flameburns623 Posted March 31, 2016 Author Posted March 31, 2016 Spoke to Mom this evening. She sounded stronger and has gained weight: 103 lbs, up from 90(?) pounds a week or ten days ago. Sounds like a lot to have put on in such a short time. But they are allowing her regular food, rathet than pureed/liquified food, so she is eating more. The danger of solid food is that we know she is aspirating due to the Parkinson's Disease. At some point she may either induce pneumonia thru aspirating her food;or simply choke on food. There are directives on her chart to undertake no lifesaving measures. So she could well be gone in very short order. I will be down to see her this weekend.
Jeanne Posted March 31, 2016 Posted March 31, 2016 Keep us posted. Many thoughts and prayers. Jeanne 1
Guest Posted April 2, 2016 Posted April 2, 2016 On March 25, 2016 at 2:26 PM, flameburns623 said: The surgery has disclosed cancer. Given her age and other attendant health challenges, some already terminal, the situation is deemed to have no good treatments and she will receive hospice care until the inevitable outcome. May God bless your family during all times and all to come.
flameburns623 Posted April 3, 2016 Author Posted April 3, 2016 On 3/31/2016 at 11:25 AM, Jeanne said: Keep us posted. Many thoughts and prayers. Jeanne Saw her last evening and she was close to the top of her game. Sharp, in a good mood, and talkative. She wanted a custard filled donut and maybe a glaz3d or a bear claw when I made it back this morning Today she is running a bit of a fever. They have given her acetaminophen and she ate a bite or two of donut but I didn't stay ong as she needed to rest. Good days followed by bad. 1
Jeanne Posted April 3, 2016 Posted April 3, 2016 Many highs and lows. I love that she is so keen and aware at times. Those darn fevers mean too many things going on. Thanks for the info. And I am a doughnut lady at Wallyworld and I wish that I could make her a box of bavarians. Hugs.. Jeanne
flameburns623 Posted May 15, 2016 Author Posted May 15, 2016 An update. I've spent two full days down in Southwest Missouri and visited with Mon four times. Her apetite is excellent and her mibd isxclear and she is not plagued with the anxieties which characterized earlier visits. This has, all-in-all been the most upbeat visit we've shared. Plans now are to return near the end of June with my grandson. Prayers, as always, have been greatly appreciated. On a side note: the ward in Carthage is huge by contrast with any St. Louis ward I have been in. Well above 100, probably 120 in attendance. And I attended that ward when it was a branch. I thought I was at a Stake conference, what with the overflow walls open and the chapel packed. Wonder if SW Missouri being more Bible-belt than St. Louis impacts that? 3
Jeanne Posted May 15, 2016 Posted May 15, 2016 Glad that your Mom is showing some improvement. So lucky you have a grandson..you must be looking forward to that. May these steps forward..keep moving you forward! Hugs, Jeanne
flameburns623 Posted July 2, 2016 Author Posted July 2, 2016 My mother passed away about 3:00 AM today. We are in Carthage Missouri with my grandson, having come fown for a visit. I had gotten word just as we were leaving St.Louis that she was very bad. We arrived to find her in bad color, and essentially in a death's coma. They had administered morphine and she appeared in no pain. The care facility held a very nice Fourth of July event so we hung out there most if the evening and I checked on Mom several times. As we left, she opened her eyes to see my grandson, who she had only seen a time or two before. No movement or acknowledgement but perhaps a yiny smile. We spent the night here and I got the call early this morning. Thanks to all who have been in prayer for her these many months.
Calm Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Bless you and your family We had a family gettogether last night with Mom with only one sibling missing. Iwondered how many of those we have left. Time just feels like is pouring away.
Rain Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 So sorry. I'm glad you got to spend that last little bit with her. Hugs.
bluebell Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 I'm sorry. I know it must be so difficult to lose a mom.
Garden Girl Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 I'm so sorry flame... I still miss my mom and she's been gone a long time... prayers now for you and your family... GG
Jeanne Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 My heart breaks for you and yours. May your memories always be sweet and her love and teachings remain forever in your heart. Just know..and know with relief..that you are a good son. Take care of you!
flameburns623 Posted July 3, 2016 Author Posted July 3, 2016 (edited) I woke yesterday morning about 3:00 AM. Was up a few moments and back to bed. I woke again around 5:30, just at the cusp of dawn. (It was just beginning to be light, which the almanac indicates was around 5:30). Thought I could see something wispy moving around at the foot of the bed. When I focused, it wasn't there. My brother John was told that Mom awakened about 3, and the aide or aides were there and talked with her. Sometime around five Mom seemed to be speaking to someone else. The aide asked, "Who are you talking to"? Mom answered, "My mother". (The deceased maternal grandmother of my brothers and I). The aide told Mom, "If you need to go with her, you can". A few moments later, at 5:23, Mom was gone. I got the call around eight. I learned all the details of her passing late yesterday afternoon. Odd that I awoke at around the time she was beginning to transition, and saw something at perhaps the time she passed on. Edited July 3, 2016 by flameburns623 1
Calm Posted July 4, 2016 Posted July 4, 2016 I like that aide. I believe that such things happen, though sometimes it may just be our way of comforting ourselves. How are you doing?
flameburns623 Posted July 4, 2016 Author Posted July 4, 2016 5 minutes ago, Calm said: I like that aide. I believe that such things happen, though sometimes it may just be our way of comforting ourselves. How are you doing? It was pretty evident that Mom was in the final stages of life, and I suspect her vitals were alerting the hospice people that she was near a crisis. I was initially told that Mom passed much earlier. And at the time that I saw something, I attributed it to being just at the edge of falling back asleep. The experience became significant only when we nailed down the time of death and a check of the online almanac indicated that sunrise was at 6:00, with first light @ 5:30. I was aware, the second time I awoke, that it was just beginning to show light outside, but not early enough for actual sunlight. 3
Garden Girl Posted July 4, 2016 Posted July 4, 2016 (edited) Hello flame... My sister and I both had similar experiences the night our mom passed away... My mom had a massive heart attack and was taken to the hospital... we were on our way up here to Oregon from So Cal and were just north of San Francisco (bringing my folks up for a visit). I went into the hospital's chapel to wait for the coroner... the local bishop came down to the hospital to meet with my dad (about 1:00 a.m.). As I waited I prayed for strength... strength to face all that I would have to, i.e., calling my sis in MO and telling her, meeting the coroner, dealing with my dad, the funeral home, getting dad home to So Cal. etc. As I prayed that I could handle all these things, asking the Lord's hand to be upon me... my mind was opened and I saw my mom... just her head/shoulders... she looked younger and was looking slightly upward and like she was seeing something in the distance... and her expression was one of absolute joy... this lasted about ten seconds and then faded. I then went out to call my sister and tell her... when I did she of course was terribly upset and crying... and ran outside and fell down onto the grass in her front yard. She would tell me later that as she laid there crying, she felt like she was being hugged and heard mom's voice saying... I'm all right... I'm really all right... We both cherish those experiences, and I fully believe that you were given a "tender mercy" also... I hope you're doing well now... GG Edited July 4, 2016 by Garden Girl 4
Stargazer Posted July 5, 2016 Posted July 5, 2016 It was interesting that last year after my wife passed away at home that there was a palpable feeling of peace throughout the place. I didn't notice at first, having not gotten much sleep overnight, but when the Relief Society president came by to check on us she remarked upon it, which caused me to finally take notice. It was a very nice blessing after all the tension. 2
flameburns623 Posted July 8, 2016 Author Posted July 8, 2016 Just finished the visitation an hour or so ago. Broke up when I first saw Mom lain out. Guests hadn't arrived yet and I got myself composed and met with those who elected to visit. Funeral in the morning. Then back home in the afternoon. Right now, extended family are at a Mexican eatery. 2
Jeanne Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 24 minutes ago, flameburns623 said: Just finished the visitation an hour or so ago. Broke up when I first saw Mom lain out. Guests hadn't arrived yet and I got myself composed and met with those who elected to visit. Funeral in the morning. Then back home in the afternoon. Right now, extended family are at a Mexican eatery. Rough time for you right now. Here is hoping that as a family you are a comfort to each other. Take care of you.
Kenngo1969 Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 On 4/3/2016 at 11:20 AM, flameburns623 said: ... Good days followed by bad. I am not, of course, minimizing your plight, given your recent loss. In a way, I cannot relate, since both of my parents are still here. But, "Good days followed by bad," and "Bad days followed by good," and "In-between days followed by either good or bad," is a lot like life, isn't it? Condolences on your loss. I hope you find that, "Sweet is the peace the Gospel brings."
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