8mm Forum: Update 8/15/2018 from Chip Gelmini PLEASE read

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Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on July 11, 2018, 11:37 PM:

Previous posting are below.

Update August 15 2018

Dad passed at home local time 445pm with some of us here. For earlier information please read below. With thanks to all offering support. Much appreciated.

If I appear gone for a while my elderly Father is in his final weeks however long this takes who really knows. He has fought a tough battle with bile duct cancer and now it’s time to say goodbye. As I returned from Florida to help my parents, I had no idea this would be happening. And we add to this hearing loss, denture issues, Alzheimer’s and low level dementia.

Tonight he was brought by ambulance to the hospital because he could not breathe. As this condition progresses, lung, brain, or heart failure can signal what comes soon. We have watched him suffer, and we have suffered – in regards to my family – for the last year and a half. The trooper he is – this 90 year old heck of a kind man went through 19 of 25 radiation treatments before he was so sick we thought last August was the end.

The doctors said in August 2017 he’d probably last 6 months. They were wrong. As of tonight he’s still with us but the outlook is not good.

I will ask if all my friends here could run a movie for my Dad even though you never met or knew him as he bought me my first of many toy projectors, and introduced me to running movies at home. And it was he who took me to the drive in projection booth the night we went to the snack bar. Looking through the entrance door at those huge machines with those big reels spinning so fast – and how the projectionist could magically make one machine start just before the other machine shut down – would change my life forever. On this night I was between 6 to 8 years old. I’ve been in love ever since.

And a shout out to Bob Pucci who did visit my theater and did meet my Dad. I am so proud you had the chance to do that!

Hang in there I’ll be back soon

Kind regards

Chip Gelmini

[ August 15, 2018, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: Chip Gelmini ]

Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on July 12, 2018, 02:02 AM:

Losing my father was one of the hardest things I've ever had to endure, my thoughts are with you, Chip.

Posted by Larry Arpin (Member # 744) on July 12, 2018, 02:03 AM:

So sorry to hear your hardship. It's tough when your parents are sick. I wish I had been there for my mom. You're a good son.

Posted by Bob Pucci (Member # 8) on July 12, 2018, 06:49 AM:

Hi Chip

Sorry to here about your father.I am really pleased that I met him.Take care.

Bob

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on July 12, 2018, 07:17 AM:

Chip,

I'm very sorry to read about your Dad. Thank you for sharing those wonderful memories.

Doug

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 12, 2018, 11:52 AM:

Chip ...

Best wishes concerning you're Father. Count yourself rich in that you have been able to be in his life.

I have not seen my dad since 1996 and though he writes every couple of months, he refuses to travel (and when my siblings and I have traveled to where he is, he is conveniently not there).

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on July 12, 2018, 12:40 PM:

Very sorry to hear about this, Chip.

It's a difficult time.

Peace to you and your family.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 12, 2018, 04:34 PM:

sorry to hear of your sad news Chip. i am thinking of you during this difficult time.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on July 12, 2018, 06:58 PM:

Nothing was worse for me to loose my mum so I know what you're feeling [Frown]

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on July 13, 2018, 06:53 PM:

Update on my Dad

He is awake, very alert, wants to go home. We don’t really know what happened to him the other night to cause the trouble. He’s on some meds now which appears to be helping.

Thank you very much for your kind words. It’s great to have you as my friends.

It is indeed the illness that will take him from us. If the event of a few days ago was anything it is now down to a few weeks or months.

Chip G

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on July 17, 2018, 04:49 PM:

Chip, that's sweet news. A temporary reprieve is a blessing.

My parents' health is getting increasingly precarious, so we've been thinking about these things as a family recently.

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on July 23, 2018, 12:09 PM:

Update July 23 2018

My dad is doing ok through the events of today.

July 23, 2018 my Dad has turned 91

On this same day we mourn the loss of his wife my mom, Helen. @ 91.

But at least she no longer suffers.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on July 24, 2018, 05:49 AM:

You bet we'll be running films and thinking of you - Stay close and always pray - Shorty

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 24, 2018, 11:30 AM:

You have out thoughts and prayers, Chip!

How many years were they married? Though it has been only 13 years that I and my wife have been together, it doesn't seem like I existed before her. That's the beauty of marriage. [Smile]

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on July 24, 2018, 02:42 PM:

My folks were married 68 years.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 26, 2018, 11:29 AM:

WOW!!!!! What a great life together! Even with all the ups and downs that come in marriage (fights ... ect), there is a certain "gel" that keeps two people together like that.

Best wishes, as always. [Smile]

Posted by Ali Hipperson (Member # 5643) on July 31, 2018, 07:38 AM:

Hi Chip - and sincere apologies for taking so long to add my sentiments for you and your family to this thread.

As my mum's main carer, I am currently going through something similar with my own mother who has been in hospital since the 21st of March this year. The doctors have now said there is nothing more that they can do for her and are recommending that later this week she is moved to a hospice-type facility for end-of-life palliative care.

Therefore I can totally empathise with what you are going through and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this very difficult and sad time.

My mother is a mere 'youngster' when it comes to your own father and departed mother - in that she is only 90! [Wink]

God Bless,

Ali.

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