Rest in Peace, Dad.
Well, it's been a while since I've written. During that time, Dad was put on oxygen in December, had a brochoscopy in February or March, and had a lung biopsy at the end of March or early April.
He was diagnosed with Usual Interstitial Pneumonia. It means the body is attacking the lungs as if they were foreign, and destroying their ability to absorb oxygen.
On June 1, Dad was taken to the hospital. His oxygen level was at 24 and he was unconscious when the ambulance arrived. He was rushed to Piggott, where he got back up to a good level for oxygen and then on to Poplar Bluff.
At Poplar Bluff, when I arrived, they told us that Dad had a mild heart attack. But the real problem was the oxygen levels. And worse still, Dad had developed a case of pneumonia. But Dad didn't seem to feel the effects of the heart attack, and he seemed to be doing reasonably well - talking and such - although the oxygen levels in his body weren't where they needed to be, even with the oxygen level set really, really high.
On June 2, Dad died of respiratory failure, with Mom at his side the whole time, and with Gentry, Jody, Marty, and me there at the last as well.
My father, Jack Vancil, was a great man, and there's no way to fill the void that he leaves in the lives of our family. He loved us, he labored for us, and I honestly believe that the only reason he was able to survive on the night of May 31st/morning of June 1st was all for me - so that we'd get to visit a bit.
I love you, Dad. And I miss you a lot more than I show.
Rest in Peace
Jack Loyd Vancil
December 18, 1927 - June 2, 2007