Passing parents. ( Archived) (7)

4 hour MC trip to Massachusetts yesterday to work with Sibs on mom's final days. 95+ degree heat. Mid 90's, she, and multiple organ demise. Home hospice nurses were wonderful. She above all wants to avoid last days in a hospital or other institution, preferring passing at her home, with family and familiar surroundings.Nice doc to doc chat, and he agrees with home death, no heroic resussitive measures, and only palliative care. Still alert and enjoying the world. The great Mandela.

A persons health can change fast sometimes, I've known a few people that were never sick a day in their life, and in two weeks time, gone... Sorry about your dad, hope your mom's doing alright.

Thanks, all. Well, looking at this philosophically, she made it to mid 90's, And she's able to be in her home and with family. And although our Dad left us almost a decade ago, his passing was what many of us might wish for. Sitting in his favorite Archie Bunker chair in front of the (volume too high) TV. Reading the local daily liberal fish wrap, every printed word. During which, dozing off frequently, paper falling back to cover his face. Same scene thousands of times, so no panic on others in the house. Until, that is, the time he didn't wake up. Makes me think of other passings. 18 year old alone and in pain on the fields at Gettysburg, or Omaha beach. Or the little black girl in painful sickle cell crisis. Yep, lots of ways to go.