>Hi Terry
>
>>Off to my dad's funeral, up north, next week, then off on 2 weeks' holiday. So please don't fret if you don't see any of my drivel. :-)
>>
>>See y'all after I get back.
>
>I am sorry to hear about your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

To all who've sent their condolensces - Thank you very much.

They say "It was a blessed release" which is the case here. I'd no idea that Altzheimer's also affects the autonomic nervous system. In my dad's case he'd lost the close-the-trachea response when swallowing. Hence food was going in his lungs, causing choking and infections. Taken into hospital he had at least 3 bouts of pneumonia. He was on a saline and sugar soln. drip ONLY for at least 5 weeks. God knows how he lasted that long. He'd lost all sign of recognition and just lay there constantly making this moaning noise and looking all about himself. He couldn't even drink anything and the side of his tongue was covered in a massive clump of ulcers. I went up north to see him, at death's door, some 3 weeks ago and willed him to die then, to get himself out of his misery.

Now he's at peace. The fondest times he had in his life were when he was an Irish Guardsman, doing duty at Buck Palace and all that. If I know him he'll be there in his red tunic and bearskin, standing guard at the pearly gates :-)

Thanks friends

Terry