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I've always been very close to my uncle. Our relationship revolves around watching movies together, and (when he was in better health) a lot of outings (taking my daughter when she was younger to a local mini theme park/carnival, the zoo, museums, going out to eat, etc.). He's going to pass soon, and I'll get to the details.


Some important context: I'm adopted, and very close to my adoptive mom's family, which is small and close-knit. My mom has three siblings, and none ever got married or had kids. So I'm the first and only daughter with no siblings, no cousins. My two uncles and my aunt all love kids, but for their own reasons all never had any of their own. This has put a ton of pressure on me my entire life to fill that void for everyone. So I have a complicated relationship with my family — I love them so much, but feel so much pressure all the time to be there for everyone and meet everyone's expectations and needs.


I've also had so many losses and this one is hitting me hard. My mom passed from pancreatic cancer a year and a half ago. My dad was diagnosed with early-onset dementia when I was 16, and lived for 12 years. I helped my mom take care of him, while I had my daughter at age 21.


My mom struggled with losing him and developed some addictions. She'd help with my daughter while I had school, but then go off for days at a time to stay with friends and get away on a bender, leaving me with my baby daughter and my dad with multiple health issues.


Then my other uncle (mom's twin brother) passed quickly from cancer. Then my dad. Then my lifelong best friend. Then my mom passed from pancreatic cancer a year and a half ago. And several other people along the years, including my husband's best friend just last year. I'm so sick of being hit with death and grief. I'm 35 and have lost so many people, and now I'm faced with another one.


My uncle has had health issues for several years, including poor circulation in his leg. He scraped his leg and the wound hasn't healed for years. Last year, he fell and ended up in nursing home for a month. He got out just in time for my mom's celebration of life, which was beautiful but was a whole ordeal between my aunt and I.


Last month, he ended up in the hospital again, and had emergency surgery earlier this week for a blood clot. This resulted in amputation being the only option. And he declined the amputation. He knew it was a possibility for a while, but surprised us by saying he'd rather die than go through that. And I respect his decision and understand where he's coming from, but it was a shock.


So, in his words, he wants two more weeks to go home (not an option), and be with family and watch a few movies he loves. He wants MAID after two weeks. Also not an option. He'll be in the hospital until he passes.


Finally, the question. We have a 12 day trip planned to Hawaii. We leave in one week. A huge chunk of it is nonrefundable, and even if we rescheduled it won't be until the end of summer due to various obligations we have.
Right now he's doing relatively well — as in, I don't see him passing within the week before we leave. But there's no way to know for sure. It could be tomorrow, it could be a month or two.


I hate the thought of leaving knowing he's so close to end. And what if he passes while we're gone? I want to be there for my aunt, too. I know it's a trip and in theory we can do it any time, and eat the money we're out. But there are so many reservations made and conflicts with our schedule it's not super easy. Knowing this trip is coming has been an anchor for me through a really rough year, and trying to cancel and reschedule everything is honestly more than I have the capacity for.


I want to talk to my uncle when I visit tomorrow. I want to tell him I'll visit every day this week and spend time with him, and then video call every day on vacation. I don't know how he'll take it.


What if he gets worse closer to the end of the week? I guess we cancel then?

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Please do not video call uncle every day on your vacation either. That will give you a stomach ache every day waiting to make The Call, especially with a big time difference. Just go on vacation and allow yourself time with your own immediate family to relax and spend quality time together without obligations weighing you down. We are all terminal, my friend, never knowing when our number is up. Meaning time is as precious for you as it is for your uncle. Enjoy yourself without worry, you've already given enough of yourself and your time to others. It's your turn now.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Thank you all for your input, it helped me feel more at peace with my decision. And, there's been a significant improvement in his condition in the last 24 hours. It's still a terminal condition, but much less grave and imminent than we thought. I think chances that he makes it until we get home are looking much more positive now. But I've made my decision and told my aunt, and need to tell him next (it's been a rollercoaster, so I'll wait till tomorrow with him).
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KNance72 May 22, 2025
Enjoy yourself you deserve a break . Hawaii is. healing place .
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Please go on the trip and make every effort to fully enjoy it. I’ve also experienced some tough losses and learned through it that being there for the end of life is far less important than often thought. What counts is the time you’ve already invested, how you’ve made your uncle feel supported and loved, and the fact that he knows your care. Actually dying is, from what I saw, a solo journey and the being present for the last moments very overrated. Go on the trip, breathe the fresh air, see the beauty, and heal. Come back with clear knowledge you’ve done your best and no one can ask for more. I wish you peace
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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No, don’t cancel. Video calling is a great way to stay in touch, and you deserve a break. Also if he passes, no need to come back immediately. Keep to your schedule. Let others manage the details. If he’s gone, he won’t know where you are! Funerals can be postponed for quite a while. For instance, my dad’s was postponed for two weeks because my mom was in the hospital.

Surely your uncle, since he loves you, would want you to have a respite from so much tragedy. Go.
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Mimi423 May 17, 2025
Thank you. In my family it's actually become tradition to not have a funeral, and postpone a celebration of life for several months to a year, to give everyone time to go through the immediate heavy grief. So I'm not concerned about that part at all.
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I think your obligation to be the end-all and be-all for extended family that chose, themselves, not to have family, and not to "create family" of a set of close friends, is something that you have taken on yourself. And it is very limiting. And perhaps quite endless if you will extend this out.

I would discuss this with Uncle. I would say "Uncle, we have a vacation coming up which was long ago pre-planned and not refundable. I hate at this time to leave you; can you reassure me you will have support to muster through a few weeks without me? We really NEED this vacation".
I am hoping he is a big enough/good enough man to reassure you and send you on your way. Vacations don't mean that someone left behind will not die, expectedly or unexpectedly. And in fact I have friends who had their partner on vacation die on them in another country. Things aren't predictable. Life doesn't stop for "what ifs".

My advice is to go on that vacation. You have had your life together enjoying films. Something that enriched the lives of you both. You are on different journeys now, moving in opposite directions. You will be there when you can. And you deserve a life when you cannot.
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I went to Hawaii with my job some years ago. My brother called me a couple of days before I was set the fly out and told me about my aunt who had a heart attack. Since the trip was already paid for by my job, I went anyway. My father didn't tell me my aunt had passed until I called him. I shouldn't have called because I didn't enjoy the trip that much after that. I think dad knew that since he knew my reaction.

What I learned is that it's not a thing we can do about people dying or becoming ill, and sacrificing time and our lives isn't going to change things or the outcome.
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Reply to Scampie1
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Go on the trip. I’m telling you this as much for me, as for you. Staying and canceling your plans won’t change anything. Make sure the hospital or hospice has the name and contact for the funeral home and what his wishes are in terms of preparation of remains. It can all be held for a week or so. You have already done all the hard work. He knows you care. You can deal with the details when you get back. Call him from Hawaii. Bring him back some sand from your favorite beach. It can go with him. You have been through a lot. You and your family need this respite. To heal and enjoy life again. Please, take it. No regrets. Much love.
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Reply to Beethoven13
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Did you have the conversation with him yet? Are you more concerned about your uncle or your aunt and her "opinion" of your going? Children, even adult children are not meant to fill adult emotional needs. It's time for that role to end for you I think. You've been a wonderful niece. I would hope he would say go and enjoy yourself, you deserve it, I love you.


Your staying won't change the situation. Life is meant to be lived. I think you should live it.

Editing to add, I don't have any children. I'm close with my niece and nephews. I would NEVER begrudge them their lives. If I were ill and they had something like this planned.... I'd say Go... Enjoy.... Live. Sounds like he enjoyed the living. You deserve this respite with your family.
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Mimi423 May 18, 2025
Thank you. I'm concerned about both of their reactions.
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What a lovely time you have had with your uncle! He sounds like a lovely man and you have been a lovely niece.

Whatever happens from now on, nothing will change that. Your relationship is special.

Your uncle has made a difficult decision about his life and how he wants to live it, even though he knows that his decision means leaving you and that it will hurt you. But it's his life, not yours. He felt that he couldn't live with losing his leg.

Similarly, you can't make decisions about your life and how you live it based on what may or may not happen to your uncle. This is a big trip and cancelling it won't just affect you, but your daughter as well.

Go visit your uncle in hospital, perhaps with a tablet or laptop and some films lined up. Talk about those wonderful shared times. He will know that you love him and that you appreciate him, but he will also understand that you have to live your life.
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Reply to MiaMoor
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Tell your uncle goodbye when you leave and don't video call or chat or text anyone in the family until you return. You and your husband need this time away and it will not help anyone, not even you if you are in contact during your vacation. Please allow yourself some time with your husband and don't even talk about death or suffering on your trip. I think part of this is that you feel like you are needed by the family and have no right to decide how and when you are needed. I would advise you to get counseling when you get back from the trip. I hope it is a wonderful time for you as a couple and very memorable.
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