I just wanted to share a brief story on my Father. My Father was given 6 months to live about 6 1/2 - 7 months ago. My dad has a combo of Lung problems that are not curable. He has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and something  comparable to Black Lung the coal miners disease.  He is 78 yrs old and for many years worked in the concrete/cement business and black top/paving. The Dr. said he breathed in alot of dust from the cement/concrete over the years and breathed in the vapors from the steaming asphalt while black topping and he was a smoker. (The Dr. says he got a triple whammy!) About 14 yrs ago he life saving surgery at Strong Memorial Hosp., they took out a growth out of his lungs-the size of a football, they said he made medical history that day. The good news is that he has never had cancer. Anyway, as time has passed his breathing has continued to decline and worsen, and will continue to do so. He has been losing weight steadily for the past few months, can't sleep, has no appetite and has alot more difficulty breathing. If he walks several steps it leaves him gasping for air and it takes him 5 minutes to regroup himself to be able to talk  or anything. As the breathing becomes worse, so does his brain functioning-he is getting less oxygen to his brain. Anyway...to make a long story a little shorter...yesterday I took my Dad to a Nursing Home, one that is only 3 miles from my home. His lung specialist says that he is in the final phases of his disease and there is not really anything more that can be done, other than to try to make him somewhat comfortable. He is miserable because he really struggles for every breath he takes. And he told me before I left that he hopes the good Lord takes him out. He has a living will and they are instructed not to use any life support, CPR or any life saving measures. When he draws his last breath he does not want them to try to extend his life. I can only imaging what he is going through and I would imagine it is like suffocating. My heart is breaking because my Father and I have had a bond like no one else on earth, we have had a close bond since birth. My father has been my Dad and my best friend! (And by the way...he does not know where my love for  Halloween  comes from.) At least location wise, he is close by and I can see him everyday till his final day. Goldie