Mark's Dad Passed Away

Howard D. Lowe lived to be 90 years old.  He passed away peacefully in his sleep while napping before dinner.

Linda was the first to receive the call.  She called Kevin.  Kevin could not reach Mark so he called me and asked I relay the message to Mark.

We were all somewhat surprised, but also at peace.  He is now reunited with his lovely wife after 11 years.

Please see further post for more details.

Mark's Dad has Hip Replacement Surgery

Around 12:00 today, Mark sent a text saying his dad would require hip replacement surgery.  Wow!  What a shoke.

Yesterday was his 90th birthday.  Linda and Kevin went to visit him and celebrate, but Mark called they also said he had taken a fall and was going to the doctor to be evaluated. 

I feel so bad for Mark's dad.  He's 90 years old, has a wonderful family, life and a nice place to live, but because of Alztimers' Disease he doesn't remember much of the present and because of poor knees he doesn't get around much.  As he is getting older he is getting weaker and now he has taken a fall that requires dramatic surgery.

Our thoughts and prayers are with him for a safe and successful surgery.  I'm sure he will also have to undergo extensive rehab and physical therapy. 

Mark's visit with his Dad for Father's Day

It had almost been a year since Mark has had a chance to visit with his dad (other than the weekly phone conversations they have).  Betsy had just been out to see him the first week of May of this year, but Mark didn't have the opportunity to come with her.

Mark had a business trip to LA and decided to take some extra time after the trip and stop off in St. George to see his dad.  It was brilliant.  Mark needed to go and see how his dad was doing for himself.

Mark took his dad to various places around St. George.  He took him out to lunch and up to Zion's National Park.  They had two very full long days with each other (much needed and respected) long days.  I think it is very hard on Mark to see his incredibly intelligent and gifted father lose his memory.  Mark said he has essentially lost everything that has happened in the last 18 years.  It's so sad to know he can't do anything about it and yet it is happening before our eyes.

To sum things up - it was a very special and well spent trip visiting for Mark to visit with his dad.  He was able to celebrate Father's Day with him - how perfect (although we missed him so much back at home where four people call him dad).

Glad Mark could go...

Trip to see family in Utah

I have to start by sharing this crazy story of what happened at the rental car place.  I went to SLC airport to rent a car to drive down to St. George for two days and then continue into Las Vegas to fly home.  Las Vegas is only two hours from St. George whereas SLC is 5 and 1/2.  The renal car business (all of them) tell me the cost of a "one way" rental is $259 and higher.  Are the crazy - I could fly in a private jet for less than that.  This is a huge dilemma.  What am I going to do?  I have three extra days that I'm staying just so I can visit with Mark's dad in St. George and now it is a mess.  

Thank goodness for Internet cell phones.  I was able to change my flight flying from Las Vegas home to SLC to home for only a $5 charge.  Then I was able to rent a car to drive down to St. George and back for only $61, not $259.  I will mean that I lose 3-4 hours of time visiting friends in St. George and missing seining a friend in Las Vegas, but it is the only thing I can do.  After taking care of all that I am finally on the road headed towards Provo to see my niece, Alex Hodge - that I haven't seen in what seems like 12 years.  She was only 10 the last time I saw her.  

She is a student at the LDS Business College (SLC) and works for a bridal dress shop in Provo.  I got to see her apartment - she lives so close to campus, and yet very convenient to town.  I had the most wonderful visit with her.  It had been several years since I had seen her, so I was so happy to have the chance.  I still had to get to St. George that night, so it was only for about two hours that I was in Provo.

It is such an easy drive from Provo to St. George - long but easy … and fast.  I was so surprised to see that the speed limit in some places is 80 mph.  I don't think I ever want my kids to drive that fast, but I loved it!!!

First stop in St. George is at Linda's new condo.  I visited with Garrett, Jordan and Taryn for a short bit before Linda took me over to visit with Dad, Mark's dad at his new assisted living home, the Beehive House.  Garrett and Jordan are preparing for missions, and Taryn is working full time.  We had just seen them in the summer at the reunion, but it was great to see them again!  Jessica would have loved to come too.  She gets along with the twins so well.  

Dad has a very nice place but he doesn't remember that people come to visit him, so he thinks he's lonely.  It's so sad.  He's lived such a full life - traveled the world being on all but one continent, having five wonderful children - all married with their own families now, and yet he is forgetting almost everything that happens in the present.  

I showed him a picture of Mark from Easter; Dad didn't recognize him.  However, when I showed Dad a picture of Mark from our wedding day, he said with enthusiasm, "Oh, that's Mark."

The next day, Linda and I had lunch together and then went back to visit with Dad.  He didn't remember our visit from the night before, and I learned that he didn't know who I was.  I think he's scared because he has different people tell him different things all the time and he doesn't know who he can trust.  

I had to leave St. George that night to drive back up to SLC to return the car and fly home.  I had hoped to also see Kevin and Shauna while I was in Utah, but they were in SLC for her treatment while I was on my way south.  Luckily, her treatment was so successful she was able to come back a day early.  We were driving in opposite directions to/from SLC and St. George so we met in Draper at a Wendy's restaurant.  It was so good to have a chance to see them.  Our family has been praying every chance for Shauna's cancer recovery.  Kevin and Shauna have been carrying most of the responsibility in taking care of Dad for the past three year.  Now they need to focus on Shauna and her health.  It was so nice to see them and visit with them. We stay for about an hour there before we both realized we needed to get traveling.  

  I was on the road another 3 hours and finally found a hotel around 10:30 at night.  It has been such a fast and very busy trip, but oh so very worth it!

It breaks my heart that we can't live closer to Mark's dad.  I know I'd go visit with him and take him shopping and stuff, just so he could have company.  I know everyone is doing all that they can, but I feel so bad that we don't live close enough to help out.  I can't thank Kevin and Shauna enough for all that they have done for him over the past three years, and to Linda for helping out too.