It has been a long time since I have updated my dad's caringbridge.  I think I stopped journaling as things had been going better....been relatively stable. 

 Dad was able to come home from assisted care/rehab in June.  A week prior to coming home I hadn't seen him in almost a month.  He shocked Jesse and I by walking into a restaurant in Lansboro without a walker.  He was feeling well enough that  he had even come out to where we were camping drank a beer and spent the day in the sunshine.  The Dodge Center Assisted Care/Rehab facility had done amazing work and dad was feeling good.  He recognized that he wasn't as strong as he was pre-transplant and had the fire to keep doing PT to get stronger. 

Dad was feeling well enough he had even started driving a little bit again (which I must admit caused some banter about whether or not he was ready to be driving on the interstate again after a two year break.)   He worked in his yard. He visited friends. He tinkered in his garage. He drove and visited us as we camped in Royalton.   He spent time with Jonah and Jacob.

He had a scary fall in mid August when he missed a curb in a parking lot, Thank goodness he David with him.  He  ended up riding in an ambulance to the hospital.  But he came home that night and kept doing his physical therapy.  David stayed with mom and dad for a couple days and he felt good knowing he had a nurse staying with him  He wasn't as strong as he was in June  but he wasn't at his lowest point either.  His diabetes improved so much he no longer was taking insulin shots or pills which he was super proud of.   

Two weeks ago Jonah had a soccer game in the cities and the all 7 of us were together in Woodbury watching Jonah play soccer and ate Bridgeman ice cream afterwards.  Dad said it was the best ice cream he had in a long time.  Last Thursday dad felt well enough to travel to Moorhead and came to our house to visit.   He hadn't felt well enough post transplant to visit before.  We did Friday night game night and played cards, pass the pigs and candy land.  We watched the vikings, and he rode with me in the car for four hours to Burnsville.  before I flew out to Hawaii.  He had a little cough, and had complained of a headache on Sunday. 

Thursday morning dad passed away in his sleep.  His fight is over. I am so grateful the last two weekends of his life we were able to spend time with him.   I am so happy I had those 4 hours to bullshit with him in the vehicle 36 hours before he died.  We wish his transplant would have given him more time but we are so grateful to his donor and the extra time he had.  Dad's visitation will be 4-6 on Thursday October 28th at Brick-Meger funeral home in Owatonna.  His funeral will be 11am on Friday October 29h at St. Joseph's in Owatonna with visituation one hour before.  

https://www.megercares.com/obituaries/Dennis-M-Quimby?obId=22735085#/obituaryInfo

Thank you for all the prayers, kind words, and encouragement you provided him during his journey.  He knew he was loved & appreciative of all the kindness everyone showed him.   I apologize for the long rambling post, but it's been a struggle to process this.  We weren't ready for him to go...