Best Valentine in the history of the world: To my fast dying father from my wife.

[DemoTex]

He is close, so close. My wife and I visited last Saturday (I had seen him two weeks earlier) and I was shocked. He is near-91, with a raging cancer. He is so emaciated.

She loves my father, and always has throughout our 37+ year marriage. But she was shocked , too - by the nearness of finality.

She has a new book (#4 in two years) coming out - a high-level text book. It has been submitted to Wiley for publication. Galley proofs are near.

He was a college professor, so he understands and appreciates publication. My wife knows that. So she contacted John Wiley & Sons about changing the dedication.

Today the publisher advised her that the dedication change has been accepted. Her new book will be dedicated to my dad and me. We will drive down to Georgia on Saturday to tell him, because I don't think he will make the April release of the book.

What better gift to a dying scholar?

[Hannah Bell]

1. sweet. i hope it gives him a smile.

[niyad]

2. k and r--what an incredibly loving gift

[KT2000]

3. What a great thing to do

and it will give him a smile for sure.

[H2O Man]

4. Recommended.

Thanks for posting this.

[Dappleganger]

5. Quite touching.

:hug:

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Safe journey to your beloved father.

The dedication is such a nice gesture.

:hug:

[Kadie]

7. Very sweet.

Thanks for sharing.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Oh, my dear DemoTex...

Safe passage to your dad...

And what an incredibly wonderful gift for him from your wife...

And this is no transitory gift. This will be there as long as the book exists.

A really loving gesture...

Congratulations to her on her successful publishing!

:hug:

[Raine]

9. Aw sweet

sending positive thoughts to your father and your family in this difficult time. :hug:

[GeorgeGist]

10. It would have been better ...

to hear your wife's and father's side of YOUR story.

[hamsterjill]

11. Class Act

From all directions.

How wonderful a person your father must be to have elicited such a love from a daughter-in-law.

And how wonderful a person your wife must be to be so thoughtful!

[supernova]

12. Oh how sweet!

My heartfelt good wishes for you, DemoTex and your lovely wife, and your dad.

[underseasurveyor]

13. Very touching

And a sweet lasting legacy- of sorts- to your father.

:hug:

[Blue_Tires]

14. ttt

[BrklynLiberal]

15. A kind and loving tribute.

[seabeyond]

16. ah, thank you demo. hug to your wife. nt

[SpiralHawk]

17. Wonderfully thoughtful

It will mean a lot -- part of the legacy he will leave...

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Hugs

and well done.

[DemoTex]

19. Just talked with my youngest brother - a radiologist

I told him about the book dedication and we both started bawling. He says the time is very short for our dad.

Thanks to you all. I'll keep you posted on dad's condition.

[Octafish]

20. Thank you for sharing.

Peace and love to you all.

[malaise]

21. That's lovely

:grouphug:

[stevedeshazer]

22. Beautiful, man.

Swift passage to the man.

[DemoTex]

23. I just wish he could have seen Oregon

But he did through my photography.

[uppityperson]

24. I am so sorry Demo. I hope you get to spend some time with him now.

It is nothing any of us ever want to do, but being with a dying parent when they die is something not to be missed. I hope you have a good visit and my condolences.

[Ignis]

25. That's incredibly sweet.

:thumbsup:

Hang in there during this tough time.

[williesgirl]

26. My Valentine in heaven will be waiting to greet him. I can promise you he'll laugh forever!

I don't mean to be flip, but it's exactly what I thought when I read your thread. My heart goes out to you and all he'll leave behind. Rec'd