I wrote this story in August 2005 in my blog & I'd like to share it with you. I have to write in here today although belated I want to let everyone know that my dad "Thomas Byrne" has died! He died on 20/07/2005 exactly 4 days before his 64th birthday and 1 week before my 30th birthday! We buried him on 26/07/2005 at Airbles cemetery, where he is now at peace and very much loved and missed by all of his family! My dad was the greatest man EVER! He worked all the hours he could to provide for his family and give us the best life possible, and i'll always be grateful for everything he did for me. He was my inspiration and my world, I worshipped the ground he walked on. He would do anything for anyone and would never see anyone struggle. He was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in August 2001 (But perhaps if he hadn't been so embarrased, he may have discovered it sooner). He started radiation treatment and talked as though he wasn't going to be with us much longer! (We all hoped & prayed otherwise) Then I married my husband on 26/06/2002 and my father was able to walk me down the aisle, as proud as punch! Something he never thought he would do! By this time the cancer had gone into "remission" and he didn't have any trouble for a while. In August 2003 I discovered I was pregnant (After being told I wouldnt be able to have children!) My dad was elated at the thought of being a grandad, but was so worried about me as I was in and out of hospital throughout my pregnancy! On 27th March 2004 I went into labour & my dad drove us to the hospital, and continued to bring us food & drinks while my labour kept going for two days! Eventually at 09:56am on Monday 29th March 2004 Rhian Daniel Williams was born by emergency C-Section. When my dad was told, he wept at the thought of me having to go through all the pain & surgery! He met my son a few hours after he was born & fell in love straight away! The feeling was definately mutual, as one of his first words besides mum was grandad! Rhian has the same shaped head as my dad & many of the same mannerisms! My dad said he "couldn't see it" But we all think that was just so more people kept telling him, as he was very proud! Then in August 2004, my dad went back to see his consultant to have his usual check up & was told that the cancer had not only come back, but had spread & there wasn't anything they could do! I broke my heart when mum told me & bought a camcorder so I could record as much footage as possible of Rhian & his grandad. We had a special Christmas that year because it was Rhian's 1st & because we knew it would be my dad's last! From the New Year, my dad's health deteriorated & he was in constant pain & had to give up work in April because he could no longer bear the pain. (My dad was NEVER off work & this really upset him) We got macmillan nurses to come and see my dad & they helped administer pain relief, but he was so uncomfortable & tired all the time. Even so , he still wanted to play with Rhian every chance he could & fought on till the end. He was taken into hospital in June so that he could have pain relief administered constantly and be monitored. He hated it in the hospital & always talked of when he would "get home". The cancer spread to his major organs & he had a massive tumor pressing on his spine which eventually paralysed him. He was moved to a hospital close by & deteriorated rapidly. He was given a procedure on Monday 18th July & during this procedure one of his tumours was ruptured & this lead to him being almost "comatosed" he could not speak or move, but when spoken to he would raise an eyebrow or squeeze your hand to let you know he could hear you! We were there the whole day on Tuesday as he had worsened, and then we visited him again all day on the Wednesday. My mum sister & I decided to leave my brother with dad while we popped home to freshen up, as we had been there all day. Before I left I kissed my dad & whispered in his ear thet he "had to do what he had to do" & it was up to him if he wanted to continue fighting & suffer, or slip away peacefully & be at rest. We got a phonecall shortly afterwards telling us to come straight to the hospital & we rushed straight over. A journey that usually took 5 mins was lengthened by the fact there were roadworks everywhere & we were diverted for miles before we could get to the hospital. I felt sick all the way & knew he was gone, and by the time we got there he had slipped away. I hugged him & talked to him & didn't want to leave him there, my dad my world was lying there like a helpless baby so frail, so small. I'll never forgive myself for leaving the hospital that day, but I think my dad was waiting on it! I believe if we had stayed he would have continued fighting for us & when we had gone he just relaxed. My brother told him he'd look after mum & he just slipped away. I'll never forget you dad! I love you so much & miss you more than anyone could ever imagine. Sleep peacefully, Angel & watch over us. With all my love Fee xx