He had a history of heart attack, quadruple bypass, afib, pacemaker, and as of January, CHF. I feel like I must have missed something because he seemed fine the afternoon before. And his bloodwork was fine a few weeks before, his appetite was good, and the swelling in his legs was minimal. I just don't understand. He was 87 but until he went thru sepsis and a broken hip last year was healthy and strong. I really thought he would get better. Was I just in denial?!
It's good that your father, ironically, was feeling pretty well when he died; and you should feel proud that you'd kept him so comfortable. But I sympathise with your feeling of having been somehow fooled and cheated. You weren't in denial, just enjoying the good bits while they lasted. "Where there's life, there's hope" don't they say? You can't have been wrong to hope.
I forget the % but after 80, quite a large number of patients who break a hip do not survive longer than 1 year. The septic infection can be telling. We have now been through two septic infections and are 2 years past the original surgery (2 more followed on same hip)...but I know everyday we have is a blessing...some days it is just hard to realize that because I am so tired.
Sounds like your dad had a good long life and left a family behind that was enriched by his presence.
God Bless