Mom took a turn for the worse, unfortunately. Whether it's a pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, raging infection of some sort, or a combination of all three, her body is shutting down at last. After nearly a year of fighting a hard battle, riding a bull that few can ride longer than ever expected, she's slowly and peacefully drifting away from this condition. Soon, she will no longer have to be rolled to be wiped, to be fed pureed food, to be poked and prodded for vitals, to have her body be unresponsive to her mind. This weekend she had the energy and clarity to laugh, sing, and talk with us one last time. Soon she'll have peace.
We've weaned her oxygen, allowing her body to decide when it's her time. They are giving her morphine to limit any distress or discomfort she might have. Craig visited yesterday afternoon in between appointments; Dad stayed until the wee hours of the night. Diane, Jill and I never left her side. We had a slumber party and played her favorite Beach Boys album and a compilation of her favorite songs I made for her. We sang nearly every tune. I say nearly because, let's face it, some Beach Boys songs are just plum annoying. ;0) Though we don't know the lyrics of said annoying songs, we hummed along and bopped our heads as Mom would do, keeping a hand on her all the while.
She opens her eyes on occasion and we pop up to get within her visual field, and say I love you as much as possible until she drifts back to sleep once again. When she's asleep, we're filling her ears with stories of the past, and hope for the future. She's comfortable, and loved. I wanted everyone to know that and hope that brings some comfort.
...and so goes the music once again. Her favorite compilation of her favorite songs sung by her favorite daughters...Dad started dancing the way he does...This is the way she'd want to leave us. We're happy amidst the sadness.
~E
Jim, Erin, Diane, Jill. Words just can't express the sorrow in the hearts of all who know Mary. And we can barely comprehend the added burden of a double blow-- Craig's illness. But like the bamboo you seem to be bending but resiliant. I so admire the poetically artful posts you have written, and the creative ways you have devised to cope with the unutterable sadness--a slumber party with Beach Boys!!!
ReplyDeletePeople you know and some you barely know are passing on the latest posts on your website. I saw Kay Keys evening before last and we talked about that day's entry. I passed on the news to Raymond who's visiting Margot in Dallas, and to Sheila (used to be Spurrier) in Kansas. Margot wrote me last evening about the latest posting. etc. etc. I put your whole family on our church's prayer list last Sunday. Our hearts, minds, thoughts and prayers are sent your way at frequent intervals. And on a practical note, I'm starting to gather a pile of things for the benefit sale in a couple of weeks. It's so little, but all of you are in our hearts. God bless you all. Adelia
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