Friday July 25

Mom is still alive, but barely. It’s like she’s hanging on to something. Yesterday we shut off her oxygen. It doesn’t seem to have changed anything. Her breathing is noisy as her lungs are totally congested. Her heart rate has picked up because she is dehydrated. Early in this process, we had the discussion with Hospice about this time and about food and water. Physically it is easier on a person to be “dry,” without food and water in their system. It is less painful.

Mom is still given morphine every hour and her position is changed every 2-3 hours. After she is moved, she just stays there. Yesterday I brought my Dad’s cross and she has that in her hand. I got what I think was a couple of responses through raised eyebrows.

Mom has touched so many people here at Manor Care. There are many who are struggling with her imminent death. Mom has been very touchy feely here, which is interesting because she really wasn’t a touchy feely type of person when healthy. That was my Dad.

Our prayers for Mom is that she would just let go and go home to Jesus. He is waiting for her. She has accomplished much in her life and her job is finished. For me I pray that my image of my Mom would not be the emaciated woman she is right now, but that of a strong, healthy Mom. When my Uncle Jimmy died in 1982, he too had wasted away to nothing. I remember having a series of 3 dreams and the last one I saw him as he was and today that is the image I see.

More to follow…………..