A Special Request

Hello folks,
My stepfather is dying.
He is expected to last no more than 30 days once he returns home.
He has decided to stop dialysis.
My favor is this.
He 'Fred' is a huge Hibiscus fan.
I am wanting very much to be able to present him with an exotic hibiscus in bloom.
I have the standard orange, yellow and reds.
Fred will be resting his final days in a hospital bed on the first floor of their home.
He has a huge window there and im filling it with blooming plumies and hopefully his favorites The hibiscus.
I brought him a standard Hibiscus in bloom one year when he was ill and it meant the world to him.
Mom says he has never stopped mentioning it.
I would love to make his final days filled with exotic blooms.
I can think of no greater gift than to fill his last days with tropical beauty.
As he leaves the beauty of the garden im making, he will enter into the beauty of our fathers garden.
I appreciate your help and thank you in advance.

I am hoping to secure one or more of the super tropical multi colored ones.
Please post here or pm me with your help if you wish to remain anonymous to the rest of the forum.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Michael ;)

Hi - I'm really sorry for your situation. I don't know if you guys have a Home Depot near you or not, but ours in this area are currently carrying some gorgeous tropical hibiscus plants. Rum Runner is very exotic (it's blooms change colors with the time during the day) and then they also have this one (see attached photo of it in my backyard). I think they were about $16 and in 1 gallon pots.

I'm so sorry, Michael. I don't have any hibiscus here due to the whitefly problem with them. I wish you the best of luck. Maybe if you offer to trade a plumie for one? You and your family are in my prayers.

This message was edited Jul 10, 2007 12:16 PM

Michael, D-mail me we will see what we can do. :-)

Kyle :-)

Thanks for the responses folks.
Duh... Clare I should have thought of that.... ^ ^
Of course I would do a trade.
Im not asking for gimmes ;)

Kyle,
you are a wonderful person!!!

Michael,
My prayers are with you and your family.

Thank you cat4gp
Prayers and kind words are special gems.

Michael, i sent you a dmail. love, julie

Thank you Julie Thats so sweet.

try www.exotichibiscus.com. he has them in all different sizes and shipping is fast.

Thanks for the link
Its under maintenance right now.
Freds condition has been rapidly worsening.
He will be home next Saturday and Ill be there to greet him.
Im going Friday also to set up his little welcome home paradise.
I was there today and ill be there all day tomorrow keeping Mom company.
This is an anxious and difficult time for her.
Im glad to be able to offer her comfort.
I was the 'bad' one X'P
Thanks so much for all your responses.

Oh Michael, I am so sorry! How difficult for your family. I hope your stepdad is at peace and slips out with no pain or angst. It is such a gift from God to the family as well as the loved one when there is no pain.

I wish I had a bunch to send you one but this year has been slim pickings. If you order any, make sure you get ones with buds on them. David at A Touch of the Tropics usually has some that are budded. http://www.tropical-hibiscus.com/index.shtml

Thanks Kell ;)

I Visited Fred today at the rehab
He is being discharged this Thursday.
He is being discharged as he is plateaud with his recovery.
I told him how I posted on the forum and what a wonderful response was made.
I told him when he came home he would see all the hibiscus people have sent him from all over the USA.
He was feeling poorly when I arrived.
After I shared the replies with him and told him of the flowers sent his face lit up.
He even tried to hide a few tears
He was touched.
Im going to Moms on Wednesday to set it all up.
Thank you so much for your support and care.
It means the world to him and is very touching for mom and me as well.
Funny how generous plant people are isnt it? ;)
Michael

Michael,
plant people realize the beauty of God's world and we love to share it with others, as God has shared with us. I hope the hibiscus I sent arrives soon. love, julie

Fred passed away this morning.
He returned home from dialysis and they told mom he was passing away.
Once in his bed he seemed rested and was talking to mom.
She went into the kitchen to get something
When she returned he was gone.
He died with dignity as he wished to, In his home not a hospital, talking to the woman he loved.
I left for moms when she called and will be here all night and all day tomorrow as well.
One of my four sisters is coming to keep mom company too.
She is very grateful and touched by all the kindnesses you folks have sent.
I am still recieving packages as of yesterday with tropical hibiscus.
Freds last days were spent surrounded with his favorite flowers.
Everyday mom would pull some blossoms for him and place them on the table next to his bed where he could see them.
He lived a full life and with no regrets to speak of.
This is a trying time for mom.
Im so glad to be able to be here for her.
Thank you all for your kindness.

Michael,
Sorry about your loss, but soooooo glad that your dad was surrounded by what he loved most.
May peace be with you, and your mom, in the coming weeks and months.
Cathy

I'm so sorry about Fred. I am so thankful that he was surrounded by so much love and beauty. take care, julie

I'm very sorry for your loss. May God be with you and give you peace during this time.

Did you ever get the hibiscus I sent? thanks, julie

Hey Julie
I received a few that had no card or id who they were from
Where did you order it from?

How wonderful fhat he died peacefully and spent his last days surrounded by those people and things he loved. Your family will take great comfort in that in the years to come.

Hi folks,
Things are settling down a bit now and I was able to upload the photos.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=WindowOutside-1.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=WindowOutside2.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Outside.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=YellowWaxyHibi.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=WaxyRedHibi.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Yellow.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Pink3.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Pink2.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=LightCoral.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Window.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=SamoanFluff7-07.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=DSP.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=BigPink.jpg

Please let me know if these work for you.
These are the pictures I took before Fred came home
Your gifts kept arriving for another week+
We even added an electric waterfall to the window the day he arrived
Thank you all so much!






This message was edited Aug 12, 2007 7:45 AM

Great pictures. I like the hibiscus that is pink with white on it. Your plumies are very pretty too. I hope that Fred was able to enjoy the blooms, daily. It was very nice of you to do this for him.

Edited because I hadn't read that Fred had passed away. I'm so sorry for you and especially your mom.

This message was edited Aug 12, 2007 12:48 PM

So glad Fred was able to see all of these babies. The plumerias are gorgeous!!!
Hope your mom enjoys them all, with wonderful memories for a lifetime.

This is Tarantella
One of your wonderful gifts.
She opened today and my Mom was really touched.
I havent named whom sent what as I like to avoid the confusion.
The response was overwhelming.
Thank you all so very much.
This is one amazing flower!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Tarantella1.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Tarantella2.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Tarantella6.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v515/Malestrom22/Freds/?action=view¤t=Tarantella3.jpg

Michael, that is one lovely brug. DG has some very nice people as members.

Strictly Hibiscus sells Tarantella. The cost may seem a little expensive, but he sends big healthy ready-to bloom plants. Check out the website if you get a chance.
Michael, the pictures are beautiful. love, julie

The plant arrived packed in a way that was fabulous.
I couldnt have done it better myself
Thank you so much.