My Dad Does Movember
Each day that I visit my Dad these days, his first question is almost always, 'What's our new total?'
His voice is weaker these days, sometimes you have to lean in close to hear it. His once boisterous laugh is now silent, but his face still breaks into a smile whenever he can. He still makes jokes, at every opportunity. He is still living his life the best he can with what he has and he is still my Dad.
Part of that living is growing a moustache for Movember. He is not, however, raising money for prostate or testicular cancer. But the money will very definitely benefit those who face cancer. He is raising money for the Wellington Hospice, the place he has called home for the past three months.
When he was admitted to the hospice we thought he might have only three weeks left. We underestimated a man who, each day, as his body becomes smaller his spirit grows larger and my love for him grows right along with it.
The hospice has allowed us to move from caregivers to family again. We can visit 24 hours a day and they provide excellent care to my Dad and to us as a family; with hot soup and snacks when we are there for a long time, it is a home away from home.
We started a facebook page Movember Norman - For Hospice Wellington and within three weeks we have raised over $2000. We are aiming for $3000. This is the first time someone who is a resident at the hospice has done a fundraiser and they said it's one of their most successful fundraisers to date.
One of the staff at the hospice said that the thing she loves most about this is that it reminds people that the hospice does not have to be a place of constant sadness, that although the residents are at the end of their lives, their lives are not over.
My Dad is definitely a man who has lived his life well and is continuing to do that as long as he is able.
If you haven't already, I encourage you to click the link and get on board with his Movember movement. www.hospicewellington.org. There is a special link on the bottom of the page that says 'Movember Norman' click there to donate. And if you can, leave a little note for my Dad, he loves people.
As a way of encouraging my Dad and to say thank you to those who have already donated, my kids and I made this video:
Our Movember Champion
His voice is weaker these days, sometimes you have to lean in close to hear it. His once boisterous laugh is now silent, but his face still breaks into a smile whenever he can. He still makes jokes, at every opportunity. He is still living his life the best he can with what he has and he is still my Dad.
Part of that living is growing a moustache for Movember. He is not, however, raising money for prostate or testicular cancer. But the money will very definitely benefit those who face cancer. He is raising money for the Wellington Hospice, the place he has called home for the past three months.
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| My sister and I and my Dad last October |
When he was admitted to the hospice we thought he might have only three weeks left. We underestimated a man who, each day, as his body becomes smaller his spirit grows larger and my love for him grows right along with it.
The hospice has allowed us to move from caregivers to family again. We can visit 24 hours a day and they provide excellent care to my Dad and to us as a family; with hot soup and snacks when we are there for a long time, it is a home away from home.
We started a facebook page Movember Norman - For Hospice Wellington and within three weeks we have raised over $2000. We are aiming for $3000. This is the first time someone who is a resident at the hospice has done a fundraiser and they said it's one of their most successful fundraisers to date.
One of the staff at the hospice said that the thing she loves most about this is that it reminds people that the hospice does not have to be a place of constant sadness, that although the residents are at the end of their lives, their lives are not over.
My Dad is definitely a man who has lived his life well and is continuing to do that as long as he is able.
If you haven't already, I encourage you to click the link and get on board with his Movember movement. www.hospicewellington.org. There is a special link on the bottom of the page that says 'Movember Norman' click there to donate. And if you can, leave a little note for my Dad, he loves people.
As a way of encouraging my Dad and to say thank you to those who have already donated, my kids and I made this video:
Our Movember Champion
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| Dad's first haircut after the hospital |
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| Dad's moustache two weeks in |
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