My father went through the same thing.
One minute he was gearing up to fly to Russia to be one of the foreman building the largest nuclear powerplant in the world.
The next minute he is having quadruple by-pass surgery, lying in the hospital for 2 months, getting jaundice, and being told that he'll never work again... at 56 years old.

I'm sorry for you, your Dad, and your family.
If there's anything J and I can do, please call.

It is one of the most upsetting things in the world, seeing a parent - especially your dad - in a weakened state.

What an awful thing to have to deal with. And Sarah's right - there are few things more disturbing than seeing our parents' health decline.

I am currently living in fear of a very similar situation. My dad, who is never sick and enjoys a very adventurous retirement (He just got back from Newfoundland, just because.) is inevitably going to be diagnosed with emphysema. He tried to ignore the continual coghing. His girlfriend insists he has it, though he won't see a doctor and (even worse) currently has no health insurance aside from Medicare. And aside from dealing with the angst of seeing this man whom I have adored my entire life slowly fall to illness, I am also his health care proxy, etc. so certain responsibilties that I don't want but must shoulder will eventually increase the emotional quotient.

I wish there was something I could say to make it any easier, but if I had answers to things like that I wouldn't be sitting here drawing signs. Just know that there are people here on lj who are listening and thinking of you.

My Grandfa who mostly raised me died of emphysema.

My sympathies.

Ouch, ouch. *hug* Best wishes...

My mother was a total workaholic until the lupus started throwing her curveballs like pleuresy and bone tumors.
It was hard to reconcile the woman who would go nuts on a three day weekend and went to work a week after her hysterectomy with the sick woman who was in the hospital 4 months a year.
Let us know if there's anything we can do.