Whatever hopes and plans I may have had for 2020, beyond being with Mum for the time she had left, they certainly didn’t anticipate being impacted by a global pandemic.
The shadow of Covid-19 turned into ‘social isolation’, just 10 days or so after Mum died and what a blessing that she didn’t have to bear further deterioration, in a hospice/hospital without her partner or us able to be close. My just-established return to 4-day week work has become home-based, and I’m very thankful to be able to have focus for 7-8 hours a day, with an enjoyable virtual team community, part of the NHS.UK website programme. Indeed I’m even working on Covid-19-accelerated activities – the sub-team I’m in is currently looking at enabling repeat prescription ordering from the website.
My campervan had just gone on the market, with the decision made that if I achieved my target price for it, I would go for a shorter, 6m van. The building work on the house to convert the garage, join it to the house, and swap the downstairs layout around, was two weeks in when tools were downed.
But a week ago, my Dad, not seen by any family for 4 weeks due to lockdown of his care home, developed symptoms of the virus, and finally passed away this morning, becoming one of this historic time’s statistics, irrespective of what gets recorded on his death certificate. Having been able to all gather together round my Mum’s bedside only 5 weeks ago, albeit just after she left us for the last time, being able to mark Dad’s passing together, with hugs, last holding of hands, last touching of a dear face, has not been possible, and that has so marked this time.
Alongside the progression of his dementia for the last 15 years or so, this man had, with the support of his wife, lived with hip replacement problems, daily warfarin and other medications, basal cell carcinomas a-plenty, sepsis last year, and the shingles episode which was the final catalyst for his recent necessary move into permanent care. Seemingly indestructible, pacemaker and NHS nothwithstanding!, he finally met his nemesis, as have so many others, in Covid-19.
A valued father, father-in-law and Grandad, from his many abilities he managed to subdue his impatience! 🙂 sufficiently to teach I and my siblings to swim, drive, jog, play squash …..,; he was determined, and worked hard following his divorce from my Mum, to continue to support his children and be involved. With Rosemary, his wife, he had enjoyed a good life, knew it, and was very thankful for it. He achieved his dreams – remaining committed to his family, getting a degree later in life, becoming a Chief Inspector in the police, retiring to live in the Lake District, owning a house in France, travel in Europe, the US & Canada and New Zealand, and enjoyed so many hobbies through the years, including car mechanics, diy, cooking, painting, hiking and carpentry. He loved nothing more than to be with, and help his family and friends. He showed his love, and knew he was loved.
With a restricted funeral in the next couple of weeks, we will look forward to commemorating and celebrating his life just as soon as we can all get together. My Dad, another foundation stone of our extended family, will be sorely missed and never forgotten.
Jim (James Albert) Creeley 14 August 1937 – 23 April 2020
Go well Dad – dementia no more
