Going Home

I just re-read my last post from May 7th, and indeed, God's timing was perfect for calling my Mom home to Him.

A week ago at about this time (10:30 p.m.), my mom started breathing differently. All the nurses left at 2:30 p.m. and the Seniorcorp caregiver left at 7:00 p.m. last Saturday. John & Sara came over and I fixed dinner for us and my dad. Daniel was at his best friend's house. My dad had found a letter earlier dated December, 2004, from my mom to Sara, bestowing upon her a silver comb, brush and mirror that my mom had been given by a boy at age 15. Sara treasured the letter and went back to my parents' room. She laid on my dad's bed and cried, like she had on Tuesday, when we thought my mom was leaving us.

I had given my mom her medicine at 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. At 2:30, I gave it too fast and she closed her mouth and coughed (something I hadn't seen since she was unconscious). Her nurse, Lorraine, and I were both surprised. Lorraine was able to pull her to her to help her swallow. At about 8:45 p.m., she started making a different sound (almost a honking) every time she breathed. I waited 10 minutes and her breathing returned to the way it had been. At 10:30 p.m., I gave her the next dose of morphine. Her breathing sounded different again, so I called Odyssey. The nurse suggested I crush and rub Ativan on her gums for any anxiety she might be feeling and if nothing changed to give her more morphine in 45 minutes. At 11:40 p.m., I attempted to give her more morphine. Again, she closed her mouth and tried to cough. I tried pulling her to me to help her swallow, but her body was rigid. Then, when I tried to give her the last bit of morphine, she clamped her teeth shut, as if to say, "That's not what I want".

I called the Odyssey nurse back and she said she was on her way to the house. She arrived at approximately 12:20 a.m. I gave her a synopsis of everything again, while my dad continued to sleep in his bed in their room. I walked out of the room so the nurse (Virginia) could assess my mom. As I was sitting on the couch, I heard singing from my parents' room. I walked back there and Virginia was singing a song to my mom about heaven and stroking her head. I sat down in the room with them and Virginia told my mom to give her dad and husband a hug when she got there. I started crying and said, my grandmother, too. I told my mom she would be with her mother on Mother's Day. I cried and said to Jesus, "Take her home. Please take her home." And He did. She stopped breathing peacefully and walked into the arms of God. My friend, Joy, had prayed with my mom the Monday before and reminded her that God holds us from birth to death. Virginia told my mom to go, that God's arms were waiting to hold her.

We woke my dad and told him it was time to say goodbye. He was calm throughout and we got back to bed around 2:45 a.m. Sunday and Monday were spent with my dad and it was so quiet in the house, especially after having a multitude of people there daily. The viewing was Tuesday evening and the funeral was Wednesday. Wednesday was a beautiful day and God even allowed us to see butterflies (my mom and I loved butterflies).

Thanks for the outpouring of loving expressions to me and my family. Please continue to pray for my dad as he makes this huge adjustment in his life.

Love,
Anita