I visited Mom in the nursing home on Friday. Things were as usual. One sister visited her on Monday and played cards with her. The two other sisters who visited on Tuesday and Wednesday found her not herself at all, and complaining of back pain. Tonight the nursing home sent her to the hospital. She died en route.
I am so grateful that Mom had only a couple of days of not being herself and being in some pain. Lingering would have been very sad.
I am grateful to have had her in our lives so long. She was 96. Although she had dementia she knew us to the end and enjoyed our visits.
I am grateful that she accepted the nursing home and even seemed to enjoy it. She made friends. She was content.
I am grateful that my three sisters and I cooperated fully in taking care of her. We each emailed a brief report of every visit.
The last topic regarding our mother that my sisters and I emailed each other about was whether to use cloth or plastic table clothes at a family dinner we were organizing at the nursing home for her this month. I am grateful she was content and our focus could be on her pleasure right up to the end.
Let your thoughts and feelings of the moment be your guide in determining what you may or may not feel up to for the next few days.
Again, my condolences to you and your family.
Love from Send
9/1/2016. 5:11 a.m. PDT.
How like you to think first of everything there is to be grateful for! I hope you and your family will also give yourselves credit for having brought about those positives and supported one another.
Wishing you all comfort.
Your Mom left a legacy-being content.
There must have been many.
I will remember that one, and file it with my mother's saying: "Bloom where you are planted".
What a remarkable post - even on a night of profound loss you were able to offer inspiration to others
We are grateful for you - thinking of you tonight and in the days ahead
God bless you and your sisters
If you want, I can check back on here with you throughout the night, respond that I am just here for you.
Breathe deeply, many hugs, my sympathies to you and your family.
Love, from Send