As children, we inherently know that our parents will die, however the intellectual acknowledgement of this does not take away the indescribable heartache of supporting our parents when they are in pain, and in providing hope among the stark realism of hospitals and sick beds. The details of reality that so quickly become everyday activities, like becoming obsessed with checking a urine or colostomy bag or demanding a certain kind of jello, are so terribly surreal. Death is not always apparent in these situations -- it lurks, leaving clues that sometimes we simply cannot see because of our sheer ignorance of sickness and disease, or due to our need to be positive, to see and believe in the little successes like finding the strength to sit up or roll to the side when the nurses are changing the sheets. Just minutes before my father died, he lifted his arms, tubes spilling down from his wrists and elbows, pleading to that he be let go. "Let me out of here", he declared with passion and fear in his eyes. Moments later he was in the ICU. Minutes later my mother and I were on the phone with my sisters who had just returned home thinking he would be fine, needing to decide whether to put him on life support or let him go. Those who leave and those who are left behind share courage in the process of illness and in death. We are also bound by a very quiet loneliness that persists through our very altered lives. How do we describe the experience? It can sound so trite and rote, like a series of simple events that lead to a conclusion. We know that the process of dying is more than that. And on Gray's Anatomy, we were reminded of some of the most remarkable moments in our lives -- the extraordinary moments of laughing together in hospital rooms, the bringing together of old friends, of laying our hands on those who are finding passage to a world beyond our own.
GA-Faithful Says:
January 23rd, 2007 5:18 AM
This was a very heart breaking show I havn't cried this much since my mom passed away three years ago. My mom was a seven year cancer survivor but died shortly after having heart surgery. But Izzy made an interesting point about her millions being worthless because there is'nt anything you would do to keep your friends from going threw the grief but you can't. It shows that all you can do is be there for your friends.
luis Says:
January 23rd, 2007 6:43 AM
Great show! I also lost my father in sept of 02. Nothing has ever been the same since then. I miss him dearly. Your show is amazing!
Christine Says:
January 25th, 2007 10:02 PM
thanks for your inspiring article.
my heart is broken!
we lost my father in law to kidney cancer when he was 52.
what an amazing man-like i am sure your father was.
thanks for reminding us to appreciate our family when we can.
christine.
swit ness a Says:
February 8th, 2007 9:00 PM
the ending was very sad. was crying like a baby. my little sister saw me when i went to get some tissue and she felt bad for me and came to hug me. i told her that i was ok...that something sad just happened in the show that i was watching. she told me to stop crying or else she would start crying to. i had to force myself to stop. it was so sad....expected it...but was still praying that he would fight...just a bit harder. when they were taking out the tubes i kept watching george and saying "all he wanted to do was fight...thats all...he didnt know that he wouldnt be able to...he just wanted to try...to be there longer for u guys"
afterwards learning that it was based on a true story was even more horrible. Krita i am sorry about your loss. but u know what...at least u had a dad to share your life with :-) . some of us joined the dead dads club at child birth....and the funny thing is they are still alive. accept my sympathy. bye.
great show by the way!
katie Says:
March 4th, 2007 7:53 PM
My fatehr passed away in September 06 from Esophagus cancer! I couldn't cry for months becasue i was so numb and in shock! But once i watched Grey's and when he said "I don't know a life without my dad" i was crying and couldn't stop! It brings it all back the raw feelings of all the times in the hospital, all the moments you think how am i gonna get through this, or most of all how can i ever recover from my family memebers going through such a crisis! Till this day i honestly don't know how i will ever move past all those feelings but you do it day by day! I hated the fact that i had joined the Dead dad's Club! Not something you would ever want to join!
Beth Says:
March 20th, 2007 8:14 AM
This story was so similiar to my own Dad's story (age 62) and battle with EC. My Dad even looked liked George's Dad... I of course knew what the outcome would be after seeing what my father went thru. My Dad was never sick a day in his life. The day I flew in to Phoenix for a visit, I took one look at him and knew he was dying. Dad lived 6 weeks after his surprising diagnosis...if one lesson can be learned thru the saddest of circumstances, is to get checked if someone in your family has died from this deadly disease. The doctor told my Dad that his cancer was from undiagnosed acid reflux disease. (not all forms are, but Dad's was). Luckily I have a fantastic doctor who, even though I (age 42) had no symptoms of acid reflux like Dad, insisted I have a scope done. Surprise...I too have the lowest form of Barrett's Esop., a precancerous condition which can eventually lead to EC. I am now taking meds everyday to prevent this from happening. If we only knew...thank you for bringing to light one of the fastest growing and deadliest cancers. Maybe we can save some lives in the process of our grief.
God bless,
Beth
Katherin Says:
April 24th, 2007 1:50 PM
my father died a few months ago... i feel exactly as george.
Joanne Says:
March 9th, 2008 9:30 AM
I was crying during this episode, my dad died when I was young.. and I felt exactly like George...
January 22nd, 2007 10:13 PM
As children, we inherently know that our parents will die, however the intellectual acknowledgement of this does not take away the indescribable heartache of supporting our parents when they are in pain, and in providing hope among the stark realism of hospitals and sick beds. The details of reality that so quickly become everyday activities, like becoming obsessed with checking a urine or colostomy bag or demanding a certain kind of jello, are so terribly surreal. Death is not always apparent in these situations -- it lurks, leaving clues that sometimes we simply cannot see because of our sheer ignorance of sickness and disease, or due to our need to be positive, to see and believe in the little successes like finding the strength to sit up or roll to the side when the nurses are changing the sheets. Just minutes before my father died, he lifted his arms, tubes spilling down from his wrists and elbows, pleading to that he be let go. "Let me out of here", he declared with passion and fear in his eyes. Moments later he was in the ICU. Minutes later my mother and I were on the phone with my sisters who had just returned home thinking he would be fine, needing to decide whether to put him on life support or let him go. Those who leave and those who are left behind share courage in the process of illness and in death. We are also bound by a very quiet loneliness that persists through our very altered lives. How do we describe the experience? It can sound so trite and rote, like a series of simple events that lead to a conclusion. We know that the process of dying is more than that. And on Gray's Anatomy, we were reminded of some of the most remarkable moments in our lives -- the extraordinary moments of laughing together in hospital rooms, the bringing together of old friends, of laying our hands on those who are finding passage to a world beyond our own.
January 23rd, 2007 5:18 AM
This was a very heart breaking show I havn't cried this much since my mom passed away three years ago. My mom was a seven year cancer survivor but died shortly after having heart surgery. But Izzy made an interesting point about her millions being worthless because there is'nt anything you would do to keep your friends from going threw the grief but you can't. It shows that all you can do is be there for your friends.
January 23rd, 2007 6:43 AM
Great show! I also lost my father in sept of 02. Nothing has ever been the same since then. I miss him dearly. Your show is amazing!
January 25th, 2007 10:02 PM
thanks for your inspiring article.
my heart is broken!
we lost my father in law to kidney cancer when he was 52.
what an amazing man-like i am sure your father was.
thanks for reminding us to appreciate our family when we can.
christine.
February 8th, 2007 9:00 PM
the ending was very sad. was crying like a baby. my little sister saw me when i went to get some tissue and she felt bad for me and came to hug me. i told her that i was ok...that something sad just happened in the show that i was watching. she told me to stop crying or else she would start crying to. i had to force myself to stop. it was so sad....expected it...but was still praying that he would fight...just a bit harder. when they were taking out the tubes i kept watching george and saying "all he wanted to do was fight...thats all...he didnt know that he wouldnt be able to...he just wanted to try...to be there longer for u guys"
afterwards learning that it was based on a true story was even more horrible. Krita i am sorry about your loss. but u know what...at least u had a dad to share your life with :-) . some of us joined the dead dads club at child birth....and the funny thing is they are still alive. accept my sympathy. bye.
great show by the way!
March 4th, 2007 7:53 PM
My fatehr passed away in September 06 from Esophagus cancer! I couldn't cry for months becasue i was so numb and in shock! But once i watched Grey's and when he said "I don't know a life without my dad" i was crying and couldn't stop! It brings it all back the raw feelings of all the times in the hospital, all the moments you think how am i gonna get through this, or most of all how can i ever recover from my family memebers going through such a crisis! Till this day i honestly don't know how i will ever move past all those feelings but you do it day by day! I hated the fact that i had joined the Dead dad's Club! Not something you would ever want to join!
March 20th, 2007 8:14 AM
This story was so similiar to my own Dad's story (age 62) and battle with EC. My Dad even looked liked George's Dad... I of course knew what the outcome would be after seeing what my father went thru. My Dad was never sick a day in his life. The day I flew in to Phoenix for a visit, I took one look at him and knew he was dying. Dad lived 6 weeks after his surprising diagnosis...if one lesson can be learned thru the saddest of circumstances, is to get checked if someone in your family has died from this deadly disease. The doctor told my Dad that his cancer was from undiagnosed acid reflux disease. (not all forms are, but Dad's was). Luckily I have a fantastic doctor who, even though I (age 42) had no symptoms of acid reflux like Dad, insisted I have a scope done. Surprise...I too have the lowest form of Barrett's Esop., a precancerous condition which can eventually lead to EC. I am now taking meds everyday to prevent this from happening. If we only knew...thank you for bringing to light one of the fastest growing and deadliest cancers. Maybe we can save some lives in the process of our grief.
God bless,
Beth
April 24th, 2007 1:50 PM
my father died a few months ago... i feel exactly as george.
March 9th, 2008 9:30 AM
I was crying during this episode, my dad died when I was young.. and I felt exactly like George...
February 18th, 2009 10:46 AM
i love it it's my favorite serial