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Dad and his daughters
“Dad was the best friend I could have,” recalls Lina. – We have been very close to him since early childhood … And that connection lasted a lifetime …
According to Lina, she and her father had an equal approach to life and its values, politics and life attitudes, family values.
Vytautas Antanas was a family man who enveloped his wife and two daughters in his infinite love and care, creating a life for his family in which everyone would feel happy.
The man carefully educated his daughters, instilled in them useful habits, taught them to save, to live not according to wishes, but according to possibilities.
Early death of the mother
“My mother died early and unexpectedly,” recalls Lina. – She was only 46 years old at the time …
After the death of his wife, Lina’s father was left alone with two daughters. Lina was then 19 years old and her sister 16.
“After my mother died, it was excruciatingly difficult for my father,” recalls Lina. “He seemed to have died with her himself.”
But the man did not give up, clinging to life with all his might, because he had to take care of his daughters.
Lina’s father raised and raised his two daughters correctly, giving them life.
Birth of a granddaughter
“The birth of the first granddaughter was like a light for the father in the dark sky, like a breath of fresh and fresh air in his sad life,” recalls Lina. “The granddaughter gave her new strength and will to live …”
Lina’s daughter, Neringa, grew up cared for and nurtured by her grandfather. He taught his beloved grandson all he could.
“I am very grateful to my father for his life lessons for my children,” Lina shares with her memories. – Dad raised them as great people. As a mother, I am very proud of them … “
The onset of daddy’s illness
Dad’s illness was very unexpected for Lina, as she never complained of health problems, she did not feel any signs of illness.
“Apparently the experiences of life and the endless pain of my mother’s death did not pass to my father without a trace, it accumulated in his body,” says Lina. “It was only a matter of time before everything came to fruition.”
During the study, Lina’s father was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2003. Over the next 10 years, the man underwent up to 7 head surgeries.
“When Dad got sick, he started a different life, which changed us all,” recalls Lina. “We learned to live with a different father than the one we had before that fateful day.”
Daddy’s health crisis
“In January 2013 there was a sharp deterioration in Dad’s health,” Lina recalls. – Then he lost consciousness and ran home with a nearly 2-year-old grandson on his hands. As soon as he was taken to the hospital, a brain tumor was found on Dad’s head during the exam, which was almost the size of a fist … The doctor just couldn’t believe it … “
Lina’s father remained paralyzed, almost speechless, disoriented and without recognizing his loved ones.
The man remained in the hospital for a month, but was subsequently discharged.
The daughters needed to find an institution where their father could receive professional care and nursing.
“Some wondered then why we or Daddy’s second wife don’t take care of Daddy’s house,” recalls the woman. – My answer is this – we did not have the conditions to care for a seriously ill person in our home, we both worked, we had to support families and young children. Dad’s wife also refused to take her husband to a nursing home, so she had to find a safe haven for the most seriously ill person.
Looking for a support authority
When she began her search for a care facility, Lina and her sister went through numerous reviews of various nursing homes.
But he couldn’t decide, couldn’t find the right ones.
Just then, Lina read an article about her sister Michael Rak and the hospice of Blessed Priest Mykolas Sopočka in Vilnius, which she founded.
“The article very well described the mission of the hospice, as well as the difficult road that Sister Michael had to travel to establish this hospice,” recalls Lina. “I decided to write to the hospice and ask about the possibility of taking care of my father there.”
Soon Lina received a response from the Vilnius Hospice Blessed Priest Mykolas Sopočka. In the letter, they were invited to visit and discuss opportunities to care for their dad there.
“It is said that when God closes the door, He opens the window,” Lina shares. “I am convinced this is true … For our terminally ill father, he has indeed opened the window … to the hospice … to his peace, safety and great love …”
Lina and her sister went to the hospital of Blessed Priest Mykolas Sopočka in Vilnius. His staff introduced the women to the hospice activities, showed them the premises, as well as the pavilion, where a place had already been prepared for their father.
It was agreed that Lina’s father would be taken to the hospital next week.
Arrival at the hospice
“Taking Dad to the hospital was difficult,” recalls Lina. – I remember driving a noisy hospital ambulance. It caused a lot of stress and anxiety for both dad and us. “
According to Lina, that trip was very hard for Dad both physically and emotionally. He did not understand where he was being transported and was very concerned about it.
“It was not easy for me and my sister,” recalls Lina. – There was uncertainty waiting. But then I realized with my heart and mind that we had discovered for our father the best, safest and most comfortable medical institution, which became our second home for the next 11 months … “
According to Lina, the hospice was received as guests of honor by her boss sister, Michaela Rak, doctors, a platoon of nurses and volunteers.
“We realized that this was our new family,” recalls Lina. “Those wonderful people took care not only of Dad, but also of us who, together with a seriously ill person, were overwhelmed and tired of fear and ignorance.”
According to Lina, the hospice staff enveloped them all in sincere warmth and peace.
The women immediately felt that their dad was in good hands.
“The whole time Dad was in the hospice, we were calm,” recalls Lina. “There we have what, I can safely say now, we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else at that time …”
The atmosphere of Blessed Priest Mykolas Sopočka hospital in Vilnius reminded them of a home where it is safe and good. You are important in them. It doesn’t matter who you are and who you are.
According to Lina, her father was no longer fully conscious at that time to understand where he was, who was taking care of him, who cared that he was not at home.
Relatives of a sick person and their emotions.
“It’s no secret that being around a loved one who is dying is extremely difficult, both physically and emotionally,” shares Lina. “But in the hospice I really felt heard, understood and protected …”
According to Lina, the hospice employs extremely sincere and compassionate doctors, nurses and nursing assistants, who came to the rescue immediately when needed.
The woman admits to always remembering the hospice psychologist who spoke to her at the traditional Father’s Day commemoration on June 1, organized by the hospice of Blessed Priest Mykolas Sopočka.
The two women subsequently met several times in the corridors of the hospice.
Lina told the hospice psychologist about her problems and pains, and she always found the words to reassure and encourage her, reminding her that the hospice staff took proper care of her father every day and that she didn’t have to worry about it.
The psychologist also always urged Lina not to forget to take care of her health and that of her family, even in such a difficult situation for her.
Nutrition of patients according to prescribed diets.
“I would like to talk about hospice food separately, because it is special,” says Lina. – I can’t cook so delicious… Every day’s meals were different, but always complete and nutritious. The meat looked like meat, potato like potato, vegetable like vegetable … I couldn’t say that about some of the public hospitals where I had to be … “
According to the doctors at the hospital, his father was unable to eat normal food due to impaired bodily functions, so they gave him grated food there.
“When I got to the hospice, I warned their staff,” Lina recalls. “But one of the hospice doctors asked me, wouldn’t it be better to feed my father food than usual, so that he could chew it and become more satiated as a result?”
According to Lina, they tried it and everything turned out great. Since then, Dad has enjoyed the kitchen masterpieces of hospitality with an appetite, not shredded food.
Hospice atmosphere
“The nuns in the hospital brought even more comfort and peace,” recalls Lina. “They prayed to the one who went out into eternity, singing songs that shook the heart … But the nuns sang in low voices so that the consciously ill who lay outside the wall would not hear or cry …”
The nuns were with Lina’s father and his family both in prayers and in pain, as well as at a time when he was already counting the last minutes of his life.
When Lina’s father died, the nuns sat together and hugged Lina’s children.
“I have always admired the strength of the hospice monks to stand dignity alongside the mourners, their ability to peacefully envelop all who are heartbroken,” Lina recalls excitedly. “Throughout my life, I will be immensely grateful to the hospice who accepted my terminally ill father in his embrace of compassion, care and love.”
Vilnius Blessed Priest Mykolas Sopočka Hospice provides free professional medical and nursing care to children and adults with terminal oncological and other illnesses in the hospital and patients’ home.
We kindly ask you to allocate your 1.2 percent. from GPM to Vilnius Hospice of Blessed Priest Mykolas Sopočka. More information: https://bit.ly/VilniausHospisas
