My dad, who's 82 and first took me to watch City in the mid-seventies, is currently in Wythenshawe Hospital after a heart attack. He's now been diagnosed with bowel cancer, which they say has spread to his lungs and brain.
He obviously doesn't have long left but I hope that he can hang on until after this game and that we can win it. He grew up a Trautmann goal-kick away from Maine Road, on Burdith Avenue just behind The Parkside pub, and first saw City when he and his brother used to sneak into wartime games when the gates used to be opened at three-quarter time to let people out. He'd be thrilled to see us as champions of Europe.
I'm so sorry to hear that Petrusha, fingers crossed he makes it, I'll quickly relate this story to you in the hope it gives you some strength, maybe even solace, many years ago my Nanna was in a similar situation, we were very very close, but it got to the point were she was clearly never going to make it to my wedding, something she looked forward to so much, about 2 weeks before, she told me in a soft struggling voice that she knew she couldn't do it physically, but, she wasn't going anywhere until she knew we were married.
The next 2 weeks, she spent In St Anne's hospice, last week being completely out of it, after we got married, we drove over there to see her, she looked almost lifeless apart from her shallow breathing, so really I didn't' know what to do, what to say, but the nurse said "speak to her, tell her, it may not seem like it, she may not respond, but she's still there", so that's what I did.
Hours later we got the call she'd passed away, nothing will ever convince me that she didn't stay true to her word, and that's why she hung on, it's something that's stayed with me all my life, I sincerely hope you get that opportunity too mate.
Best wishes.