Saturday, June 19, 2010

A Year Ago Today

A Year Ago Today I presented your Living Will to the Social Worker at the hospital and signed the papers to remove you from Life Support.

A Year Ago Today I had to explain over and over again to the nursing staff at the hospital that it really was your wishes to have a Living Will.

That you had signed that Living Will almost 25 years ago following the premature death of your husband. That you were passionate about it.

And that I, (who worked hospice and geriatrics for years) would ensure that your wishes were followed to the letter.

No respirator. No surgery that would further incapacitate you.

Rather, a gentle easing into the night with the help of Morphine.

A Year Ago Today your family gathered at your bedside for their last goodbyes.

I explained again to your children, your grandchildren exactly what that entailed. Exactly what you wanted.

A Year Ago Today would have been Dad's 70th Birthday. If he had lived to raise the children he adored.

Instead we said goodbye to another parent and vowed that we would do everything in our power so that our children would not have to say goodbye to us so young.

Rest in Peace Mom

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