Adelaide Memorial Service for Geoff

Hello Everyone .. Chris here writing to not only thank everyone who has given our family such great support but to also advise that there will be a Memorial Service for Geoff in Adelaide on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 10.30 am in Scots Church, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Geoff can be made to the Australian Lung Foundation, and sent to the following address:
Australian Lung Foundation
National Secretariat
PO Box 847, Lutwyche, Qld 4030

Thank you and hope to see you in Adelaide.

FYI

Hey all, in case you are overseas, or anywhere really, and wanted to donate to the Geoffrey McLennan Faculty Fellowship, I just found this link
https://www.uifoundation.org/GiveToIowa/WebObjects/GiveToIowa.woa/wa/goTo?area=mclennan

Thankyou

It has now been 2 days since dad's funeral.  What an amazing day that was.  Thankyou all for such a special day.  I have been to a few funerals in my life, and I found them to be very sad occassions.  Even though dad's funeral was very sad, it was a beautiful celebration of his life.  I do feel that the event gave me some sort of comfort.  It is really amazing how many lives he touched, and in such positive, life-changing ways.  We had granny and the extended mclennan family listening via phone and getting photos via text message.  We had so many lovely people there, including the koch family, the ross family etc.  So thankyou to all that attended, that send flowers, cards and donations to the fellowship that will carry dad's name.  I think dad would have found his funeral very beautiful.  I know I did.  Thankyou

I am not sure now what direction to have this blog go.  Do we keep putting put posts relating to dad's impact in peoples lives, research, the fellowship etc, or do we shut it down.  I guess that is more up to the followers really.  So if you would like to add a post to this blog...about anything really, feel free to send it to me at becancam@yahoo.com, and I will post it.  For now, make sure when ya think of dad, you smile

Funeral arrangements

Dad's funeral will be held on Friday the 30th, at 3pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City.  There will be a chance for those who would like to say something about him to speak at the reception to follow the service.  If you cannot make it, or do not feel that you can speak but want to say something, your words can be sent to Rev. Mark W. Martin at pastormwm@mchsi.com.  He will read the comments either during the service, or they will be read during the reception, depending on how many we get.  A memorial service will be held in Adelaide at a later date, but I would encourage friends and family in Australia to write something for the service here.
Memorials may be made to the Geoffrey McLennan Faculty Fellowship Fund at the University of Iowa Foundation. UI Foundation, PO Box 4550, iowa city 52244-4550

Free

This has turned out to be the worst day of my life.  Dad passed away this morning at about 2am.  He was not conscious and he was surrounded by his immediate family- me (bec), cam, sam, ben, declan and of course his wife of almost 40 years.  We held his hands, rubbed his foot, gave him lots of hugs and kisses, talk about memories of him in the many many hours leading up to his passing.  Dr Hohl was there with us to help guide us through this journey, and we will forever be grateful to him for his dedication to dad.  Dr Ross spend most of the day with us again as he had the day before.  He is an amazing friend.

The first part of the day is a bit fuzzy right now.  I apologize as I have not had sleep for a while.  But dad had a lot of visitors as usual.  Sorry, but I am too tired to name them right now, but of course Klein and Zabner were involved, which we are thankful for.

During dads final moments, we were all surrounding his bed.  Even declan woke up to say goodbye.  We played one of his favorate songs and told him how much we loved him and we said grandmas prayer for him.

He went peacefully and a few seconds after his passing all of us (not sure about declan) felt a rush of happiness.  So we know that he is happy.  Happy to be free of the pain and the suffering he has been going through, and happy to be free of the constraints put on his usually over-active life.  

Up until the end, and forever more, he is a great man.  The world is a better place for having him in it.  We are better people for having him in our lives.  In fact he shaped so many peoples lives, and I can honestly say he and mum were the biggest influences in shaping my life.  

Mum has done such an incredible job looking after dad.  Not just in the last few weeks, but the last few years.  And people, our jobs are not over yet, we are now here to help mum through this and our jobs are to look after mum.  I know you all have real jobs and other lives, but I am allowed to be a little dramatic a 3.48am on a day like this!

Please keep the comments coming on the blog.  we will continue to check it and it makes us so proud of dad to read all the things people say.  He was so amazing.  In fact, just today, a nurse (sorry, I didn't actually meet her to don't know her name) who was coming off of her shift came up to us and thanked us for having such am amazing father.  We are very fortunate.

 

Sleep well dearest Dad

Dad is now sleeping peacefully and probably will not wake up.  He never viewed his life with cancer as a battle.  But whatever you want to call what he has been through is now over and he can sleep peacefully until his last breath.

Monday July 26th

Bec here again.  Sorry for the delay in any posts, I hope we have not caused anyone to get anxious.  I am writing as dad has been planning to write all day and he is a bit too loopy to be able to handle it.
Last night was an interesting night.  Mum, me and dad all stayed in his room.  Dad has a lot of trouble sleeping and instead kinda of nodded in and out of cousciousness.  So I sat with him for most of the night and held his hand.  We had a few good chats and I feel very blessed to have spent that night with him.  His morphine has been increased slowly over the last day.  He is not as comfortable today as yesterday, but we are working on making him more comfortable.  It is a very difficult day for all of us, but most of all for dad.  At this stage, it is impossible to make him physically comfortable while mentally alert.
We have had lovely visitors today- Joel Klein, Alan Ross, Jo Zabner, David Stoltz, Mark Martin, Deanne and Donita from hospice.  And of course Dr Ray Hohl.  Sorry if I left anyone out, I am just saying the people I remember seeing today, but I have been in and out a little with other family members.  We even got to skype quickly early this morning with Shane and Tracy McLennan.
Dad has been blessed enough to be surrounded by those who love him dearly.  I guess I should also mention that mum, me, cam, declan, ben and sam are also here.  He is loved by many and that love shows.  Thankyou all
The visitors have been wonderful, but as a family we are really desperate for some alone time with dad.  We appreciate your consideration in this matter