay in the hospital bed surounded by our small family. Our small daughter Hannah sat on the bed with him, he looked and spoke to everyone in turn saying goodbye. He told me how happy Hannah had made him and what a beautiful girl she was. He then held my hand and thanked me for everything I had done for him, the care I had given him specially whilst he was sick. He asked me to continue to care for his son and look after his wife. "Oh, by the way. You know that you are pregnant. It will be a boy and you will name him after me." I didn't seem surprised to hear these things and remember just holding his hand and saying yes.
I knew what had happened when we were woken by the phone ringing at 5.30am. Three weeks later I found out that I was 2 months pregnant. I thought it was stress making me late. Its was also no surprise to deliver a beautiful baby boy seven months later.
And yes we did name him Mark, after his grandfather. Thank you Mark, for the chance to say goodbye.