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He knew the days were short, or perhaps he willed his own death to avoid the inevitable diabetic gruesomeness. It is hard to know.

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Originally posted by paintedgardens:
My father-in-law, who I called "Gpa" died yesterday here at home with us. It was unexpected I guess, although his birthday was Sunday and when that was done, he only lived another two days. He had diabetes for more than 40 years (perhaps for 50--a lot of years!), and a recent amputation simply had not healed. He knew the days were short, or perhaps he willed his own death to avoid the inevitable diabetic gruesomeness. It is hard to know. I found him in the morning, as I was going to install two motion sensor Hoot Owls I bought so that I would know via the baby monitor that he was moving around, as he would never call me for assistance, which he needed very very much. He said he didn't need my permission to pee. He died trying to pee by himself. We had checked on him 4 times during the night that night, and yet there he was dead by 7 am. He was alive (and annoying us as usual, poor man) at 4:30, but went to a better place soon thereafter. Death had been creeping in, now that we look back. We didn't recognize it at the time, or our role in it. We are grateful gma and gpa (my FIL aqnd MIL) sang hymns together the night before and gma read gpa all the birthday cards one last time. We are grateful my DH and I had a heart to heart talk with them and actually cancelled the NH admittance that was to take place the next day ("I want to live here, with my family."), and that he accepted the risks for himself of living with us rather than going to the NH to be suspended in life, but not really living it. We are grateful we all loved and supported each other that night of all nights, rather than being bitter. He really needed me to yell at, I think. I played an important role for him I think; and perhaps he did the same for me. Life is kinda odd and I am relieved to not run from crisis to crisis around the clock, but I actually miss the annoyances a little, and my DH feels guilty he was not perfect the last three days. Gma, my MIL, in her AD Bliss, was only told he went to heaven. "HE DID???? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!!" Blessings to everyone, and peace for us all.