Fifteen years ago, November 1, 1998, daddy got up, told mom he was starving, and said he felt like he could eat a big breakfast like bacon, eggs, toast, hash browns, and all that. And he did. My brother and I later remarked we never heard him complain a day in his life, yet today we also know he knew…….they say people know, I believe they do. Yet he drove a car, October 31, 1998, ran an errand for mom, he had a transfusion 2-3 days prior to Halloween, talked to me on my birthday. When I asked, how are you daddy? His answer was the usual, oh fine, fine. So he ate that big breakfast, and then at about 11:00 AM said he was having trouble catching his breath. He told mom to call an ambulance, which wasnt his usual either. She did, and they took him about 11:30. He was pronounced gone at 1:21 PM, and I commemorate this day as Roy John Hanby memorial day., May 13, 1923-Novemeber 1, 1998, age 75. He had leukemia, and 5 other cancers all attributed and proven to be Hanford related. We fought the DOE and the DOD, and won, after two go arounds with them and the four of us kids were compensated. That award should have gone to mom, had she been alive, but she too was already gone by then. Our Uncle Ray, daddys twin, did a lot to make that happen, his memory so sharp of events and aunt Dodie too, her memory also very sharp of those days of WWII and while daddy was in the Army Air Corp, his group was used by DuPont for a sub contractor during WWII and so daddy had to suit up every single day, and be bussed out beyond Hanford and bussed back in, and ordered to shower, change his clothes, and then go home. I wont go into how long a period of time, certainly during most if not all of WWII. But we didnt know, we never knew the impact that had on our dad and what materials those men had to handle and the reasons for the showering after every shift. Their clothes were burned and they changed into their civilian clothes to go home….we never knew or had a clue because daddy didnt complain. He never said a word to us about what he went through. The only thing we DID know was he often had to purge extra blood from his system, and had to actually go get rid of it, and the condition was called, polycythemia, which today we know is a forerunner to full blown leukemia. The other thing we knew as we got older was if and when it turned from the polycythemia to leukemia it would be rapid…..said his drs. Well when you get a transfusion 3 days before and you suddenly go into no oxygen, it had obviously turned into a leukemic condition and he was gone. We never knew what that man endured, but there were over 121 pages of pathology reports on daddy that was the hardest reading Ive ever done. It took me a few days to read, sift, re read, sift some more, and marvel that I never heard a word about pain, fatigue, aching joints, nothing. He never ever let on what he endured. Part of the pathology reports showed he had also contracted abortive polio. The kind that doesnt paralyze, but does have ramifications later in life. I know his fatigue was bad enough that in his last few months of life, he would almost throw himself in a chair. But still no complaining. He loved God, and he lived what he preached, and he walked the walk and I know exactly where he is today. Hes now re united with his twin brother, and hes happy. And I know Ill have that reunion with him too. So daddy, this is for you, for all you gave, for all your love, for how kind you always were, for all you taught, for more than I can even write here. It would take a book to get it all down. I love you daddy, Ill see you and Uncle Ray by and by. Your daughter, Conners.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 05:45:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015