K. David Prince March 19, 1943 - September 15, 2007

For those of you who were not aware, my father was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Last night at around 7:30 PM he took a couple of last deep breaths and then stopped.

The last two weeks of his life were very high. I commented to my dad "You haven't sounded this good in a very long time." During the second week my dad had expressed some fear of coming off this high, and by mid week it was clear he was coming back down. Friday night dad had a rough night.

When I arrived my dad wouldn't talk to me. He would say a few phrases to the nurse, he talked to his brother and sister, but he wouldn't talk to me. He did smile at my joke -- "Hey dad, how does Chinese sound for dinner?"

Around seven o'clock, Kathy asked if dads head hurt. He responded yes, and Kathy gave him a bit more mediation. He complained of no other pain through out the day. Kathy and I soon after went out for a walk with her boys. We dropped the boys off to watch a movie with some very kind neighbors, and after a bit more walking headed home. As we turned the corner I told Kathy I was going to sleep on the couch with dad, because I felt that it was going to be a very short time until the end. My Uncle Keith came out and told us that he had passed.

I had told my dad earlier in this process that I didn't know if I could watch him die. I find it interesting that he waited until my sister and I left the house.

This kind of feeling is hard to explain. There are waves of grief, and some uncontrolled crying. But there is also relief. He had very little pain in the grand scheme.

He was a good person. I miss him already.