critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

when considering our move to canada i thought about the possibility of something happening to my folks ( who are old 65 yo's and divorced) but actually getting the call saying my dad is critical was still like a gut punch.

and my stupid brother didnt phone me till two days after he was taken in to hospital when i could get a flight back there and see him before he dies. he waited two days, till theres 24-48 hrs left and no way i can get back there ( cant afford the $3000) earliest i can get back there is tuesday ($1200) and realistically i will be going back for his funeral.

i know theres nothing anyone can do but its a very helpless feeling and im glad my sister and brother are still in the uk nearby so they can see him.

just had to talk about it.

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...reavement.html

:fingerscrossed:

Been there unfortunately!

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

thanks for that, didnt know they did that. will check flights/prices again :wub:

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

No problem I truly hope it works out for you and you have my sympathies.

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

thinking of you TJ,
it sure has been an emotional year or 2 for you hasn't it?
Hoping things get better in the future for you and your family :fingerscrossed:

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

Thinking of you TJ.

Glad someone posted the link to the bereavement flights as I knew about them but didn't know the link.

We all dread that phone call - hope you get there in time :fingerscrossed:

Big Hugs xxx

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

Know completely what you are going through, its a super hard time and I am sending you a big hug, a cuppa and some digestives over the whatever the internet travels over.

We are all here if you need to talk to anyone. I am so sorry this has happened to you so soon into your new adventure, you will have lots of emotions going on and may find you need to talk them through with a professional in time.

I have found that Canadian Affair/Air Transat are much cheaper than Air Canada's bereavement flights.

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

so sorry to hear.

Have a look at these: You can't book through them but it'll find the cheapest flights out there (apparently) and we took the flight we wanted to a travel agent (flight center in Ottawa) and they matched it up to $20 difference.

Not sure how long you wanted to stay so just random dates

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/view/f...7-afd01f8889cc


http://matrix.itasoftware.com/view/f...7-afd01f8889cc


http://matrix.itasoftware.com/search...7-afd01f8889cc

Good luck!

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

thanks for the info guys, tuesday i can get a flight for $600 thru transat so will probably go for that but it depends on his progress.

:unsure: thanks all.

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

My thoughts are with you. My Dad passed away suddenly aged 65 last August - I will never forget the feeling as my Mum told me on the phone. I just wanted to hug her and be there with her and my brother, but I had to sort out an affordable flight which ended up being 3 days later. The bereavement fares were no help at all, I took the Air Transat flight.

Hugs and prayers xxx

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

Sorry about your dad TJ.

I know it's not Canada, but when my dad was dying (in Canada) Flight Centre here in Australia got me really great flights for a good price. I told the TA the reason I needed to get back ASAP and he sorted it all out. If you have a Flight Centre in Prince George then go in and ask if they can do something for you.

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

Sorry to hear about your Dad T_J. My thoughts are with you.

I have been there twice over past three years :(

Safe journey for you to get back home and return to Canada.

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

Hugs x

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

thanks guys. i really dont know what to do now.

hes my dad and he is dying and i want to be there but i cant get there till weds lunchtime, by which time i might be too late and have to be back here within 7 days because hubby cannot take too much time off work as we desp need the cash, and i need to renew dd's passport so i can get that done while in in the uk but our visas expire in three weeks ( our cunning plan of leaving it to the weekend before they are due to book a trip to vancouver and renew then in case our PR comes thru in that time have backfired a wee bit)

dilemmas now. if i go tues, i wont be able to go back or stay there for the funeral. he is not lucid so it would be for my benefit not this that i go back.and my sister is there with him 24/7 so he is not alone.

if we go ahead with planned trip to van on 20th dd will probably not be allowed into USA as she has less than 6 months on her passport (even tho its just a day trip to flag pole and see a tiny bit of USA) so we may end up with admin refusal anyway.

its possible my father could remain in his current vegatative state for months if not years, however given his years of chronic alcohol abuse i dont think he is likely to survive the full withdrawl process. they have told us it is unlikely he will ever get any better.

i want to go to him but its gonna cost $1300 for flights, plus flying from PG to vancouver in the first place, (another $400) which will pretty much max out the credit card i just cleared with the sale of my house. and given his luck he would probably lose the fight while im waiting to get there.

WWYD? last chance to see your dad alive (maybe) you'd go right? just hope they let me back in to canada with two weeks left on my SOWP, ( ill take the renewal forms etc with me to show that we are eligeble for another visa, just havent done it as waiting for CIC to process PR.

Re: critically ill parent, mercy dash
 

What a horrible situation - Big hugs.

One bit of advice I was given which has stayed with me for years is when you don't know which way to turn or what to do, no situation is right or a good answer and you can't think straight is to think "What is the least worst"

It's worked for me many times.

What is the least worst? the guilt you feel if you don't make it or the financial hardship that will happen if you go?

Or what is the least worst out of seeing him before he passes or missing his funeral if it's a way into the future?

Sorry no answers - just trying to help... :)