Dad’s Last Game

On Valentine’s Day, it’s been is our family tradition for Skip (my husband) and I and our boys (Casey, 13 and Kyle, 11) to stop at the Dairy Queen on Higgins Avenue to get ice cream. After all, it’s the first day they’re open after a long winter of being closed. It’s been our family tradition since the boys were old enough to appreciate the novelty. On this Valentine’s Day, the kids and I got an extra milkshake for my dad who was now in a nursing care facility. My 84-year-old, strong Norwegian Father had a rough year. After falling and breaking his hip, he was in and out of the ER and rehab facility, and now finally in a nursing home. It was hard on him and excruciating for us.

But on this day, he was happy to see us and grateful for the milkshake. We were all chatting and getting caught up but quickly noticed dad couldn’t swallow his milkshake. We were hopeful. A few months before, dad had a small stroke and was having...