Someone is always watching (Warning, long)

[Zeal]

I'm not one to share my personal life so much but this being my only fishing community and hopes of showing people that there is always a ray of light no matter how dark life gets, you all would appreciate this more than any non-fisherman.

My father got diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer 2 years back, started to spread, been doing the chemo gauntlet, etc. About 1 month ago he was rushed to ER and they found he had an intestinal blockage. It resolved a few days later and just before the day he was about to get discharged he had a seizure (minor). Mom found him on the bathroom floor moaning when she came in to see him in the morning (luckily she is an LPN and knew the drill). They put him on anti-seizure medication and kept him. Next day he was alright (as alright as he could be at least, very numb about it) and just an hour after I left to let him rest, he had a grand mal and went into cardiac arrest right in my mother's arms with my aunt and uncle screaming for help. I showed up with my brother and saw my father get put under a milk of amnesia drip and get intubated. They ran some tests and found at least 7 small cancerous lesions in his brain and tiny clusters throughout. Mom caved along with my brother and I had to be the one to prove he was going to live. Next day they kept him asleep as he was too unstable to come out of it concerning blood pressure. After the rough day of keeping Mom strong along with her 5 sisters and family friends, they woke him the next day which of course was tougher since we had to bring him up to speed and how he is no longer allowed to drive, be alone, etc. He was under control health wise and they got him out of ICU and into the step down unit where he started getting more of his faculties back (although he will indefinitely need 02).

As he was constantly being visited, I could go back to the clinic and treat people. However, my aunt texted me asking if I wanted to go do some surfcasting with my uncle (the same one that witnessed my father's massive seizure) early morning before work in the afternoon. I already was packing it in with all that has been going on well before that point but I would never pass it up if I could. The season for me consisted of 5 trips the entire year, getting skunks half the time.

Next morning we head out, no idea what is being fed on, if it is just to clear our heads (I'm not very close with this family member since we are both busy), etc. Brought my new setup that this very site recommended (St. Croix rod with a Spinfisher reel) and damn near everything under the sun except riggies. Sunny, dead calm, but extremely foggy day. "I'm not keeping anything" my uncle stated before we hit the beach. I started bucktailing to figure out the stretch I'll be working since I never fished it before. Nothing was doing and played around with Darters along with other plugs I never get to see and only feel at night. I notice some of the birds acting strange about 40 yards down and walk over. I put on an SP Minnow and the next thing I know I witnessed the bunker flip. Birds started going nuts, the water boiled, fish started beaching. For the first time in my entire life, I got to not only witness, but fish a 40 minute bass blitz. Every cast was a hit, every other cast was a fish. First fish was on the SP minnow, however, it foul hooked itself and my heart sank (fish was only 25" tops). Couldn't even get the front treble out of its mouth. Unclipped it and threw on a tin to avoid that again.

After the amazing site of seeing bass chase bunker inches away from me wading the beach lip, the fog blocking the bird's vision and only being able to hear half the carnage, I picked up the casualty and started walking back to my uncle and family friend. I see near their bags 2 20# bass and 2 gators. "No plan to keep anything?" I said to my uncle with a grin. All he had to say was that he kept the gator because it inhaled his 20 dollar plug and lost 3 more of them to gators.

His 40 year old plug bag had it's strap break because the rusted clips were too far gone to hang on anymore so through the gills of the 50-60 some odd lbs of fish. One person got the poles, the other got the bags, I got to drag these fish in the fashion of being in a total bicep curl and the fish dangling from my chest with the tails dragging as I waddled with them. First time I heard my uncle laugh in a long time.

Ended up racing home, gutting the fish (one gator had over 3 dozen whole peanuts in its gut), taking it home to fillet, and all split to shower and rush to work. The amount of mess left at the house was ridiculous. All our vehicles reeked of fish along with waders and clothes no matter how they got washed.

So with all that has happened, all the blocks and troubles that keep coming to give us hell, someone up above watching smiled and gave my family a reminder that everything is going to be alright no matter what happens. The fish that were caught were put to good use being food that we didn't have and put a smile on Dad's face. My head wasn't cleared from that trip, but it was needed.

The struggle continues but that memory will last with me forever, the memory of the fabled bass blitz, being able to see the lures that I purely use at night and how much action and what techniques work with them, able to experiment with profiles and lures on a solid bite solely on one species of baitfish, and christening my new setup with a new personal best of catching a good 15 bass (all schoolies). Later that day I learned that my uncle received a tip from the local die hard that the fish were knocking into your knees the day my father went unconscious. Turns out if I was to say no to that trip and give in, I would have lost out on my only guaranteed trip where the fish were going to be on your line as long as you were able to cast 5 feet.

Never get caught up in the negative things in life, because you will lose out on the good things that are right in front of you.

[5/0]

Holy chit dude,I'm so sorry. . .
I wish you all the best,thoughts and prayers coming your way...

I'm sorry Buddy.

5/0
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[spence]

I know someone that was diagnosed stage 4 esophageal cancer right about the same time as your dad. He didn't last long though, the treatment was too much. Have another older family member just got out of the ICU this week. Have to never give up hope but also be prepared. It's amazing what some people can do when down so hard. Best of luck...

[tattoobob]

Sending well wishes and prayers your way

[numbskull]

It is a burden on those dying to watch their loved ones suffer. To see you deal with it well, to be proud of you is the best gift you could have given him and he will love you for it. It will not be the fish, rather the smile they produced for your father that you remember.

[chefchris401]

I think overall a lot of people on this site have had really tough years overall, between health, family, jobs, accidents, etc.

The support here is great, and everyone always has some great insight and thoughtful words that may not have been said by anyone else.

I know we've chatted a lot thru pms about health and family and plug building.

Stay strong man, for your family and yourself
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Slipknot]

That is a tough one Zeal, stay strong and I hope all goes well.
It seems like everyone has something they battle. Good to hear you got out to enjoy a day on the waters' edge.

[JohnR]

We all get a turn. Stay strong, but stay happy. Merry Christmas, dude!

[jimmy z]

I hope dad is faring well. God be with him.
There is nothing like a bass blitz. Gosh, I haven't seen one in years.
We always get what we need when we need it. We only get one day at a time and what a gift this is.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Zeal]

I appreciate the well wishes, it is tough when you and your parent are health care providers and know what's coming. Sometimes knowing too much isn't good.

But I wanted to just share this story because I just wanted to show others going through rough times that no matter how bad things seem, there is always good to be found to keep our chins up.

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season.