Dad and I were enjoying watching the hockey game with Carol and Panteli when the phone rang to give us bad news from Mark, about his mom.
We were expecting that dad’s cousin Eileen to take a turn for the worse after dad’s last visit with her, but still the time has come quicker than expected. Help had been offered but refused but she had appreciated dad's last visits with her although she was very weak and on oxygen.
Still we were shattered to hear that she was in hospital dying with cancer all through her body.
Eileen has not had an easy life and part of it has been the estrangement within her own family. She was a tough lady very independent and hard working. Our best visit with her had been when she came to our fiftieth anniversary and she met some of our family. She stayed and had a long visit and really enjoyed herself.
Our saddest memories where when we visited with her and her aging parents and especially the last visits with her mom. We shared her grief and her loss, knowing that her dreams had been unfulfilled and I sense that her soul was also empty and as she became more fragile she could do less and less and was home bound in her trailer with an unemployed son to help care for her. Her old dog just died recently and she was very sadden by this.
Martin Luther wrote that without great anguish and trials we will never understand the grace and compassion that God has for those who have had miserable lives. We know that there are lessons to be learned during painful times, but still we would rather they did not come. They shake our security and rob us of the joy of life. Our lesson is to learn to adapt to the different circumstances we will all face,
It will be a sad day visiting her in hospital and saying good-bye. I believe that the presence of God will be with us and that He never leaves us in life or in death even when grief fills our hearts. Jesus prayed for all to come to know God and Jesus Christ the one who came to tell us of the possibility of a relationship with God through it all.
I brought home a broken beer bottle only to drop it from my wet hands and it shattered all over our kitchen floor. Time to go and clean up and then off to the hospital.
8 comments:
And then there is on the other end of the spectrum, getting to watch Simone get bigger and smarter every day. Tommorrow we will be heading to Sarnia to see Randy's dad. No idea what that visit will be like. Sandra
Yes that were my thoughts also. What a great joy new life brings to us all.
My prayers will be with you as your visit will also be sad especially for Randy.
Love go with you and be with you. We are so thankful that you and Randy have each other and enjoy your families so much.
love mom
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On a happier note, Carol and I enjoyed visiitng and watching the hockey game last night and luckily the good guys won...meaning any team other than Boston! In case sandra is reading this, Missy, Spooky, Peanut and lucy are sound nd well as of 10 minutes ago. Carol and I are at Starbucks on King Gearoge. :)
Panteli
Yes he enjoyed your visit and it makes it so much more fun to have others cheering or booing
Sounds like the dogs and cats are getting spoilt while you are looking after Sandra and Randy's.
Have a good day now that the rain has stopped.
love mom
Sorry to hear about Larry's cousin being so ill...life is not easy at times is it? But as you say the spirit of God is always with us and helps is through these difficult times. I pray Eileen goes with ease to cross to the other side.
My goodness Beth, broken beer bottles can be really dangerous...I am glad that you didn't get cut or pick up some terrible germs from it.
Hepatitis can be easily transferred. My roses are finally blooming...have you heard of the pavement roses? They are quite hardy and bloom on their own root. They are heirloom roses and so pretty, fragrant and large blooms. My yellow one is very pretty right now, but I doubt it will last for long with the heat...32 degrees right now. Love to you both, Nancy
sunny cold here, I to am Glad Chicago won, hate the bruins ,Chara is a big goon...
ken
Yes ken we knew you were cheering for Chicago and I sure do not like chara either.
No Nancy I have not heard of those roses. we have heard of a new reasonable plant place here and thought we would go soon.
We were able to have a honest visit with Eileen and encouraged her to go into palliative care and not get radiation etc. Her two sons will be arriving next week and the one boy mark was having a hard time knowing what to suggest. She also was worried. A sad time for all.
love beth
When the diagnosis is terminal i think palliative care is best too. I wish our daughter in law, Melodie didn't have that month of radiation which left her hip bones like swiss cheese...and the chemo right after that...she was just soo ill and it really took away her dignity I think. I will pry for Eileen and her family...for peace and no pain. It is such a difficult time for them. So glad they have Larry and you to help them through.Love Nancy
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